Hello and welcome to Amjambo Time, the podcast where we explore stories, ideas, and conversations shaping our communities.
I’m your host, Eloge Willy Kaneza.
Today’s episode focuses on an important initiative in Maine’s education landscape: MOXIE Public Schools, a new public charter school preparing to open its doors in Portland in 2026.
At a time when many immigrant and refugee families are navigating uncertainty — from immigration enforcement to long asylum backlogs and housing instability — MOXIE aims to become more than a school. Its founders envision a learning community built on dignity, participation, and trust.
Seats will initially be limited in grades 6 and 9, with the first student offers expected in April 2026, following a public lottery scheduled for April 1. Families are encouraged to submit an interest form early, in a process that MOXIE describes as relational rather than transactional.
But beyond enrollment timelines, the bigger question remains: what does a truly human-centered school look like for students whose lives have been shaped by migration, displacement, and uncertainty?
To explore that question, I spoke with Virgel Hammonds, one of MOXIE’s founding leaders, and Robert Karl, a historian and professor at Minerva University who has spent years studying migration, trauma, and asylum processes.
Our conversation explores language access, belonging in schools, trauma-informed education, and how communities can rebuild trust between families and institutions.
Here is our conversation. You’ve been listening to Amjambo Time, hosted by Eloge Willy Kaneza.
My guests today were Virgel Hammonds, founding leader of MOXIE Public Schools, and Robert Karl, historian and professor at Minerva University.
We discussed the challenges immigrant and refugee families face in education systems — and how new models like MOXIE are trying to create schools where students feel seen, heard, and supported.
If you’d like to learn more about MOXIE Public Schools or submit an interest form for enrollment, you can find more information through their official channels.
Thank you for listening, and until next time, this is Amjambo Time — where stories, ideas,  and community meet.