>>> TONIGHT, FLEEING UKRAINE.

THE REFUGEE CRISIS, REPORTS OF RACISM AND WHAT IT MEANS FOR AFRO UKRAINIANS AND STUDENTS OF COLOR.

CELEBRATING INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY.

ONE WOMAN'S JOURNEY FROM DOCTOR TO ADVOCATE.

"METROFOCUS" STARTS RIGHT NOW.

♪ >> THIS IS ME"METROFOCUS" WITH RAFAEL PI ROMAN, JACK FORD AND JENNA FLANAGAN.

"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIBLE BY -- >>> GOOD EVENING AND WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

I'M JENNA PLAN FLANAGAN.

THE REFUGEE CRISIS IN UKRAINE IS DEEPENING.

HUNDREDS OF THOUSANDS OF ARE TRYING TO FLEE EVERY DAY.

MANY OF THEM ARE TRAPPED IN CITIES CONSTANTLY BOMBARDED BY RUSSIAN FORCES.

AMONG THOSE ESCAPING THE CHAOS ARE AFRO UKRAINIANS AS WELL AS THOUSANDS OF FOREIGN STUDENTS FROM AFRICA AND SOUTHEAST ASIA.

FOR PEOPLE OF COLOR, FLEEING UKRAINE, THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS IS BEING COMPOUNDED BY ENDEMIC RACISM.

JOINING ME NOW TO TALK ABOUT THIS IS KIMBERLY ST. JULIAN VARNAN.

SHE'S STUDYING RACE IN UKRAINE AND RUSSIA AND A BOOK REVIEW EDITOR.

OVER THE LAST FEW WEEKS, HER TWITTER ACCOUNT HAS BECOME A GO-TO RESOURCE FOR INFORMATION ON WHAT'S HAPPENING ON THE GROUND IN UKRAINE.

SHE'S BEEN USING HER CONTACTS TO HELP STUDENTS FLEE THE COUNTRY.

KIMBERLY, WELCOME TO "METROFOCUS."

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

FIRST OFF, I JUST WANT YOU TO HELP PEOPLE UNDERSTAND.

BECAUSE AT THIS POINT, I THINK, AT LEAST ALL OF OUR "METROFOCUS"S HAVE HEARD A LOT OF REPORTING ABOUT THERE BEING DISPARITIES IN THE WAY PEOPLE WHO ARE FLEEING UKRAINE ARE BEING TREATED.

>> IN THE PAST WEEK, WE HAVE SEEN MORE REPORTING ON ISSUES GOING ALONG THE BORDER, PARTICULARLY THE UKRAINIAN BORDER WITH POLAND.

REALLY, THIS IS A THREE-PRONGED PROBLEM.

THE PROBLEM AT THE BORDER WITH AFRICAN STUDENTS, INDIAN STUDENTS, MIDDLE EASTERN STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS BEING PUSHED TO THE END OF THE LINE TO GET ACROSS THE BORDER.

YOU HAVE -- THOSE ARE PROCESSING ISSUES.

THEN YOU HAVE THE PROBLEM OF THE STUDENTS AND RESIDENTS WHO ARE TRYING TO GET TO THE BORDER.

IN KYIV, HUNDREDS OF MILES AWAY FROM THE WESTERN BORDER, THEY ARE PUSHED OFF OF TRAINS.

THEY ARE NOT ALLOWED ON BUSES.

SITUATIONS WHERE IN UKRAINE, IF YOU ARE A MAN 18 TO 60, YOU ARE NOT ALLOWED TO LEAVE THE COUNTRY.

EVEN IN THOSE CASES, WE SEE THEM NOT ALLOWING AFRICAN AND MIDDLE EASTERN INDIAN WOMEN CHILDREN WITH CHILDREN ON THE BUSES AND TRAINS.

IT'S THE SECOND PART.

THE THIRD PART IS THE PROBLEM OF NOT BEING ABLE TO GET OUT PERIOD.

FOR EXAMPLE, I HAVE BEEN WORKING WITH STUDENTS ALONG THE NORTHEASTERN BORDER BETWEEN UKRAINE AND BORDER.

IT HAS BEEN SHELLED AND BOMBARDED SINCE THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR.

THOSE FOREIGN STUDENTS CANNOT SAFELY LEAVE THE CITY.

THE CITY IS ENCIRCLED BY RUSSIAN MILITARY.

THERE'S FIREFIGHTING.

THERE'S CONSTANT SHELLING.

