Brave Like Us:
Immigrant Stories of Family and Belonging
Migration is not a single moment in time, but an ongoing act of love and care—one that continues through a shared meal, teaching a family recipe, sharing stories, and the quiet strength of showing up for one another.
Brave Like Us is a storytelling series featuring intimate moments between parents and their adult children, celebrating the bond between generations and honoring the bravery and courage it took to leave home and begin again.
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Meet Jesus & Jesus
This is Jesús Gallegos and Jesús Martín Gallegos-Muñoz, a father and son whose lives are shaped by family, migration, and life along la frontera. As a child, Jesús (the father) was forced to leave his home in Mexico and migrate to the United States with his family. For more than 30 years, Jesús (the father) saw the toll it took on his dad of living as a fronterizo, crossing back and forth between the U.S. and Mexico to provide for his family. Jesús (the son) saw the sacrifices his father made and the resilience it took to navigate life across borders.
Like father, like son, Jesús carried on his father’s legacy of love, sacrifice, and courage. Jesús Martín grew up watching his father work hard, often having two or three jobs just to make ends meet. The sacrifices never went unnoticed. In an intimate conversation, Jesús Martín and his father, Jesús, discuss their family history while enjoying their favorite meal: carne asada.
Watch them share their story in the video below.
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Meet Marthe & Nerly
This is Marthe Jean Pierre Millien and Nerly Bates-Gray, a mother and daughter whose lives are shaped by family, migration, and their Haitian roots. They were forced to leave Haiti after losing family to the violence there, and Marthe (the mother) bravely brought her family to the United States seeking safety and a chance to begin again. Here in San Diego, Marthe and her family opened one of the city’s few Haitian restaurants, Caribbean Pleasure, creating a space to share the flavors, culture, and stories of their homeland with the community.
Through this restaurant, Marthe continues to honor Haiti, connecting with others through food and cooking, and passing on her love for her culture. Nerly (the daughter) grew up learning the value of hard work, carrying her culture proudly, and expressing her Haitian identity through both family and community. Together, they show how courage, family, and tradition can take root and thrive, even far from home.
Watch them share their story in the video below.
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Meet Ian & Deion
This is Ian Seruelo and Deion Seruelo, a father and son whose lives are shaped by family, migration, and their community. Ian (the father) came to the United States from the Philippines, bringing Deion (the son) with him when he was just a kid. Back home, Ian was an activist, and when it got too dangerous for him and his family, they made the difficult yet brave decision to leave their home and everything they knew. One of the hardest parts for Ian in leaving was saying goodbye to his friends and comrades, but he promised to keep fighting for his community in San Diego.
Ian now works as an immigration lawyer, fighting to keep families together and standing alongside the community that shaped him. Deion grew up watching what commitment looks like, not just in words, but in action, seeing his dad Ian courageously show up day after day for others. Deion carries his cultural pride and the Philippines in his heart, rooted in where he comes from–values that continue to guide him. Today, Deion is a youth activist, carrying that legacy forward and learning, in his own way, what it means to be brave, stand up, and show up for your community.
Watch them share their story in the video below.
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