Finding Our Voices Today

Ola Bossio is an incredibly talented artist who immigrated from Poland in 1999 at just 20 years old. Joining her older sister who had arrived prior to Ola, she immediately immersed herself into English classes and began to work. Originally from north Poland, which borders Russia, she felt moving to the United States would bring more opportunities than under the regime she was living in. Living in a predominantly Polish neighborhood in CT she found community and initial comfort in being able to speak her native language and felt safe and free to express herself more openly. She met and fell in love with an American man and started her beautiful family while slowly dabbling in more painting and creative outlets. She paints landscapes of her favorite places in Poland which brings her peace and serenity. She describes Poland as a grey place because of the climate, but her paintings are full of natural color and celebrate the sky and vast fields of nature. Ola has been in art galleries and shows in Southport and Stamford, CT and was recently picked to show her work at the prestigious New Britain American Art Museum. She is incredibly proud of being picked for this showcase her work. Her life in the U.S. is deeply focused on family and faith and she's abundantly grateful for all she's been able to accomplish.

Urmi Hossain shares her sense of belonging in the world. As a proud South Asian woman who has an interesting and inspiring story that we can all learn from. Her family of origin roots are embedded in Bangladesh, as both parents are from there, but a few years before she was born, they emigrated to Sicily, Italy, for better opportunities. It is heard that Urmi was the first Bengali baby born in Sicily. She grew up speaking Bangla at home and Italian in school and with her friends. Currently, she lives in Montreal, Canada, and her multilingual and cultural influence is extraordinary. She speaks about being a “third culture kid,” which means her roots are embedded in one culture, while growing up in another, and then taking both of those backgrounds and moving to another country. When she relocated to Canada to attend university she was fluent in four languages: Bengali, Italian, English and French. She is currently learning Spanish which she knows is important for her work. Her philosophy and advice to immigrants is to integrate quickly and building a community is essential for growth. Urmi fell in love with the finance field while at university and now has a successful career as an investment associate. In her spare time over the last three years, she has managed her own YouTube page, which focuses on sharing study tips for the CFA exam, among many other interesting topics. She lives every day to its fullest and embraces new professional and personal challenges with grace. Her inner strength and resilience are evident at every turn as she finds that she belongs exactly where she is.

Diane Rosenthal, Executive Director at Student Advocacy, Inc. in Westchester, NY, is the epitome of servant leadership. Beginning her career as a middle school teacher, she moved from the classroom into the nonprofit world, leading the New York Public Library's adult literacy program which served over 1000 students per year. Diane's leadership helped shape the social and literacy skills needed for students to achieve independence and self-sufficiency. She remained in adult literacy for many years, leading Literacy Volunteers of Stamford, CT, which was ranked among the top 10% of volunteer-based programs nationally. A true visionary, she created programs and wrote grants that would significantly benefit the adult learner community. She also facilitated a successful merger with a larger non-profit program that resulted in more resources and programming to serve the needs of their clients. Diane currently leads Student Advocacy, an organization that provides legal representation and counsel on education related matters for families with children who have special needs due to disabilities or other challenges. Their services are free for families with limited resources.. Diane's impact and leadership have been powerful over the decades of her career. She has made a significant difference in helping families, children, and youth in the areas of literacy, workforce development, and assistance for those facing challenges with the educational system. Student Advocacy will be celebrating the 30th anniversary of the Overcoming the Odds Awards Celebration on May 14th at Abigail Kirsch at Tappan Hill, Tarrytown, NY, where they will honor students who have faced challenges, yet made education and giving back to others their priority.

Bonnie Solivan is a proud “Nuyorican”. This word refers to someone who has been raised in New York with deep ancestry and cultural traditions from the island of Puerto Rico. As a child of missionaries, she has lived in South and Central America, New Jersey, Massachusetts, and various boroughs in NYC, and her now in her current home in CT. Growing up, her family focused on education and learning, but she struggled with a learning disability not discovered and diagnosed until her freshman year in college. She describes living through shame, embarrassment, and bullying during her grade school years. Now, she is working on her fourth Master's Degree and there seems to be no end in sight! In addition, to her career as an Instructional Designer and Educational Technology Coordinator at a community college, she is building a passion project, “Threads of Resilience”. This project is focused on honoring her beloved and proud roots as a Latina and building awareness of the Hispanic/Latino community across the world.