IN THIS SITUATION, IT'S NOT SAFE FOR ANYONE OF ANY COLOR TO TRY TO LEAVE.

YOU HAVE THIS THREE-PRONGED PROBLEM.

A LOT OF THE REPORTING WE HAVE SEEN HAS BEEN ALONG THE BORDER.

WE ALSO HAVE THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO ARE TRYING TO GET TOWARDS THE BORDER OR WHO ARE STRUCK.

>> AS YOU MENTIONED, IT'S A THREE-PRONGED PROBLEM.

BUT THERE ARE ALSO, I'M SURE, A LOT OF CAUSES.

ONE OF THEM THAT WE HAVE BEEN HEARING IS THERE'S A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF DISINFORMATION THAT'S A BIG CHALLENGE RIGHT NOW.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

SO THIS IS SOMETHING I WAS WORRIED ABOUT AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR.

I GOT A LOT OF PUSHBACK ON THIS ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR SAYING THAT BLACK SUFFERING COULD BE USED FOR RUSSIAN DISINFORMATION.

THIS ISN'T NEW.

WE SAW THIS IN 2016 IN THE UNITED STATES AND IN 2020 AT THE GEORGE FLOYD PROTESTS.

RUSSIA TOOK ADVANTAGE OF BLACK PAIN TO PROMOTE RUSSIAN MEANS AND IDEAS, INCLUDING WHITE SUPREMACY.

THIS HAS BEEN A CONCERN.

RIGHT NOW THE DISINFORMATION WE ARE SEEING IS DANGEROUS FOR THE FOREIGN STUDENTS.

FOR EXAMPLE, THERE HAVE BEEN RUMORS OF A CEASE-FIRE.

RUSSIA THIS MORNING -- OR LATE LAST NIGHT IN AMERICAN TIME, THERE WAS A CONVERSATION BETWEEN PRESIDENT MACRON OF FRANCE AND PRESIDENT PUTIN OF RUSSIA.

THEY TALKED ABOUT A CEASE-FIRE.

THAT HAS BECOME THERE'S A CEASE-FIRE AND THE CEASE-FIRE HAS BEEN HAPPENING BUT THEY ARE NOT LETTING FOREIGN STUDENTS OUT.

THAT'S FALSE.

THERE'S NOT A CEASE-FIRE.

WHEN WE HAVE SEEN HUMANITARIAN CORRIDORS THAT HAVE BEEN ATTEMPTED, PARTICULARLY IN SOUTHERN UKRAINE, THEY FALL APART IMMEDIATELY BECAUSE THE RUSSIANS CONTINUE TO SHOOT AND SHELL OVER THESE HUMANITARIAN CORRIDORS.

IT'S NOT SAFE.

THE PROBLEM WITH THIS KIND OF DISINFORMATION IS, IT'S GETTING BACK TO THE STUDENTS.

WHEN THEY ARE NOT IN BOMB SHELTERS, THEY ARE IN FOREIGN STUDENT HOUSING.

THEY PUT TOGETHER.

THEY ARE STRESSED OUT.

THEY ARE HUNGRY.

THEY ARE DEHYDRATED.

THEY ARE HEARING RUMORS THEY ARE BEING KEPT THERE BECAUSE THEY CAN'T GET OUT.

THAT'S DANGEROUS.

WE ARE SEEING REPORTS OF AFRICAN STUDENTS AND INDIAN STUDENTS PAYING A MINIMUM OF $600 AMERICAN PER PERSON TO TRY TO GET PRIVATE TAXIS OUT.

WHEN THEY GET TO A POPULAR LOCATION, THERE'S NO TRAIN TO GET OUT.

YOU HAVE THEM WASTING THEIR LIFE SAVINGS TO NOT GET OUT OF THE DANGEROUS SITUATION.

NOW THEY ARE FURTHER AWAY FROM FOOD AND WATER, BUT ALSO BOMB SHELTERS.

NOW THE DISINFORMATION THAT WE ARE SEEING ACROSS SOCIAL MEDIA IS GETTING TO THE STUDENTS AND IS EXACERBATING A TERRIBLE SITUATION.

>> OKAY.

I WANT TO GO BACK TO -- AS YOU WERE MENTIONING THAT A LOT OF THE REPORTING WAS FOCUSING ON WHAT WAS HAPPENING AT THE BORDER.

THERE WAS AT LEAST FROM THE BEGINNING OF THE REPORTING AT THE BORDER, THERE WAS FINGER POINTING.

