Stories
Italian Immigrant Becomes Owner of Auto Body Shop in New Jersey
Mario TommolilloOwner, Mario’s Classic Auto Body of Paterson On the morning that Mario Tommolillo arrived in the United States from Italy, his parents woke him up at 5 a.m. to see the Statue of Liberty. It was 1967, and the family entered New York harbor on the SS United… Read More
Indian Immigrant Founds B2B Software Firm in Cleveland
Sudhir AcharTechnology and Community Leader In 1991, Sudhir Achar emigrated from Bangalore, India to pursue his master’s degree in industrial engineering at Cleveland State University. Between classes, he worked as an international student ambassador, helping newcomers integrate. After graduation, he was hired by Philips Medical Systems (PMS), where he… Read More
Chinese Immigrant Establishes Law Firm in Cleveland
Su HeBusiness Immigration Attorney, Professor, and Community Leader Su He came from a family of physicians in Beijing, China, so when she developed a passion for international business law, she needed to find new role models. Fortunately, she found the support she needed at Case Western Reserve University School… Read More
Indian Immigrant Makes Good on Dreams to Become Researcher
Saeed KhanRetired Professor, University of Florida – Department of Urology Growing up in his native India, Saeed Khan’s parents were adamant their eight children attend college. Khan was always impressed with textbooks—especially the references. “It became my dream to become a researcher so I could be cited at the… Read More
Honduran Community Organizer Advocates for Equals Rights for Immigrants
Yennifer MolinaCoordinator, Madres Sin Fronteras In Honduras, Yennifer Molina’s mother worked around the clock at the family restaurant to fund private school tuition for her daughters. “We wanted to go to regular school with our cousins and friends,” recalls Molina. “But my mom was thinking ahead. She insisted we learn… Read More
Indian Immigrant Supports Gainesville Community
Jyoti ParmarExecutive Director North Central Florida Indivisible At 11, Jyoti Parmar competed in an annual neighborhood race in her Indian town. The first-place prize: a shiny, red bicycle with tassels. But when Parmar won, she was told, “That’s the boys prize.” She argued with the judges but ultimately walked… Read More
Mexican Immigrant Opens Flooring Showroom in Reno
Miguel EstradaCo-owner, Best Hardwood Flooring Miguel Estrada’s personal story mirrors the rise of Reno. After coming here from Mexico City in 1993 at age 18, he started working as a cleaner in a factory that built airplane parts. Yet a supervisor recognized his industriousness and… Read More
Mexican Immigrant Starts Her Own Remediation Business in Reno
Teresa SidleOwner, All Eagle LLC When Teresa Sidle came to Reno from Mexico in 1984 as a shy teenager, she never could have imagined she’d be the owner of a company with 30 employees. Even more surprising: her company specializing in asbestos abatement and mold remediation is a… Read More
Kenyan Refugees Shares Story of Immigrating to Reno
Eugene Nduwimana Refugee Eugene Nduwiwana shares the story of his family’s emigration from Kenya to the United States: I learned that Reno would be my new home 30 days before my flight was scheduled to leave Nairobi, Kenya. In fact, I didn’t even know that I, my wife and two… Read More
Mexican DREAMer Finds Success Starting Catering Business in Reno
Gustavo VelascoOwner, GUsTO Catering & Meals See Gustavo highlighted in the Reno Gazette Journal Gustavo Velasco had just graduated from Reed High School when a family friend asked him what he wanted to study in college. As a recent immigrant who’d moved to Reno from Mexico with his… Read More
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