Three months ago, if someone had told me
I’d spend my first job out of college being interviewed by a Russian news
channel in Manhattan, I’d probably think they were confusing me with somebody
else. But now, as a local hire supporting Hurricane Sandy recovery in New
York, I’m fully engaged with media and spreading information about disaster
assistance.
CAPTION: Samantha Shokin being interviewed by Russian
Television International at the Sheepshead Bay disaster recovery center.
When Sandy struck Brighton Beach, New
York’s Russian enclave where I live with my family, it felt like fate was
against us. Fortunately, just a few weeks after the disaster, I found a
job through FEMA that turned out to be Sandy’s silver lining for me.
My role as a Russian-speaking media
relations specialist enables me to couple my passion for media and
communications with my strong ties to the Russian community. I was born
in New York City and raised by immigrant parents who maintained a strong
Russian presence in the home. My family instilled in me a love for the
language and culture, which was reflected in my coursework in college. At
New York University, along with journalism and creative writing, I took a
number of Russian literature courses to study the great writers and to learn
more about my heritage.
Using my knowledge of local Russian
media, with guidance from experienced mentors in FEMA External Affairs, I was
able to organize meetings with editors and producers at Davidzon Radio, Russian
Television International, and Reporter, a Russian-language daily. We
talked about registration, housing assistance, the importance of returning the
SBA disaster loan application form, and other disaster assistance-related
topics.
These meetings allowed us to reach out
to the Russian-speaking community devastated by Sandy. Gregory Davidzon, owner
and talk show host of Davidzon Radio, was especially receptive to our outreach
efforts and invited me and my colleagues to speak on his program a number of
times.
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