Tereza Lee: Dreamers In Action

Rebel Girls

Kids & Family, Stories For Kids, Education For Kids

4.5 • 7.2K Ratings

🗓️ 27 January 2026

⏱️ 18 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

Often described as the “original DREAMer,” Tereza Lee is an activist and musician who bravely stepped out of the shadows to share her story as a young undocumented immigrant in the United States. Although the U.S. Congress has yet to pass the DREAM Act, which would offer protections for undocumented youth, Tereza’s decision to tell the world her story helped build a national movement for undocumented youth—and launched Tereza into a life of activism that continues to this day. About the Narrator Laurene Powell Jobs is founder and president of Emerson Collective. Emerson’s mission centers on advancing immigration policies, preserving the environment, re-envisioning the future of high school, and ending gun violence in Chicago. Powell Jobs serves as board chair of The XQ Institute and College Track, a college completion program she founded in 1997 to combat the alarming achievement gap among students of color. Credits This podcast is a production of Rebel Girls and Boom Integrated, a division of John Marshall Media. It’s based on the book series Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls. Our Executive Producers are Jes Wolfe and Katie Sprenger. This season was produced by John Marshall Cheary, Sarah Storm, and Robin Lai. Corinne Peterson is our Production Manager. This episode was written by Alexis Stratton and edited by Maithy Vu. Proofread by Ariana Rosas. Original theme music was composed and performed by Elettra Bargiacchi who has also sound designed this episode. Mattia Marcelli was the sound mixer. [This episode previously aired in 2020.]

Transcript

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0:00.0	Once upon a time, there was a girl who inspired millions of immigrants to march out of the shadows.
0:08.0	Her name is Teresa.
0:10.0	Teresa grew up in northwest Chicago, where she lived in a basement apartment with her mom, dad, and little brother.
0:17.0	She loved her family, but life wasn't easy. Teresa's parents, who were from South Korea,
0:24.7	had lost everything in the aftermath of the Korean War. They had fled to Brazil, where Teresa
0:30.4	was born, and started a successful clothing business. However, one day, a family member stole all their money.
0:39.4	Left with nothing and no one to turn to, Teresa's parents decided to move to the United States.
0:45.4	Teresa's mom sold her most prized possession, her wedding ring,
0:49.6	and used the money to buy plane tickets.
1:00.2	Music used the money to buy plane tickets. I'm Lorraine Powell Jobs, and this is Good Night Stories for Rebel Girls,
1:05.6	a fairy tale podcast about the rebel women who inspire us.
1:10.5	This week, Teresa Lee.
1:16.6	In 1985, when Teresa was two years old, her parents took her on a plane bound for the U.S.,
1:23.6	where they believed they could create a better life for their family.
1:32.1	But in Chicago, that better life seemed out of reach.
1:38.4	The family's apartment had no furniture, no heat, and no hot water.
1:47.0	Teresa shivered through the cold winters, and at other times, hunger gnawed at her belly. Then one day, when Teresa was around seven years old, her family received an incredible gift.
1:57.0	Teresa's father was a minister, and when one parishioner saw how they were living, she filled their apartment with furniture, including an upright piano.
2:08.6	Teresa was drawn to the instrument immediately.
2:12.8	She played piano at the church before, and when her fingertips glided across the cool keys,
2:20.4	her troubles always melted away.
2:23.7	Teresa practiced on her new piano for hours and hours.
	...

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