Tsia Xiong is the chapter director for faith-based grassroots community organization Faith in the Valley – Merced County. Tsia Xiong immigrated to the United States in 1983 as a refugee and faced many challenges as a young student within an education system that does not provide adequate support and resources for refugee students.
Tsia Xiong highlights his experience as a refugee, immigrating to the United States, and encounters with racial oppression. This interview covers topics such as the issues with American school system, refugee students and communities in the Central Valley, the school to prison pipeline, anti-Asian sentiments, and Covid-19. The interview was conducted on May 8th, 2020 via Zoom in order to practice social distancing guidelines during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Interview was conducted by Omar Elserogy, a student at UC San Diego.
