INTERNATIONAL DIASPORA LIBRARY
Partnering Authors
The International Diaspora Library (IDL) of the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora is a cultural library where curious readers can access digital stories, books, and other literature pieces of authors with diaspora backgrounds. With digital access to many books worldwide, the IDL will mainly house books of our partnering diaspora authors and serve as a special space, once built, for all to enjoy readings of cultural stories and promotional events for upcoming cultural books or books written by diaspora authors. For families, parents will be able to spend quality reading time with their children to learn about the history of diaspora authors and various cultures.
To join as a partnering author or for more information, donations and sponsorships specific to the library, please contact us at info@idahomid.org.
Award-Winning Children’s Book Author
Vilayvanh Bender is an award-winning children’s book author who immigrated to America as a young refugee girl after the Vietnam War. She now lives in Southern California with her husband and two girls. Bender believes in the importance of cultural preservation and acceptance. Her book, Mommy Eats Fried Grasshoppers, is based on her original story. It is a story of her childhood in Laos as compared to her daughter’s life in the United States. She is also a private practice Registered Dietitian based in Corona, California working with children and families.
​
Dr. Johannes Obergfell
Author and Political Scientist
Dr. Johannes Obergfell is an author of diaspora topics and a political scientist, living in Bavaria, Germany. He completed his PhD in Migration Policies from Friedrich-Alexander-University in Erlangen-Nuremberg, Germany, in 2016. He works in public administration for the Federal Office for Migration and Refugees in Germany. Dr. Obergfell wrote about migration issues in different settings and regions, such as Mexico, Germany, and Turkey. These include his book, Mexiko und die Migration: Vom Paradoxon des gewünschten Problems und dem roten Tuch der Politik, and doctoral dissertation, Abwanderung von Deutschland in die Türkei - Absichten, Ursachen, (Hinter-)Gründe. Dr. Obergfell believes that there is no black and white thinking, or easy answers in the discussion about migration. Migration is rich in variety and omnipresent to our lives, no matter if someone considers himself/herself a person with migration background or not.
​