SOME PEOPLE WERE SAYING, NO, IT'S UKRAINE THAT'S PREVENTING THESE AFRO UKRAINIANS AND STUDENTS OF COLOR FROM LEAVING THE COUNTRY.

SOME PEOPLE WERE SAYING IT'S THE POLISH BORDER GUARDS AREN'T LETTING THEM CROSS.

CAN YOU SORT OF PULL APART AT LEAST WHEN IT COMES TO THE BORDER, WHAT IS HAPPENING?

THERE'S BEEN A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF FINGER POINTING.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

UNFORTUNATELY, IT'S BOTH.

YOU HAVE ISSUES AT THE UKRAINIAN BORDER.

THIS IS WHERE IT'S HARD TO KIND OF PARSE OUT AND PROVIDE NUANCE FOR THIS.

AT THE UKRAINIAN BORDER, THEY ARE IMMEDIATELY SPLITTING UKRAINIAN AND NON-UKRAINIAN PASSPORTS.

THEY WERE DOING THAT THROUGH COLOR.

WHITE PEOPLE IN THIS LINE.

EVERYONE WHO IS NOT WHITE IN THIS LINE.

FOR THESE PEOPLE WHO ARE RUNNING THE BORDER IN UKRAINE DEALING WITH THIS, THE OFFICERS, THE EASIEST WAY TO PARCEL OUT IS BY COLOR.

THAT REINFORCES THE ERASING OF AFRO UKRAINIANS, PEOPLE WHO ARE DARK SPINED, WHO ARE KEPT FROM BEING ABLE TO CLAIM THEIR UKRAINIANNESS.

THAT'S ONE PROBLEM.

THAT SITUATION AT THE BORDER.

THEN YOU HAVE THE PROBLEM EVEN WITHIN THESE -- EVEN IF WE ARE, OKAY, THERE'S UKRAINIAN PASSPORT LINE AND A LINE FOR EVERYONE ELSE.

IF YOU HAVE AN AMERICAN PASSPORT, YOU ARE IN THE NON-EU PASSPORT LINE.

THE LINES ARE SEPARATE.

WE DO THIS BY PASSPORT.

BUT THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN NON-UKRAINIAN PASSPORT LINE, THEY ARE NOT BEING PROCESSED.

IT'S TAKING A CONSIDERABLE AMOUNT MORE HOURS THAN THE OOH CR UKRAINIAN PASSPORTS.

RACE IS LEVELLED IN AND WHIPPED INTO EACH OF THE INSTANCES.

AT THE POLISH BORDER, YOU HAVE TO THINK ABOUT, WHAT COUNTRY DOES POLAND HAVE A VISA REGIME WITH.

THEY HAVE BEEN NEIGHBORS FOR CENTURIES.

THEY HAVE A DIPLOMATIC RELATIONSHIP.

THAT'S ONE REASON WHY UKRAINIAN PASSPORTS ARE EASIER TO PROCESS.

WE SAW TWO OR THREE DAY AGO THE EU STATEMENT ALLOWING UKRAINIAN REFUGEES IN.

THAT DID NOT APPLY TO THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS.

THINK OF YOUR FOREIGN STUDENTS THAT ARE CONSIDERED THIRD COUNTRY NATIONALS.

THEY DON'T GET PASSAGE IN.

P ROMANIAN HAS A SOURCE FOR REFUGEES FOR FOREIGN STUDENTS TO GET IN.

ROMANIA IS PROCESSING THEM QUICKER.

FEWER PEOPLE ARE GOING TO ROMANIAN.

POLAND IS SWAMPED.

YOU HAVE MULTIPLE CRISES GOING ON.

YOU HAVE A DIPLOMATIC CRISIS.

MANY AFRICAN STUDENTS, THE COUNTRIES DON'T HAVE A PRESENCE IN POLAND OR THE NEAREST EMBASSY IS OVER 1,000 MILES AWAY.

IF YOU HAVE HAD TO EVACUATE FROM A COUNTRY, HAVING A CONSULATE IN COUNTRY IS CRITICAL TO YOUR ABILITY TO GET OUT.

YOU HAVE THAT PROBLEM.

THE DIPLOMATIC CRISIS.

HUMANITARIAN CRISIS.

THEN YOU HAVE RACISM WITHIN ALL OF THESE CRISES AT THE SAME TIME.

IT'S HARD TO PROVIDE THE NUANCE FOR THIS AND TO BE LIKE, THESE THINGS ARE HAPPENING THAT ARE NOT RACIST BUT THESE RACIST THINGS ARE HAPPENING AND HAPPENING AT THE SAME TIME.

