Art by Ricky Rodriguez
At 18 years old, Camille Padilla Dalmau moved to the United States for university, encountering a profound cultural shift that forced her to dismantle years of assimilated ideas. In this episode, she traces her personal journey from Philadelphia, New York City, and back to Puerto Rico, asking what it means to be Puerto Rican when your nation lives everywhere, and how nine million people, scattered across the world, stay rooted to the same home.
This episode of American Colony was produced by Camille Padilla Dalmau and Frances Medina. It was edited by Nuria Net.
A los 18 años, Camille Padilla Dalmau se mudó a los Estados Unidos para estudiar en la universidad, y atravesó un profundo choque cultural que la obligó a desmantelar años de ideas asimiladas. En este episodio, recorre su historia personal desde Filadelfia y Nueva York hasta su regreso a Puerto Rico, preguntándose qué significa ser puertorriqueña cuando tu nación vive en todas partes, y cómo nueve millones de personas, dispersas por el mundo, se mantienen arraigadas al mismo hogar.
Este episodio de American Colony fue producido por Camille Padilla Dalmau y Frances Medina. Fue editado por Nuria Net.
About the Producers
Camille Padilla Dalmau is a Puerto Rico-based educator, journalist, and artist. She is the Founder and CEO of 9 Millones, an independent journalism network committed to amplifying Puerto Rican voices across the globe. With over a decade of experience as a multimedia journalist, Camille has published health and environmental justice stories for outlets such as Yes! Magazine, Grist, and AJ+. In her free time, she enjoys gardening, singing, and cooking.
Frances Medina is a documentary filmmaker and strategist who helped develop 9 Millones’ community outreach methodology. She currently oversees outreach efforts and key partnerships that expand the organization’s reach through newsroom involvement with communities, content development, and fostering relationships that lead to non-extractive collaborations. Frances also leads 9 Millones’ “cultural bridging” goals, transitioning relationships to partnerships in Puerto Rico and the U.S.
Credits
American Colony is a production of The Latino Newsletter and Shake It Easy Media
Original Concept by Julio Ricardo Varela
Senior Editor: Nuria Net
Senior Producer: Joaquín Cotler
Hosts: Julio Ricardo Varela and Nuria Net
Producer: Carlos Berríos Polanco
Consulting Producer: Susanne Ramírez de Arellano
Managing Editor: Christina Hernández
Video Producer: Amalia I. Núñez-Pires
Social Media Videos: Anthony Modesto Milián and Aliana M. Bigio
Illustrator: Ricky Rodriguez
Composer: Alain Emile
Additional music courtesy of Soundstripe
Executive Producers: Julio Ricardo Varela, Nuria Net, and Joaquín Cotler
Support for this program comes from the Mellon Foundation, the nation’s largest supporter of the arts and humanities. More at Mellon.org.
American Colony was also made possible by individual donations. To support the nonprofit work of The Latino Newsletter, click on the Donate tab at The Latino Newsletter.
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