Episode 9: Negotiating Insider and Outsider Status with Celso Perez
March 9, 2021
Charles Vogl welcomes Celso Perez who shares his experience presenting himself in public with more than one identity. As an immigrant and gay man, he shares his own lessons about being an outsider and insider in inner circles and his community.
Celso Perez is an immigrant to the United States from the Dominican Republic. He identifies as a Catholic gay man.
He is a staff attorney at the ACLU Immigrants’ Rights Project (IRP). Earlier he was a private immigration attorney and a fellow at Human Rights Watch.
He is a graduate of Boston College and Yale Law School.
SHARED WISDOM:
WISDOM #1 We are always an outsider and insider in life.
We negotiate these roles throughout our growth.
WISDOM #2 Surround yourself with people with dramatically different experiences and perspectives
This will help you understand the world and others more richly.
Until next time, take it slower than you think you should.