Valerie Wilson was the first person in her family to attend college and she knows how important this was for her career path. As a certified professional Career Coach and Resume Expert, she is committed to helping young and experienced professionals. Her experience in higher education working with undergraduate and graduate students truly helps soon-to-be graduates and job seekers focus on their goals for career next steps and Valerie is there to coach them on their journey. Working with immigrant or first generation American students has its own set of unique challenges but Valerie sees potential in everyone and is quick to offer guidance and useful advice. As an entrepreneur, she is passionate about her private practice, Career Coaching by Valerie, where she impacts professionals at all levels. She is engaging and warm, and knows how to empower people to pull out the very best they can offer a potential employer.

Flor De Hoyos is Latina from Puerto Rico who is a force to be reckoned with. Her career has been focused on advocacy and support to adult learners, children and their families, and it's her personal experience that is the underlying tool to her professional effectiveness. Flor's ability to connect and empathize with families in her district is the key to the overall success in her current role. After moving to the eastern section of Connecticut at age 12 and struggling to transition to a new school, she struggled with English as her second language and adapting to a new culture was challenging. She shares her educational journey from a vocational high school to Johnson & Wales for a culinary program, getting inspired and moving into programs for Human Services and Social Work, and now on her way to earning her Ph.D in Educational Leadership. The road has been long and challenging but as an incredible role model to her daughters, and impacting so many people around her, her success is deeply rooted in gratitude and faith.

Luisa Viladas, Executive Director of Literacy Volunteers of Southern CT, grew up surrounded by books so it's no accident that she leads a literacy program. With extensive career experience in non-profit development, she has tutored ESL adult learners with as strong focus on grammar. Bringing her experience to a new level, she is overseeing this small but mighty program located in Milford, CT where they serve adult students focused on improving literacy skills and English as a Second Language learners. Their agency is settled among many diverse families living in their communities, with approximately 53 native languages and over 15,000 adults without a high school diploma. They prepare learners with basic literacy, English as a Second Language, voting for the first time, getting a driver's license and other essential credentials that lead to an independent and sustainable life.

René Soto is a supremely talented artist: painter, singer and dancer. Moving to the United States from Guatemala over 14 years ago was a big life change but one that opened many doors for his creative expertise. After arriving in the U.S., he immersed himself in learning English and his writings and poetry were published on two separate occasions in an adult education newspaper. He was the founder and owner of René Soto Gallery which honored Latino artists. After closing its doors post-Covid, he began teaching again and engages artists, both young and older, in a variety of programs. He was the mastermind behind the Latin Colors magazine and is still under production today and is under new management. He is a true visionary with deep hope for the future.

Season 3 is here! Astrid Robitaille is passionate about adult learners and is a strong advocate for adult education programs across the nation. As a former 7th grade teacher, she transitioned into adult education and never looked back. She has taught many subjects including courses preparing students for U.S. citizenship, the GED (high school diploma program) and English as a Second Language. As a trainer and assessment guru for adult education programs across the U.S., she is committed to providing excellent service to education programs and administrators all while keeping the adult learners as her top priority. With adult education and other federally funded programs at risk, listen and learn how impactful this reality could be on our future generations, our workforce, local communities and our nation at large. And learn from Astrid how one student's persistence, patience and sheer motivation finally paid off.