>> SPEAKING OF PROVIDING NUANCE TO ALL OF THIS, I'M SURE FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE, THIS IS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE EVER HEARD THE PHRASE AFRO UKRAINIAN.

CAN YOU TALK ABOUT -- I THINK WHEN PEOPLE THINK OF AT LEAST WESTERN EUROPE, IT LOOKS CULTURALLY MORE LIKE AMERICA DOES.

THERE'S DIFFERENT KINDS OF PEOPLE WITHIN THE COUNTRIES.

THIS IS SOMETHING THAT MOST PEOPLE ASSOCIATE WITH EASTERN EUROPE.

>> YES.

ADMITTEDLY, UNTIL 2013 WHEN I WAS IN UKRAINE AND I LITERALLY RAN INTO AN AFRO UKRAINIAN, I HAD NO IDEA THEY EXISTED.

AFRO UKRAINIANS, THEY ARE REAL.

THEY ARE AFRICAN.

THEY ARE PEOPLE WHO LIVE IN UKRAINE.

MANY ARE FIRST OR SECOND GENERATION.

A LOT OF TIMES, THEIR PARENTS WAS EITHER A AFRICAN STUDENT OR AN AFRICAN RESIDENT AND THEY HAD A FAMILY WITH A UKRAINIAN.

THESE PEOPLE ARE UKRAINIAN CITIZENS.

MANY OF THEM ARE UKRAINIAN BORNEDBORN E AND RAISED.

THEY ARE CULTURALLY UKRAINIAN.

WHAT'S INTERESTING ABOUT THIS GROUP OF PEOPLE IS WE DON'T FLOW HOW MANY THERE ARE.

IN UKRAINE, YOU DON'T IDENTIFY BY RACE.

YOU IDENTIFY BY NATIONALITY.

THEY ARE UKRAINIAN.

THEY IDENTIFY AS UKRAINIAN.

ALSO, THERE ARE HARDSHIPS OF BEING AFRO UKRAINIAN.

THE OUTSIEDE WORLD DOESN'T THIN YOU EXIST.

THERE HAVE BEEN INSTANCES OF PEOPLE DENYING THEM THEIR UKRAINIA UKRAINIANNESS.

AN EXAMPLE IS IN THE 20 TEENS WITH GITANA.

SHE WAS REPRESENTING UKRAINE IN EUROVISION.

THERE WAS AN UPROAR.

SHE CAN'T REPRESENT UKRAINE.

SHE'S NOT UKRAINIAN.

SHE'S UKRAINIAN BORN AND RAISED.

SHE'S AFRO UKRAINIAN.

THAT WAS AN EARLY EXAMPLE IN THE 20 TEENS.

MOST RECENTLY, JOHN BELANUK, A FAMOUS AFRO UKRAINIAN WRESTLER.

HE WON THE GOLD MEDAL FOR UKRAINE.

IT WAS A BIG DEAL.

HE DID THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL DANCE WHEN HE WON HIS MEDAL.

HE IS A MEMBER OF THE UKRAINIAN PARLIAMENT.

HE IS WORKING WITH THE GOVERNMENT RIGHT NOW DURING THIS WAR.

A WEEK AFTER HE GOT BACK FROM WINNING THE OLYMPICS, SOMEONE SAID, I GUESS THEY LET MONKEYS COMPETE IN THE OLYMPICS.

THEY SAID THIS TO A MAN WHO WON A GOLD MEDAL IN WRESTLING.

THESE INSTANCES OF RACISM ARE VERY MUCH HAPPENING IN UKRAINE.

FOR THOSE OF US WHO STUDY THE REGION, AND ESPECIALLY WHO ARE AFRICAN AMERICAN WHO WORK IN THE REGION, NONE OF THIS IS NEW.

WHAT WE ARE SEEING AT THE BORDER AND WHAT WE SEE INSIDE UKRAINE, THIS ISN'T NEW FOR UKRAINE OR POLAND OR RUSSIA.

WHAT'S HAPPENED IS THE WAR HAS EXACERBATED ALL OF THESE ISSUES OF ANTI-BLACK RACISM WE ARE SEEING.

>> WHEN YOU TALK ABOUT ANTI-BLACK RACISM -- AGAIN, IN AMERICA, THERE IS A VERY CLEAR LINE -- I WON'T SAY UNDERSTAND, BUT AT LEAST THERE'S A VERY CLEAR NARRATIVE OF WHAT ANTI-BLACK RACISM HAS BEEN.

