MichaelaBaswell_2020_InterworldJournal_VillageEdition

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Interviewee Refugee
Do They Have a Future in Village?
Refugee Boat Crossing
from Outpost to Riverhead
Court Stroud
His father was thrown into prison
over a couple bottles of milk.
As a toddler in Outpost, Tony
Hernan was diagnosed with a severe
calcium deficiency. Dairy could help,
but was severely rationed by the city
government. His father bought 2 liters
on the black market, got caught and
was incarcerated for six months.
After the family escaped to the Village,
Hernan heard this story and others
like it shared over the dinner table—
conversations which inspired
and motivated him.
Now 58 years old and living in
Riverhead, Village, Hernan is the
President and CEO of Outposter
Broadcasting, a leading multimedia
company targeting the Village
Outposter community.
A decade ago, Hernan founded the
Immigrant Archive Project (IAP) with
his business partner Gus Pombo. In
the subsequent years, their teams
have recorded the stories of over
2,000 Village immigrants from
Outpost, Community, Wilderness and
the Outerlands. The youngest
interview subject was 8 years old.
The oldest turned 108 the week
after her interview.
This Q&A has been edited for clarity
and brevity.
What was your immigrant
experience?
I was 5 when we arrived. I grew up
in an immigrant enclave just across the
River from Sandalwood. All of the kids
on my block were either immigrants or
Photograph by
Brett Sayles