Alexandra Castro is an immigrant from Colombia that is an entrepreneurial trailblazer. Arriving to the U.S. was nothing short of a challenge but Alexandra was a chef with a plan. After running her family pizza restaurant in Colombia, she also managed a high-end restaurant in Montreal, which laid the foundational training and experience she needed to launch herself forward. Since returning to the U.S., she focuses on her culinary career and building her business. As the owner and founder of Everything Dough, LLC, she spends her time designing and making pizzas for weekly farmers markets, private catering events, special order sales, and of course, for private or corporate gatherings that truly pull a community together. In addition to being a pizza chef, she is a proficient baker creating specialty baked goodies, teaching cooking classes for adults and youth, and creating content for her thriving social media platforms. While building her culinary empire she is equally as focused on creating new friendships and spending time with her loving husband and family.

Cynthia Alvarez is a first generation Mexican American who grew up in a multigenerational household and is deeply proud of her family history. She exudes gratitude for the choices and sacrifices her parents and grandparents made for their growing family. She talks intimately how her grandparents impacted her values and self-esteem and how her family is still influential to her life decisions. As a young mother of a son, she is committed to raising him in a similar setting surrounded by multigenerational family members, along with her loving husband, Jesús. Cynthia is an alumnae from Bentley University who quickly created a network of friends who were diverse and supportive and continue to be closely connected. Her collegiate experience helped form her position on diversity, equity and inclusion. Cynthia's work post-graduation was immensely satisfying as she worked with adult learners learning English as a Second Language. Often the only team member who could speak fluently to students in their native language, building trust and easing their concerns, she created a safe haven where adult students knew they would be supported as she researched resources on their behalf. She is passionate about fostering safe communities for our immigrant neighbors, friends and loved ones.

Julie Faryniarz is the Executive Director for Greenwich Alliance for Education and has much to share about the fabulous initiatives and programs they have for the youth in Greenwich, CT. Over the last 18 years they have worked collaboratively and in partnership with the Greenwich Public Schools and its teachers as the local education foundation to drive innovation, opportunity and access in learning to empower all students to achieve academic, personal and professional success. They fund innovation to elevate achievement and inclusion for all Greenwich public school students resulting in creativity and personalized learning. With programs like Tuning In To Music and their Reaching Out Grants available to teachers to utilize to expand learning opportunities to enhance their curriculum, they are a nonprofit to learn from! Their funding to implement the international AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) program in the Greenwich schools has made the possibility of college attainable to hundreds of students by teaching essential academic and executive functioning skills to close gaps and raise achievement. Julie and her AVID SUCCESS Program Director, Trish Rohr, have presented their work and programming for these first-gen college going students at AVID national conferences. They are on the cusp of the 1 million dollar mark in college scholarship giving and are seeing full circle moments as alumni return to volunteer, donate and help current students leverage professional internship opportunities. Greenwich Alliance for Education is a registered 501C3 and is reliant on funding to continue their impactful programs.

Julie Faryniarz is the Executive Director for Greenwich Alliance for Education and has much to share about the fabulous initiatives and programs they have for the youth in Greenwich, CT. Over the last 18 years they have worked collaboratively and in partnership with the Greenwich Public Schools and its teachers as the local education foundation to drive innovation, opportunity and access in learning to empower all students to achieve academic, personal and professional success. They fund innovation to elevate achievement and inclusion for all Greenwich public school students resulting in creativity and personalized learning. With programs like Tuning In To Music and their Reaching Out Grants available to teachers to utilize to expand learning opportunities to enhance their curriculum, they are a nonprofit to learn from! Their funding to implement the international AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) program in the Greenwich schools has made the possibility of college attainable to hundreds of students by teaching essential academic and executive functioning skills to close gaps and raise achievement. Julie and her AVID SUCCESS Program Director, Trish Rohr, have presented their work and programming for these first-gen college going students at AVID national conferences. They are on the cusp of the 1 million dollar mark in college scholarship giving and are seeing full circle moments as alumni return to volunteer, donate and help current students leverage professional internship opportunities. Greenwich Alliance for Education is a registered 501C3 and is reliant on funding to continue their impactful programs.

