•

Newark Students Share Their Stories of Immigration in New Book

  • Students in New Jersey’s Newark Public Schools are not just sharing their stories but lending their unique voices to a new book, We Were Strangers, Once Too: An Immigrant Memoir Collection. This collection of student narratives offers a firsthand look at the diverse experiences of immigration and identity.

    The book features 58 student stories from 24 countries across five continents, narrated in over five dozen languages. It provides a firsthand glimpse into students' journeys to the United States or their immigration experiences within America. Through these narratives, they share challenges such as journeying through jungles, crossing rivers, and facing gangs and police. 

    We Were Strangers Once, Too is edited by Shawn Adler, an English teacher at Newark's Science Park High School. His commitment to amplifying student voices is deeply personal and rooted in his family's immigrant history. As the grandson of German immigrants, he understands the power of sharing narratives. 

    "All of us have an immigrant story in our past lives by definition. And so, this is an opportunity for the children of Newark to talk about that experience and to tell their story to the world," said Adler. 

    We Were Strangers Once, Too is Adler's latest project. In 2023, he published The Helpers, a compilation of short memoirs from students facing adversity. His work garnered him a nomination for the Global Teacher Prize, often called the 'Nobel Prize for Teaching’ by the Varkey Foundation in collaboration with the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). 

    Unlike Adler’s previous projects, We Were Strangers Once, Too focuses exclusively on seniors from Newark's public high schools, including Science Park. 

    "Through the courageous voices of Newark's students, we travel continents, languages, and even hardships to discover the power of shared humanity," said Newark's School Superintendent Roger León. "These stories stand as symbols of hope and what is possible by reminding us to embrace diversity, celebrate difference, and find strength in our collective journey." 

    We Were Strangers Once, Too: An Immigrant Memoir Collection is available on Amazon.com.