Suite Latinoamericano: II. Vals
By Vinicio Meza
My Greatest Strength
Written with Katherin
I am from Peru, a lawyer
Two years ago on my birthday
My family was threatened by criminals
The next day, I crossed the border
Into Arizona with my brother
It’s very hard, but I always believe in God.
This is my greatest strength
The police trashed my bags
My brother and I were separated
I was crying for me, my brother, and my things
All I had left were the clothes on my back
No food, no drink, no blanket, nothing
It’s very hard, but I always believe in God.
This is my greatest strength
In a white room, like a large tank
I was very tired, and very cold
No way to know the time, I had nothing
I slept on the cold floor
It was very hard to stay in that place
It’s very hard, but I always believe in God
This is my greatest strength
After five days, the police told me
“You will leave this place.
We will give you your papers.”
A shelter helped with travel tickets
My brother was not with me
It’s very hard, but I always believe in God.
This is my greatest strength
I arrived in Cleveland, I did not speak English
I didn’t have money, or anyone
I didn’t know the transport system
I need a job, I need the work
It’s very hard, but I always believe in God.
This is my greatest strength
One day, I walked into a church
Sat down by virgin Maria
A woman there said she’d help me
I hugged her, I was crying
She reached out to the Hope Center
It’s very hard, but I always believe in God.
This is my greatest strength
That’s when I met Ms. Sharon
She said ‘Oh I like your shoes’
My shoes were all I had left from Peru,
Immediately, I started crying
She helped me find my brother
It’s very hard, but I always believe in God.
This is my greatest strength
Suite Latinoamericano: III. Chôro
By Vinicio Meza
Freedom for a Better Life
Written with Bakhtavar
Born in Afghanistan
My parents brought me to Iran at three
Where we lived for twentyseven years
We were not accepted there
We got a phone call
We had won the lottery to leave
To get our papers we went back to Afghanistan
All the time we heard explosions
It’s really hard to leave
But we left for freedom, and for my daughters
I miss my parents, I didn’t want to leave them
But we came for a better life
All the time my friends told me
You can do it, you can do it
Freedom, for a better life
September 7, 2019
We moved to Cleveland, I knew nothing
One week later I made a new friend
To this day, we are still friends
Five years learning English
In 2024 I got my citizenship
And so did my family too
Teachers and friends, they celebrated me
Elegie for String Trio
By Babrak Wassa
My Life in That Place
Written with Domani
I was born in Homs, Syria
Lived on a magical farm
You heard the sound of birds, trees, and river
It was beautiful
I miss that place and life
Every morning my mom baked bread
That taste and smell I can’t forget
Like breathing in the smell of the forest
It was delicious
I miss that place and life
I drank fresh milk from our cows
We helped my dad feed the animals
We all ate dinner together
Was like one big hug
I miss that place and life
I got married at fourteen
Everything was new
My mother-in-law was very helpful
Taught me lots of things. Made me comfortable
Day after day, I liked my new life
There was a war in my country.
That time was very hard
Needed to move somewhere else for safety
But I had my kids. They were my hope
I miss that place and life
Run to Your Dreams
Written with Mohammed Husam Alchaieb
Born in Jordan, no citizenship
My family is Syrian
My parents put me in Taekwondo
I lost, I won, quit
Came back many times
When you love what you do, you will do anything
I decided to compete in Syria
I was only 16
To travel was risky, because of war
But Taekwondo ran, it ran in my blood
When you love what, you do you will do anything
Refugees can do things, Refugees can do things
They have dreams, run to your dreams
Even if it's a risk, it’s your dream
Because I’m Syrian I had to work more
I had to prove myself
It was a war in sports also
It was so hard but I, I never gave up
When you love what you do, you will do anything
When I was competing in Taekwondo
All I could think about was winning
I made all these risks, I cannot lose
I went, I won in, in all of the matches
When you love what you do, you will do anything
Came to the US when I was 20
Now I am a coach
I don’t know how but it is God’s plan
I’m proud of myself what I did in my life
When you love what you do, you will do anything
Orison: I. Orison (Prayer) and II. Jathis
By Layale Chaker
Stay Connected
Written with Evangeline Byler
Going back home, back to India
It was so reflective for me
I didn’t need to adjust, I was just home
And it was really hard to leave
I saw India in a different way
Through the lens of tradition
Seeing my heritage, seeing my culture
I’m so proud to be from there
How can I be authentic with my identity?
Who am I, what am I holding on to?
What can I bring back to keep me connected?
What can I bring back to keep me connected?
I miss home and its traditions
Things we preserve, that get passed down.
Our language, hospitality, knowing our vendors,
Being in the kitchen with my Ajji
I’m a mom to baby Ellie now
She may not experience these things.
How can I show her this in Cleveland?
I think about these questions more
How can I be authentic with my identity?
Who am I, what am I holding on to?
What can I bring back to keep us connected?
What can I bring back to keep us connected?
When I came here, I lost a bit of who I was
No one talks about how hard it is
To lose a part of yourself
It was a leap of faith,
A fresh start
Thula Baba, Thula Sana
Traditional Zulu Lullaby
Siyahamba
South African Hymn
My Plea
Written with Anele Zondo
I was born at the end of apartheid,
Black kid raised in a white family
Mom was the help, they adopted me,
That’s what it means to stand in the middle.
As a girl I was loved, and let go
Too small to swim but the river wouldn’t wait
My moms’ prayers, they carried me
That’s what it means to stand in the middle.
It was Him
Giving light in times that felt dark
Don’t keep your light from me, don’t keep your light from me
Someone catch me downstream
One gave me roots, one showed me the sky
Neither could keep me, grief and love coincide
Love’s far wider than the shape it takes
That’s what it means to stand in the middle.
Young black kid in an all white classroom
Wore their language like a coat that didn’t fit
Zulu lived only where love knew my name
That’s what it means to stand in the middle.
I never saw myself as an immigrant
Just saw myself as part of this community
What was meant to be the land of opportunity
Feels like rejection to me
Maman a Fait (Mama made)
Written with Franck Hamadachi
My family is from the DR Congo
But there was war, and there was a genocide
So we migrated to South Africa
My mom raised me and my twin brother.
I admire my mom so much
I am who I am because of us (call)
I am who I am because of us (response)
It was always the four of us
My twin brother, my mom, and my aunt
Mom was doing the best that she could
My aunt stepped up, raised us with my mom
It was hard raising twins, just the two of them
I am who I am because of us (call)
I am who I am because of us (response)
Where I lived there was a lot of crime
Couldn’t afford transport, so we would walk a lot
Mom would go to the park with us
And hand out food to the homeless
Taught me you enjoy life by helping out
I am who I am because of us (call)
I am who I am because of us (response)
Racist residual from apartheid
Mom did not want us where it was unsafe
She was organizing for my aunt
To adopt us in America
That process took six or seven years
I am who I am because of us (call)
I am who I am because of us (response)
My mom said ‘Look in your passport,
You have visas to go to America.’
Moved to Dallas when I was 14
Didn’t see my mom for 10 years
She really did want us to have better
I am who I am because of us (call)
I am who I am because of us (response)
Visit the Documentary Songwriting website to learn more about Renovare Music’s approach to collaborative songwriting.
Learn more about The Hope Center for Refugees and Immigrants here.