My American Dream: A Celebration and Conversation in New York

My American Dream: A Journey from Fascism to Freedom  
A conversation with bestselling author Barbara Sommer Feigin '59 and "Deadline: White House" host Nicolle Wallace

Whitman alumni, parents and friends are invited to celebrate the launch of Barbara's new book, My American Dream: A Journey from Fascism to Freedom. Barbara and Nicolle will lead a conversation of the importance of dreaming big, working hard, and never quitting. A book signing and reception will follow the event. 

About the book: On August 4, 1940, the Seattle Times featured a photo of a toddler sitting on a dock, surrounded by suitcases and looking dazed. After a harrowing journey with her parents, she’d just stepped off a boat and into her new life in America. Barbara Sommer Feigin was that little girl.

Over seventy years later, Feigin made a stunning discovery: her Jewish father had kept a detailed journal that chronicled their family’s escape from Nazi Germany. Her parents had never spoken of it, and she remembered nothing of their terrifying, death-defying passage three-quarters of the way around the world—from Berlin to Seattle by way of Lithuania, Russia, China, Korea, and Japan before crossing the Pacific.

My American Dream is a memoir of resilience, grit, and grace that starts with the entire text of Feigin’s father’s journal, relating in his own words the terrifying details of the family’s escape. Feigin goes on to weave together three intertwining narratives of her own life: her early years as a young, German-speaking refugee living in a small Washington town; her career as a trailblazing executive in the New York City advertising industry; and her devotion to her family.

Despite overwhelming odds, her parents’ grueling journey to America has fueled Feigin’s lifelong resolve to dream big, work hard, and never quit. My American Dream is an inspiring tale of love, dedication, and how uncovering the past and preserving history can inform your identity.

About Barbara Feigin: Barbara graduated from Whitman College, earning a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science, and completed a graduate program in business administration run jointly by Harvard Business School and Radcliffe Graduate School. In her illustrious 30-year career at Grey Advertising (now Grey Global Group), she solidified her reputation as a visionary thinker. In all her years as a senior advertising executive and a corporate director, she was more often than not the only woman in the room. In 2017, Feigin was named one of the century's Legendary Pioneers by Grey. Barbara is a Whitman College trustee emerita, having served as an overseer and trustee for 27 years. She is the mother of three adult sons:  Michael, managing editor of online healthcare company, Trellus; Peter, President of the Milwaukee Bucks; and Daniel, head of NYC’s Trevor Day School.

About Nicolle Wallace: Nicolle Wallace is a journalist, author, and the host of “Deadline: White House,” airing weeknights at 4 p.m. ET on MSNBC. Wallace is a former co-host of ABC’s “The View,” and prior to her current role, she served as a frequent MSNBC contributor. She is a former White House Communications Chief under George W. Bush, and served as a senior advisor for the John McCain 2008 presidential campaign. In addition, Wallace is the bestselling author of three political novels. Wallace is a graduate of the University of California, Berkeley and Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism.