Suitcase Stories - International Institute of New England

Suitcase Stories

Today, people relocate and travel internationally more than at any other time in history. Whether while at home or abroad, how we view and understand diverse backgrounds is profoundly influenced by the stories we hear from neighbors, relatives, and colleagues, as well as our own interactions with people from around the world.

Suitcase Stories® explores migration through the art of storytelling. Suitcase Stories invites U.S.- and internationally-born residents to develop and share meaningful personal experiences of migration and cross-cultural exchange. These performances provide a unique way for a community to foster a more welcoming and inclusive environment for newcomers in neighborhoods, schools, and workplaces.

Suitcase Stories® are made possible through a partnership between IINE and Stellar Story Company.

Participating in Suitcase Stories was a memorable experience because it was the first time I have shared my story on stage with other refugees and immigrants to make our voices heard, and to be an advocate for the voiceless.”

– Biar Kon, IINE client and former Sudanese refugee

About the Storytellers

Suitcase Stories performers include a combination of professional storytellers and people new to the craft. For many storytellers, Suitcase Stories is their first time sharing the story in front of a live audience and can be a transformative experience.

Past storytellers have traveled to the U.S. from Afghanistan, Cambodia, Cuba, Haiti, Korea, Myanmar, Poland, Somalia, Sudan, and many other countries. Storytellers also include people born in the United States to reinforce how immigration is a subject that affects all of us.