THAT DOESN'T ALWAYS PLAY OUT THE SAME WAY IN OTHER COUNTRIES.

>> FOR SURE.

THIS IS WHAT MY WORK IS.

MY WORK IS TRYING TO EXPAND OUR UNDERSTANDING OF RACISM AND ANTI-BLACKNESS.

IN AMERICA, WE VERY MUCH OPERATE ON THE BLACK/WHITE BINARY.

WE HAVE SLAVERY AND JIM CROW THAT SHAPE RACE RELATIONS.

IN EASTERN EUROPE, YOU DON'T HAVE THAT.

YOU DON'T HAVE A HISTORY OF SLAVERY.

I GET IT FROM BOTH SIDES.

I GET TOLD THERE CAN'T BE RACE NIX RACEISM IN EASTERN EUROPE BECAUSE SLAVERY DIDN'T EXIST.

YOU HAVE THE SIDE WHEN YOU TRY TO TALK ABOUT HOW DIFFERENT RACE FUNCTIONS IN EASTERN EUROPE, I GET, YOU ARE DENYING RACISM.

IT'S CONTEXT YOUAL.

IT DOESN'T LOOK THE SAME AS IN THE UNITED STATES.

WE HAVE STRUCTURAL RACISM ALONG WITH CULTURAL RACISM OR SOCIAL.

IN EASTERN EUROPE, A LOT OF WAYS, THE STRUCTURAL PART OF RACISM IS MISSING.

UNFORTUNATELY, RUSSIA HAS LEARNED AND IS LEARNING SOCIAL -- STRUCTURAL RACISM.

FOR EXAMPLE, THERE ARE INSTANCES OVER THE SUMMER WHERE PEOPLE WERE REPORTING YOU SEE SIGNS THAT SAY NO DARK FACES WHEN PEOPLE ARE TRYING TO APPLY FOR APARTMENTS.

THAT WAS HAPPENING IN RUSSIA.

UKRAINE IS DIFFERENT.

YOU HAVE PEOPLE WHO ARE MINORITIES.

PEOPLE STARING AT ME, TAKING PICTURES OF ME.

THIS HAPPENS A LOT.

AFRICAN STUDENTS, AFRICAN AMERICAN ARE ATTACKED BECAUSE THE IDEA OF STEALING WHITE WOMEN, THAT'S EXISTED IN THE UNITED STATES, IS VERY MUCH INFLUENCING EASTERN EUROPE.

THE WAYS IN WHICH WE OPERATE, THE WAYS IN WHICH BLACKNESS IS UNDERSTOOD IS DIFFERENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE SUCH LITTLE CONTACT WITH PEOPLE OF COLOR.

>> OF COURSE.

OF COURSE.

I'M WONDERING, FOR THE AFRO UKRAINIANS AND STUDENTS OF COLOR WHO HAVE BEEN ABLE TO GET OUT OF UKRAINE, DO YOU KNOW WHAT THEIR EXPERIENCE HAS BEEN LIKE, WHETHER THEY HAVE BEEN AS WELCOMED INTO OTHER COUNTRIES?

THERE'S ALSO A CONCERN THAT THE WAY PEOPLE ARE LOOKING AT OR LOOKING TO HELP UKRAINIAN REFUGEES, WHICH, AGAIN, WE WANT TO BE VERY CLEAR, WE THINK IS ABSOLUTELY BEAUTIFUL.

BUT IT IS VERY DIFFERENT FROM THE WAY OTHER GROUPS OF REFUGEES HAVE BEEN TREATED.

>> ABSOLUTELY.

THIS HAS BEEN A CONCERN OF MINE SINCE THE WAR FIRST STARTED.

IT WAS NOT ONLY GETTING PEOPLE OF COLOR OUT OF UKRAINE BUT HOW WILL THEY BE TREATED AFTER THEY ARE OUT OF UKRAINE?

WE HAVE BEEN SEEING SCARY REPORTS.

REPORTS OF FAR RIGHT GANGS IN SLOVAKIA THAT ARE TARGETING PEOPLE OF COLOR WHO ARE REFUGEES FROM UKRAINE.

YOU SEE SIMILAR REPORTS IN POLAND WHERE FAR RIGHT GANGS ARE FOCUSING AND TARGETING PEOPLE OF COLOR.

I THINK THIS IS ALSO A PROBLEM.