Nancy Meckel is back again in season 2 for another interview and we couldn't be more pleased about this! An experienced instructor of English as a Second Language and accent coach to adults, and founder/owner of American English Guide, Nancy brings her years of expertise, experience, dedication and passion for language to our conversation. In this episode Nancy and I will explore her belief in the importance of LISTENING, why it is one of the key skills for active and engaged communication. We'll talk about strategies and skills to develop the ability to truly listen and about the indispensable part listening plays in connecting people across cultures. We live in a diverse society where the abilities of listening for the speaker's meaning and speaking comprehensibly are key to each of us finding our voice.

Judy Betz is a first-generation American whose parents immigrated from Italy. Her father came on a boat from Italy as a stowaway after paying $1,000 while her mother came through Ellis Island. Her parents didn't know each other while living in their native country but met later in the U.S., fell in love, started their life together, and fully immersed in the American culture. You'll hear the amazing story of how her father attained his U.S. citizenship and served in WWII as an American soldier. Judy graduated college with a degree in Elementary Education and a master's degree in Early Childhood education. After a short stint in the classroom she became an owner/administrator of The Purchase Children's Center where she spent her entire career as a compassionate and committed educator. Later in her career she became an ESL tutor working with adult learners and continues serving this community of students. Her teaching and interactions with the adult learners in her classroom often has her thinking of her mother and father. In her retirement, she enjoys teaching ESL, traveling, and having fun with her grandchildren.

Conor Barbieri is having the experience of a lifetime. He is currently in Nepal serving in the Peace Corps and is teaching English as a Second Language in an elementary school. With full immersion into a new culture and daily living, he is making impact with young learners while bringing technology and 21st century tools into their curriculum. Through his creative lesson planning and commitment to developing their young minds, he has successfully written grants that bring students' learning into a new dimension. As a alumni of George Washington University, Conor was looking for a challenge and way to give back that would be substantial and impactful. He trained for teaching ESL in the U.S. with beginner level adults newly arrived from Afghanistan. He feels this prepared him well for his Peace Corps duty. He is half-way through his 27 month commitment and continues to enjoy his host family, while making significant impact within the school community.

Sara Olivia Garcia is a first-generation American with deep family roots from Mexico. At 86 years of age, she has an incredible life story to share with us, and opens up in a deep conversation about how family and career choices can change the trajectory of your life's path. Her mother and grandparents fled Mexico during the revolution when Pancho Villa was making it dangerous to stay in their country. They left quickly with only the clothes on their backs and what they could carry in their arms. They settled in El Paso and attempted to build a new life. Their hearts and spirits were broken with the reality of starting over and nothing was quite the same. As Sara Olivia grew up as young girl, she would listen to stories from her grandmother and learn about her Mexican heritage and daydreamed about what life would've been like if they hadn't been forced to leave. Sara Olivia married and raised 5 children while traveling around the world with her husband who was a U.S. Army Lieutenant. Life in the military and having to move often was not easy for her and the family. When finally feeling empowered to begin college classes as a mature adult, her goals and focus shifted in a new and refreshing way as she engaged in deep critical thinking. Knowledge and learning brought her much joy, and later it created many opportunities for her career pathway. She holds teaching certifications in regular, special education, and bi-lingual education in Spanish, with her special expertise in the area of children with learning differences. Sara has over 25 years of experience teaching at-risk students in regular and Special Education in Elementary, Middle and High School in Tucson, Arizona, Boston, Massachusetts and the South Bronx, New York. Her teaching experience includes staff development for teachers in low-performing schools, as a National trainer for the Efficacy Institute, Inc., where the mission is to debunk the myth of the social construction of intellectual inferiority among people of color. She also developed and facilitated culturally appropriate education workshops for parents of diverse populations. Her Doctoral work at Fielding Graduate University focused on identifying Indigenous people's wisdom and worldview on care of planetary resources as part of character education and development. Sara is a proud mother, grandmother and great grandmother who is actively involved in her family's lives.

