African refugee and Millersville University graduate overcomes hardships

• Aniya Faulcon
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  Aniya Faulcon is The Spark Host/Producer for WITF. She has a passion for shining a light on unique people, experiences, and perspectives within the community.
  
  Previously she worked as the People and Social Trends Reporter/Video Anchor for LancasterOnline | LNPNews. During her time there, she created video packages, provided Facebook Live coverage at community events, and wrote data-driven stories with census data and feature stories on local leaders, non-profit organizations, events, and people with unique talents and experiences within Lancaster County.
  
  Aniya also worked at WMAR ABC 2 News as a Sales Assistant and at the AFRO American Newspapers as an Executive Assistant and Media correspondent. Aniya interned at WEAA Gospel Grace 88.9 and worked at her alma mater’s radio station, WWPJ at Point Park University, where she gained skills and a passion for radio.
  
  Aniya grew up in Baltimore, Maryland and attended the Baltimore School for the arts for high school with a concentration in acting. She continued to hone her skills and passion for storytelling and later graduated from Point Park University in 2018 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting and Broadcast Reporting. Aniya is eager to continue her journey with storytelling in her role with WITF, as she aims to shed a light on real people and real stories within Pennsylvania in a variety of mediums.

 Made in Millersville Journal

Cedrick Kazadi

Airdate: July 25, 2022

A refugee from the Democratic Republic of the Congo in Africa and recent graduate of Millersville University, was forced out of his home in 2002 because of political warfare in Africa.

Cedrick Kazadi lived in a refugee camp with his family from the age of two to sixteen and suffered trauma and hardships there.

Upon resettling in Philadelphia and later in Lancaster, Kazadi overcame past struggles, adjusted to American society, and graduated high school and college on time with honors.

During his time in college, Kazadi rose to be the President of the NAACP chapter at Millersville University after wrestling to overcome identity issues, language, and societal barriers.

Ultimately, Kazadi found the value in his unique story and heritage, in a world where he said he initially felt like an outsider.

He said one of the things that helped him to achieve against all odds, was a belief that his parents instilled in him at an early age: being second is not good enough.

“Yes, there were days that were dark, and it didn’t look like things were going to get better,” said Kazadi. “But at the end of the day I was just pushing and knowing that things could change.”

Kazadi said he considers himself a beacon of light for those with similar journeys following his footsteps.