Telling Their Own Stories: Green Card Youth Voices Comes to Chicago
Group of Chicago teens featured in Green Card Youth Voices: Chicago. Photo courtesy of Green Card Voices.
Chicago-area teen immigrants and refugees share stories of displacement, discovery, identity, and belonging
Across the country, teenage immigrants and refugees are rewriting the narrative of what it means for them to live in America today. With honesty, courage, and vulnerability, they are sharing their journeys in their own words—and now, Chicago teens are stepping into the spotlight to add their voices to this powerful chorus.
Green Card Voices, a nonprofit publisher and storytelling platform, is known for elevating the lived experiences of immigrants through first-person publications, videos, and community events in an effort to connect them with and to their communities. Their Green Card Youth Voices book series has elevated over 500 stories from individuals representing 145 countries, spotlighting high school student authors in cities like Minneapolis, Fargo, Madison, Milwaukee, and Atlanta, among others. The book series offers a collection of personal essays that reflect immigrant journeys, dreams, and efforts to build a new life in an unfamiliar land.
“The student voices and stories in our book series ultimately help to foster greater empathy and to bridge understanding across communities,” shared Tea Rozman, Co-Executive Director of Green Card Voices. “This reminds us of the strength that comes from embracing and sharing many stories.”
Published in August 2025, Green Card Youth Voices: Chicago features 30 personal essays by immigrant and refugee students from five continents and 19 different countries representing three Chicago-area high schools. Many of these students have navigated extraordinary challenges and opportunities on their path to the United States—from food insecurity and language barriers to new friendships and dreams for the future.
“These courageous young authors have opened their hearts to share stories of displacement, discovery, identity, and belonging,” shared Rozman. “Through the sharing of their lived experiences, they invite us all into deeper connection during challenging times.”
Each young author involved in Green Card Youth Voices: Chicago has worked closely with their family, educators, volunteers, and Green Card Voices staff to draft, revise, and share their stories. Though the storytelling journey, Green Card Voices ensures that students are treated with utmost respect and trauma-informed care and ensures student privacy and consent. The process not only helps students develop and share their stories, but it also provides the young authors with opportunity for personal reflection, story ownership, and a sense of community.
Chicago area student engages with Tea Rozman, co-executive director of Green Card Voices. Photo courtesy of Green Card Voices.
“The first explosion I heard in my home country changed everything for me,” shares an involved Chicago-area student from Ukraine. “I didn’t realize how lucky I was before it. My mom, brother, and I moved to the U.S., leaving behind my father. My journey here helped me become adaptable and resilient, and my experiences in the Chicago area are now an inseparable part of my life—experiences that will forever enhance my journey.”
Previous editions of the Green Card Youth Voices series have become powerful tools in classrooms and libraries nationwide. Educators have used the books to spark dialogue about immigration, identity, and social justice, while students have connected with peers whose stories mirror or expand their own, and have, in some instances, then advocated on various local and regional platforms.
Zaynab Abdi, a woman featured in a Green Card Youth Voices publication nine years ago and a coach to new students, attended and spoke at a recent pre-launch book celebration event for students featured in the upcoming Chicago edition. During her remarks, she highlighted that as a result of her engagement with Green Card Voices, she has been given an opportunity to share her story in front of the United Nations several times and was invited to contribute to Malala Yousafzai’s book, We are Displaced.
“You never know what doors will open from here,” Abdi shared with students and their families in attendance. “I know you have a brighter future, and I’m so excited to see what the future will look like for all of you.”
Green Card Youth Voices: Chicago is now available to order on the Green Card Voices website. It has already been selected as the “National Book Read” for the year by the Social Justice Committee of the National Association of School Psychologists. This publication is important on interpersonal levels for the students and their networks of support, and is also a vital resource as Chicago continues to prioritize being a welcoming place to live for all.
“Between the schools engaged in this Chicago effort, I have been so impressed with how worldly Chicago really is,” shared Rozman. “There have been so many unique stories here, and it is wonderful to see multicultural communities live and thrive together.”
Moving forward, Green Card Voices will continue to feature the book and the student’s stories through traveling exhibits at Chicago-area institutions and organizations. Placement of banners of student stories plus panel events are being scheduled for Fall 2025. Learn more about Green Card Voices traveling exhibits, and e-mail their team with further questions about hosting or participating in exhibits and accompanying events.
Stay engaged with Walder Foundation’s Migration and Immigrant Communities pillar: walderfoundation.org/migration-and-immigrant-communities
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