IT'S REALLY HARD TO TALK ABOUT THESE ISSUES AND TO SAY, YES, THERE'S RACISM, EVEN IF WE GET INTO POLAND, YOU ARE NOT NECESSARILY SAFE.

PEOPLE WANT TO PUSH BACK ON THAT AS IF YOU ARE RAINING ON THE PARADE.

PEOPLE OF COLOR ARE REFUGEES FROM UKRAINE AND THEY ARE STILL IN DANGER IN MANY WAYS.

WE HAVE TO ADDRESS THAT.

FOR EVERY PICTURE WE SEE OF THE POLISH MOTHERS WHO HAVE LEFT THE BABY CARRIAGES FOR THE UKRAINIAN MOTHERS COMING INTO THE COUNTRY, THERE ARE INSTANCES OF AFRICANS BEING BEAT UP.

THESE TWO THINGS ARE OPERATING AND EXISTING IN THE SAME SPACES.

YES, THERE ARE MANY GOOD FEEL-GOOD STORIES OF AFRICANS AND MIDDLE EASTERN STUDENTS AND INDIANS BEING HELPED.

THOSE ARE -- SHOULD BE CELEBRATED.

WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE, THERE'S A FULL SPECTRUM IN TREATMENT OF PEOPLE OF COLOR AS REFUGEES IN EASTERN EUROPE.

WE HAVE TO RECOGNIZE THAT.

WE CAN'T HIDE IT.

>> I ALSO DO WANT TO TURN AT LEAST TO YOU PERSONALLY.

YOU HAVE BECOME SOMETHING OF AN ONLINE CELEBRITY.

WHICH I GUESS IS -- FOR A TERRIBLE REASON, BUT YOU HAVE BEEN TRYING TO DO A LOT OF GOOD.

I'M WONDERING, WHAT IT IS YOU HAVE BEEN ABLE TO SHARE WITH PEOPLE?

WHAT HAS BEEN THE DIGITAL RESPONSE TO WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN SAYING?

>> IT HAS BEEN WILD.

LITERALLY, TWO WEEKS AGO I WAS JUST A GRADUATE STUDENT TWEETING ABOUT CANFFEINE ADDICTION.

THE RESPONSE HAS BEEN POSITIVE.

PEOPLE HAVE -- I WAS TWEETING ABOUT CONTEXT WHEN ALL THIS STARTED.

WHEN PUTIN WAS SAYING THESE REALLY HORRIBLE THINGS ABOUT UKRAINE, I WAS USING WHAT I KNEW TO SAY THIS ISN'T TRUE, THIS ISN'T TRUE, THIS IS HOW THIS WORKS.

NOW I HAVE BECOME THIS REPOSITORY OF INFORMATION.

I HAVE BEEN DOING A LOT OF WORK TO HELP THE FOREIGN STUDENTS WHO REACHED OUT TO ME ON TWITTER.

IT'S MY LIFE LINE TO THEM NOW.

I KEEP UP WITH THEM ON EMAIL AND TWITTER.

I CHECK ON THEM EVERY DAY.

THERE'S A LOT OF NEGATIVE.

I SHOULDN'T BE SURPRISED.

I'M A REGULAR PERSON.

I HAVE BEEN CALLED A CIA PLANT, WHICH IS INTERESTING.

I STILL NEED TO READ THREE BOOKS BY WEDNESDAY TO DO MY HOMEWORK.

I'M NOT A PLANT.

PEOPLE HAVE ACCUSED ME OF BEING RACIST FOR TALKING ABOUT NUANCES THAT WE SEE THAT ARE GOING ON IN UKRAINE AND POLAND AND TRYI INGO CON CONTEXTUALIZE WHAT WE SEE.

I TRY TO DIRECT RESOURCES TO PEOPLE.

I COMPILED DIFFERENT RESOURCES THAT I WAS SEEING FOR VARIOUS STUDENTS.

FOR CHRONICALLY ILL REFUGEES, LGBTQ PEOPLE LEAVING UKRAINE.

I'VE BEEN TRYING TO GET RESOURCES TO PEOPLE.

BUT ALSO TO MAKE THE WORLD MORE AWARE.

I PROMISED STUDENT, I'M NOT GOING TO LET ANYONE FORGET YOU.

THEY ARE WORRIED PEOPLE WILL FORGET THEM OR THEY WILL BE LEFT.

I TOLD THEM, I WILL USE EVERY INTERVIEW OR WHATEVER I HAVE TO LET THE WORLD KNOW ABOUT YOU.