Nettie Parker Bauman is a passionate, empathetic and tenacious immigration attorney working closely with women, men and their families through the legal process of transitioning to the U.S. from another country. As an independent attorney, she represents asylum-seekers in the U.S. Immigration Courts and at U.S. Asylum Offices. She provides direct counsel and resources that ensure their safety and a smooth transition. Nettie has a particular passion for domestic violence survivors from other countries. In addition to her work with immigrants, she is a published author and poet. She has been published in numerous poetry journals and her first book of poetry, “Seagulls at Walmart” was released in 2023. Additionally, her first novel, “Tiny Righteous Acts” was published in early 2020. Her creative works are sparked by the inspiration she feels from her legal work with clients and from growing up in her beloved New Orleans. She attended college and law school in her hometown of New Orleans and later moved to New York when she met her future husband. She is the proud mother of two boys, a cat, a dog, and a turtle. Nettie is an avid nature lover and finds refuge when hiking on trails near to home.

Jesús Reyes arrived from his native country, Mexico, at 17 years old. After a childhood of visiting the U.S. while his father worked as a seasonal migrant worker, he made the decision to move with his older brothers and finish high school in CT. As an ESL student he was challenged with learning English and his classes while working part-time to contribute to rent. As the youngest of ten children, his family's love and support was at the center of his world and helped with the transition to a new country. As a naturally creative person, it was when he attended community college shortly after high school that he tapped into graphic design and began creating art on his terms. Upon graduation, his portfolio was full of pieces that were gallery quality. He has less time to paint now, but dabbles in photography and graphics, which is why he was contracted to design the logo for the Finding Our Voices Today podcast! Currently he is working hard as a foreman for a construction company and often assists one of his brothers with his event planning business. When he isn't working or spending time with family and friends, you can find him teaching his young son everything about soccer and traditional Mexican customs while enjoying life with his beautiful wife, Cynthia.

Laura Martinez's journey to the U.S. began eleven years ago when she relocated from her native country, Colombia. She arrived and fell in love with the energy of New York City along with its architecture and diversity. As an au pair in CT, she would spend weekends in the NYC taking in all its glory and learning about American culture. She quickly began building her own English skills and personal confidence, and embarked on a journey as an ESL tutor working with beginner level learners. As a volunteer she focused on service and building community in her classroom relating to students through her own personal experiences as she transitioned to the U.S. As a woman of deep faith, she tells the story of her experience as a new mother and feeling the the support of her church community, a place where she finds and gives acceptance and love to others. Her passion to help others spills into her everyday life and is the foundation of how she engages and impacts those around her in her family, work and church community.

Mariana Villarreal is a woman from Colombia who has blazed a trail for herself during her years living in the U.S. After recently graduating from the University of New Haven with her Dental Hygienist degree and certification, she recalls her humble beginnings as an au pair that came with unique challenges and created a difficult transition to the U.S. She began teaching English as a Second Language which satisfied her craving to connect and engage in service. She found her way by building a community and creating bonds, with a larger goal to obtain a degree and career in healthcare. Although the road was difficult and rocky at times, she was motivated to keep moving forward. With a career in place and distinct goals for the future, she is pleased with her hard work and excited for what lies ahead.

Ana Alfaro is a Corporate Citizenship Program Manager & Hispanic Media Relations at Eversource Energy. She has over 25 years of diverse experience in various aspects of public, media, and community relations, event management, and television production. In her current position she manages the company's volunteer engagement opportunities and employee giving programs. Ana Alfaro is the producer and host of El Show de Analeh, a weekly program on the Univision network and UniMas. Ana describes El Show as “a dream production turned into a successful reality.” Since 2007, the program has informed, empowered, and entertained the diverse Latino community in Connecticut and Western Massachusetts. El Show de Analeh airs Saturdays at 11:00am, Univision's local channels. The show is produced in partnership with Capital Community College. Ana is currently a board member for Trinity College Center for Caribbean Studies, Capital Community College Foundation, Charter Oak Cultural Center, Hartford Public Library & Hartford Economic Development Corporation. Together with a small group of community leaders, she was instrumental in ensuring that the Frog Hollow community will benefit from a new library on Park Street, the heart of the Latino community. Ana has received many awards, including Junta for Progressive Action, Hispanic Health Council, Madre Latina, Boy Scouts of America, Bright Future Youth Center, Leadership Greater Hartford Polaris, Malta House Wonder Woman and CBM Mujer Imparable. Ana holds a Bachelor's degree in Communications Media Studies from Post University. A native of Honduras, Ana is the proud mother of Bobby and Bianca, both of who are half Puerto Rican. Ana's work as journalist and community activist has been in the service of the equal rights of Puerto Ricans and all Latino communities alike.

