Akkriti's Story

I immigrated here when I was 15 yrs old with my mother. I left everything I knew and everyone I loved, for a better education and job opportunities. I now have been lucky enough to be exposed to such diversity and find my passion in American Sign Language. I can not imagine my life without working with deaf people.


Marika's Story

My grandparents met in Belgium after Poland was liberated. They came to the USA by boat, and their first child was conceived on board. They arrived in NY to find that their sponsor in the states had died during the crossing. Luckily, his daughter agreed to sponsor them. One day, while walking in the Bronx, a woman confronted my grandmother. My grandmother was terrified by strangers, but the women turned out to be her brother’s former girlfriend- after everything they’d been through, it was like seeing family.

We may be uprooted, but we find ways to create and build families and communities, and welcome those who follow us, even if we don’t know them, and they come from a place other than ourselves.

We also thank the people whose lands these are, and try to do better than those before us at respecting their lives and their relationship to this place.

Hannah's Story

I am the daughter of a Palestinian father and British mother who moved to the US in the 1970s. After the 1948 Nakba, we were forced to flee around the world. My family is spread out far as is the the Palestinian diaspora. I have cousins in Budapest, Chile, Canada, Jordan, Lebanon, and England. We still carry the keys to the houses in Jerusalem where we cannot return.


Tung's Story

My aunt, who had been married for more than 30 years now, decided to move to Bydgoszcz, Poland right after the marriage with her college peer which took place in Hanoi, Vietnam. She and her husband planned the movement carefully as they persuaded my second aunt to travel with them to the new land that year. My mother refused to go as she is the eldest of all children in my grandmother’s family. My grandma and grandpa allowed my aunt to go after her dream since Vietnam was in the progress of rebuilding and developing after the war. Poland, a nation located in Europe did not create that much of difficulties for citizens in countries like Vietnam to immigrate in. Since their successful immigration into Poland, my younger aunt had faced personal issues and arguments with his husband, which later forced her to go back to Vietnam. Still, my older aunt continued to work for living there and now, they are having two beautiful daughters and stable jobs. The marriage of her first daughter occurred last summer 2018 and they went back to Vietnam for a honeymoon trip as well. My grandma and grandpa were so happy to see their marriage happened in joy and success after years of integrating into the new country.


Anya's Story

I’m one of the luckiest Green Card recipients obtained my residency in the United States through Green Card lottery program. Thankfully to this program, I’m now capable to fulfill my potential. I love this country for its invaluable opportunity to grow mentally. I will contribute to this country with the cultural currency I carry in my spirit.


S's Story

My grandfather came from the Philippines when he was 13. He worked mercilessly his entire life to give my father a better chance. I have very little connection to his or my other grandparents’ culture or history.


Britt's Story

Both sides come from ashkenazi Jewry (and a touch of irish/Swiss). Each side pining for their romanticized “old country”. Both sides grateful to be here and free from persecution ( well, mostly). There is so much confusion as to what the old country was. At this point , it seems like a dream- Gypsy violin playing, seders that meant something and were cherished. Ultimately, love lasts and the default culture is Jew. L’haim.

Brianna's Story

My grandparents immigrated from the Philippines in the 50’s with other families from their city, Catbalogon. They created an annual Katbalogonan to celebrate their heritage years and miles away from home. I wish I attended more of them.


Art's Story

My family and I immigrated from China in 2001 in search of a better life. We arrived in Malden, Massachusetts and have been here since. It has been a rollercoaster ride of about 18 years, but we are proud to say that we managed to live the “American Dream”. My parents still live a very low-income life but they have achieved everything they set out to do. They own a car, a house, and their freedom. Their only child (me) got a full ride to pursue college and is chasing his dream of working and succeeding in the fashion industry. The universe aligned. Not bad for some immigrants eh? If you are reading this, keep working and keep working. Your universe will align. Keep putting out good energy and impacting others. Your life will change.

Ayianna's Story

My family moved to America when my mother was twenty years old, from the country of Trinidad and Tobago. My father moved to America at the age of five, from England. I am first generation American and of mixed race and I’m very thankful for the opportunities I’ve been given.


Hannah's Story

My family immigrated from Holland and Germany in the early to mid 20th century in search of food and freedom. My German grandmother ran away from her family’s farm in upstate NY to earn a degree in library sciences. She met my Dutch grandfather at university. Both graduated and built lives more prosperous, yet humble, than their families could have imagined. They now believe deeply in the power of education, particularly public education which opened opportunities to them that never would have been available in their immigrant farming communities.