THAT'S WHAT I'M DOING NOW.

TRYING TO GET RESOURCES TO PEOPLE.

KEEP AWARENESS.

I WATCHED IN 2014, I WAS FINISHING MY MASTER'S AND HARVARD.

I WAS WRITING ABOUT UKRAINE.

I WATCHED HOW PEOPLE STARTED TO FORGET THE EAST.

THEY FORGOT CRIMEA.

I DON'T WANT PEOPLE TO FORGET ABOUT THESE FOREIGN STUDENTS AND THE BLACK UKRAINIANS, BROWN UKRAINIANS.

THEY EXIST.

THEY ARE VICTIMS OF THIS WAR.

>> OF COURSE.

KIMBERLY, I WANT TO THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR TAKING THE TIME TO JOIN US.

ALSO, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR THE WORK THAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING IN TRYING TO SHARE RESOURCES.

THAT SEEMS TO BE SOMETHING THAT IS AT LEAST AS OF THIS MOMENT STILL LACKING FOR A LOT OF PEOPLE.

I WOULD DIRECT ANYONE WHO WANTS TO FIND OUT WHAT YOU HAVE BEEN DOING TO FOLLOW YOU ON TWITTER.

IS THAT THE BEST WAY?

>> YES.

>> LISTEN, THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR JOINING US.

>> THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.

>>> EVERYONE HAS THEIR STORY.

WHO, IF ANYONE, WILL TELL YOU?

FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS, AN ORGANIZATION CALLED THE MOTH HAS EVERYDAY PEOPLE SHARE THEIR STORY ONE AT A TIME TO A ROOM OF STRANGERS.

THIS SIMPLE PROCESS HAS AT BUILT TO MOVE THE HEARTS OF LISTENERS AS ONLY THE GIFT OF GOOD STORYTELLING CAN.

WE TAUGHT UP WITH A STORYTELLER AND HER COACH AT A RECENT EVENT IN NEW YORK CITY.

>> THE MOTH IS A NOT FOR PROFIT ORGANIZATION.

IT'S DEDICATED TO THE ART AND CRAFT OF TRUE PERSONAL STORY.

WE SAY THAT THESE PERSONAL STORIES HONOR BOTH THE COMMON I'LLTY COMMONALITY OF THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.

MOST OF THEM COVER THE POINTS IN BETWEEN.

>> LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, OUR STORYTELLERS.

>> I WAS A SOLDIER -- >> IT WAS MORE BEAUTY -- >> THE MOTH MAIN STAGE.

THE BULK OF WHAT YOU HEAR.

WE HAVE OPEN MIKE SLAM NIGHTS, WHICH ARE IN 26 CITIES.

WE HAVE THE MOTH COMMUNITY PROGRAM.

WHICH BRINGS PERSONAL STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS TO COMMUNITY GROUPS IN THE STATES.

NOW ALSO IN AFRICA.

TOMORROW NIGHT, THE THEME IS GLOBAL STORIES OF WOMEN AND GIRLS.

>> OUR NEXT STORYTELLER, WHEN I ASKED, WHAT IS YOUR SUPERPOWER, SHE SAID THE PERFECT ANSWER.

SHE SAID, BEING A WOMAN.

PLEASE WELCOME USA TAPPA.

>> I'M ON ASSIGNMENT FOR THE GOVERNMENT.

I'M AN OBSTETRICIAN AND GYNECOLOGIST.

I'M FROM NEPAL.

I'M BASED IN WASHINGTON, D.C. >> THE MORE YOU CAN VISUALIZE IT AND YOU CAN PUT US INTO THE MOMENT WITH YOUR FEELINGS, ALL THE STORYTELLERS WERE PART OF PERSONAL STORYTELLING WORKSHOPS.

THE PURPOSE IS REALLY TO FIND THESE PERSONAL STORIES THAT THE STORYTELLERS CHOOSE TO TELL.

THEY WANT TO TELL.

TO HELP THEM CRAFT THE STORY.

THE STORYTELLERS WILL ALSO WANT TO TELL THOSE STORIES AND OTHER PERSONAL STORIES OUT IN THE WORLD.

>> LET'S TRY T. I WE CAN TALK T SARAH.

SHE'S REALLY TRAINING ME ON STORYTELLING.

I'VE BEEN HELPING OUT.

I'VE FINISHED A SURGERY AND RESTING OVER A CUP OF TEA.

EVER SINCE I WAS A SMALL GIRL, I HAD ALWAYS THOUGHT I WOULD BE A DOCTOR ONE DAY.

THAT WAS WHAT MY DREAMS WERE.

PARTICULARLY BECAUSE IN OUR COUNTRY SO MANY WOMEN ARE JUST DYING.

THAT'S WHY I DECIDED TO DO OBSTETRICS AND GYNECOLOGY AND SERVE THESE WOMEN.

THE PHONE RINGS.

I QUICKLY GRAB THE PHONE AS I KNOW IT'S FROM HOME.

SUDDENLY, I HEAR A STRANGE MAN'S VOICE ON THE OTHER END.

I WANT YOU TO CHANGE THE REPORT OF A YOUNG GIRL.

YOU EXAMINED HER TWO MONTHS BACK.

THE PERSON YOU GAVE THE REPORT AGAINST IS ONE OF HER CARRIERS AND HE IS IN POLICE CUSTODY.

WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THE REPORT IS CHANGED TO NOT BEING SEXUAL ASSAULT.

WE BELONG TO THE ARMED REBELS.

YOU KNOW WHAT THE CONSEQUENCES ARE IF YOU DON'T.

I WAS FRIGHTENED.

I DID NOT KNOW WHAT THIS MEANT FOR ME.

>> IN THE WORKSHOP, WE TAKE A LOT OF TIME TO FIND, IN MANY CASES, BIG DECISIONS THAT YOU HAD TO MAKE THAT CHANGED THE COURSE OF YOUR LIFE.

>> LASHESSHESHE WAS ONLY 13 YEA.

THAT WAS THE VERDICT I HAD GIVEN.

NOW, AT GUNPOINT, I WAS MADE TO CHANGE MY DECISION.

BUT ALL ALONG, I KNEW WHAT MY DECISION WOULD BE.

>> I WANT TO MAKE SURE I'M FEELING AS CLOSE TO YOU IN YOUR STORY AS POSSIBLE.

TELL ME HOW THAT FELT.

GIVE ME ALL OF THE FEELING.

THE FEELING BACKS UP THE PLOT POINTS.

WE SAY, IT'S NOT AND THEN AND THEN AND THEN.

IT'S, WHAT'S AT STAKE FOR YOU?

>> NECESSARY FOR ME TO SAY I'M NO LONGER DOING A CLINICAL PRACTICE.

THE REASON IS THAT MY WHOLE LIFE --OBSTETRICIAN.

I WAS DOING ALL THAT.

NOW I'M IN -- >> I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT.

>> FOR ME IT'S SO IMPORTANT IN MY LIFE.

>> YEAH.

YEAH.

THAT YOU HAD TO GIVE IT UP.

>> MM-HMM.

I JUST GET EMOTIONAL.

>> LET ME ASK YOU, WHY DO YOU EMPOWER THE HEALTH WORKERS?

WHY DO YOU TEACH THE HEALTH WORKERS LIKE YOU DO?

>> THE REASON BEING SO THAT THEY ARE CONFIDENT.

THEY ALSO UNDERSTAND THAT -- THE IMPORTANCE OF THIS.

>> ONCE WE HAVE THOSE CONVERSATIONS TO PULL -- I SAY PULL OUT ALL THE PIECES, THEN WE TRY TO FIGURE OUT HOW WE CAN PUT IT BACK TOGETHER AGAIN SO THAT THERE'S A VERY DEFINABLE PERSONAL ARC.

>> THESE GIRLS DESERVE JUSTICE.

THEY DESERVE THE RIGHT TO LIVE WITH DIGNITY.

I DECIDED, I WOULD BE THEIR VOICE.

AT THE END, THERE WERE LOTS OF PEOPLE WHO CAME TO ME AND HELD MY HANDS AND CONGRATULATED ME, WHICH SHOWED ME THEY FELT THE WAY I DID.

THE EXPRESSION WHICH THEY HAD IN THEIR FACE, LIKE THEY WERE LIVING THOSE MOMENTS WITH ME.

I CONTINUE TO BUILD THE SKILLS OF FRONT LINE HEALTH WORKERS TO EMPOWER THEM SO THAT THEY CAN STAND FOR THESE GIRLS.

THEY CAN STAND FOR THE SURVIVORS.

NO MATTER WHAT THE RISK.

NO ONE WILL EVER TURN THEIR BACK ON THEM AGAIN.

THANK YOU.

[ APPLAUSE ] >> ME"METROFOCUS" IS MADE POSSIE BY --