📖 Description:

In this intimate oral history interview, acclaimed international best-selling author and Emmy Award-winning producer Yvette Manessis Corporon joins Dr. Nicholas Alexiou of the Hellenic American Project (HAP) at Queens College, CUNY, for a powerful exploration of Greek-American identity, legacy, and storytelling.

Hosted in collaboration with the Greek Elder Care Network and co-produced by Angie Xidias, this event was filmed before a live audience as part of HAP’s ongoing efforts to document and preserve the voices of the Greek diaspora.

From her early memories of her yiayia’s stories on the island of Erikoussa to her career in mainstream American media, Yvette reflects on the importance of ancestral memory, family sacrifice, and the role of storytelling in keeping identity alive across generations.

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Key Themes Discussed

  • The legacy of Greek immigration and preserving family history

  • Growing up Greek-American: food, faith, language, and values

  • The emotional foundation behind When the Cypress Whispers and Something Beautiful Happened

  • The bravery of the people of Erikoussa during WWII in protecting a Jewish family

  • The significance of oral history and how stories from our elders shape who we become

  • The evolution of Greek-American women’s voices in literature and television

  • Reflections on writing, research, and honoring truth in storytelling

  • A call to preserve personal family narratives before they’re lost to time

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About the Interview

  • Interviewer: Dr. Nicholas Alexiou (Professor of Sociology, Founder of HAP)

  • Interviewee: Yvette Manessis Corporon (Author & Emmy Award-Winning Producer)

  • Co-Produced by: Angie Xidias & Greek Elder Care Network

  • Videography & Editing: Grammaticus Macedon

  • Event Hosted at: Queens College, CUNY

🌐 Learn More

Visit the Hellenic American Project: www.hapsoc.org

Discover Yvette’s books: www.yvettecorporon.com

📌 Tags

#GreekAmerican #OralHistory #HellenicAmericanProject #YvetteCorporon #GreekDiaspora #GreekWomenVoices #GreekHeritage #WWIIStories #HAP #Erikoussa #GreekAuthors #PreserveHistory