Introducing the ENODI project — call for subjects

Michael Rain
Aug 24, 2017 · 3 min read

Greetings good people,

For the next four months, I have the privilege of being in Residence at TED, working on my idea worth spreading—the ENODI project. ENODI will highlight the lives of first-generation people and immigrants of African, Caribbean and Latin descent.

I will profile somewhere between 30 and 50 people, by capturing their stories and photographing them. I am inspired by Helena Price’s Techie’s Project, which I am using as the model.

I want to feature people who are willing to share a range of stories about their lives and their identities. I want to know how living at the intersection of these have impacted the person you are, and affects your view of the world. I want to hear about the accomplishments and the challenges of your life. I want you to share how your experiences have made you who you are, and have impacted the life you have chosen to live.

Interviews and portraits will occur from September through November, in person. All subjects must be able to meet with me at TED headquarters in New York City. If you do not live in New York, but will be here during this period, please consider participating.

Homepage from the forthcoming website

What’s an ENODI?

ENODI is a term I’ve created to define a group of people that meet all three of these points of identity:

  1. You are directly from or one generation removed from a country in Africa, the Caribbean or Latin and South America (i.e. you or at least one of your parents were born and raised in one of these countries).
  2. You were born in or immigrated at a young age to a country different from the one at least one of your parents were born and raised. You grew up in this country.
  3. You identify as Black, either as determined by the country you grew up in, or general, in an international way.

For an example, I am an ENODI, because I was born and raised in the US, my parents were born and raised in Ghana and I identify as Black.

You may have been born and raised in the UK, your parents might be from Jamaica and you identify as Black. You might have been born in Panama, where your parents were born, but came to Toronto at 14 years old, where you grew up and you consider yourself Black.

How will this work?

  1. If you are an ENODI, please consider participating by submitting this form. If selected, we will have a great conversation. I will take great photos of you. It will be dope.
  2. If you know some cool ENODIs nominate them, or encourage them to nominate themselves.

Kindly apply by October 30, 2017 and I will follow up with more details and messages if you’re selected to participate.

I encourage you to share and distribute this with your community and professional networks, with your friends, with your colleagues, with your schools, with any and everyone whom you believe would make a great feature.

If you have any questions, reach out to me at ENODI@mjrain.com.

I’m looking forward to hearing from all of you.

Cheers,

Michael

ENODI

Highlighting the lives of first generation people and immigrants people of African, Caribbean and Latin descent.

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Michael Rain

Written by

I communicate ideas through written and visual stories // ENODI Founder // Stanford JSK (Knight) Fellow // @Columbia Alum // Emerging designer and techie

ENODI

ENODI

Highlighting the lives of first generation people and immigrants people of African, Caribbean and Latin descent.

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