Obama Leader Spotlight: Ingi Mehus

For Ingi Mehus , listening to and recording hundreds of personal stories from around the world has helped her better understand how we are all interconnected—not in spite of human migration, but because of it.?

For Stress Awareness Month, we spoke to Ingi who is part of our Obama Leaders Europe 2023 cohort about the unique stressors migrants face–and how the power of storytelling can make us feel less alone.

As a transracial adoptee, Ingi’s personal experiences of feeling unrepresented in her culture and “underestimated by society,” inspired her to launch Pocket Stories , a foundation that connects people with unheard voices and reframing a more inclusive migration narrative.

“After listening to hundreds of stories, I believe all humans are migrants, because we all move in the pursuit of a better life, whether it is temporarily or for the rest of our lives,” Ingi explained.? “Unfortunately, the polarizing and xenophobic migration narratives prevent us from finding our common ground. Instead, people cultivate isolation, discrimination, fear and shame, which are all major stressors for already marginalized people.”

In the context of stress alleviation and wellbeing, Ingi believes we need to practice how to engage with the discomfort that vulnerability brings, particularly when we hear stories that illuminate an unjust system that calls us to confront our own assumptions and privileges. If we don’t, she says, “marginalized people will continue to self-censor and be silent to avoid skepticism, exasperation, ridicule, and hate.”

Through Pocket Stories, Ingi has seen how people can experience an enormous sense of relief and empowerment when they choose to break their silence and author their own stories— despite the sadness, anxiety, or fear they’re experiencing.

“People often ask me, ‘Do I have stories worth telling?’ and my answer is always ‘YES!’