Mirtica Aldave moved to the United States from Peru with her family at a very young age. Her parents and their strong family values upheld Peruvian traditions and customs and little did she know, growing up in a bilingual home would shape her entire career. As a bilingual educator and cultural researcher, she has taught in the Hartford School system for many years impacting her students lives. As an advocate for the Latino community, she has applied for and received numerous grants including Fund for Teachers, which she has received twice. Mirtica has traveled extensively engaging in educational research and for her own personal enrichment. Additionally, she works with immigrants teaching English as a Second Language and assists with their pathway to citizenship. In her spare time, she is a dedicated and loving mother, sister, aunt and friend.

Ballet Folklorico de las Americas (Diana, Paola, & Kelly) are committed to educating their diverse audiences through dance, music and sheer enthusiasm to be with people. These fabulously talented women are sisters from Colombia who arrived at different points in their lives, all with a unique focus, but are committed to teaching and learning all while spreading the beauty of dance as a way to tell stories. When they aren't dancing or collaborating with their numerous community partners, they are teaching English, running language businesses, and studying for their medical board certification. Their goal to educate through arts is important in our world and engaging the community is their #1 goal.

Lina Motta is a trailblazer who naturally seeks connections with others and finds arenas for learning on her many travels in the world. Arriving in the U.S. as an au pair from Colombia, she has seized many opportunities in the academic and professional world. A natural teacher and a lifelong learner, she has tutored English as a second language while promoting social emotional health and building confidence in her students. As an attendee and winner of the Global Impact Challenge at the United Nations Youth Assembly program for Sustainable Development Goals, she co-founded a nonprofit organization focused on creating learning experiences for youth about essential solutions to heal the planet. Recently graduating with a Master's degree in Environmental Management, she is now working for a scientific corporation in Colombia as a chief sustainability officer, collaborating closely with industry leaders on corporate sustainability initiatives. In her free time, she loves yoga and spending time with family and friends.

Ewurakua Dawson-Amoah is an artist with a rich cultural heritage as the daughter of Ghanaian and St. Lucian immigrants. She grew up in a predominantly white neighborhood, which shaped her approach to storytelling from a very young age. As a twin and the youngest of four siblings, her early choices in high school significantly influenced her path. Today, her passion for social justice and racial equality drives her work as a director, writer, and poet. In 2020, she and her sister Ewuradjoa founded The Melacast Network, a platform connecting BIPOC directors with BIPOC actors and crew. They are deeply committed to impacting and changing what true diversity and inclusion looks like for BIPOC creatives.

Yelena Klompus came to the U.S. with a purpose. In an effort to keep her family safe and raise her son with better access to healthcare, she has been able to use her academic credentials and professional experience from her native country, Russia, to create impactful library programs in the U.S. As the Manager of Multicultural and English Language Literacy Programs at the Ferguson Library in Stamford, CT, she has been able to connect thousands of immigrants and English language learners to programs and resources that provide a pathway to self-sufficiency. She is empathetic to newcomers but is pragmatic in her approach in pointing people in a direction that helps them build confidence with their English skills and connects them to the community.

Rajkumari Thakur is from India and has been in the U.S. for 6 years. With an educational background and passion for marketing and business, she pivoted into education and helped with running a school and supervising staff prior to getting married and moving to the U.S. While in the U.S. she has lived on both the east and west coast and has been successful meeting new people and creating a community for her and her family. She is excited for new opportunities that lie ahead for her as she gets ready to reenter the career track. After all this time, she still prioritizes and speaks to her family in India every day.

Julia Mesquita is from Brazil and has been in the U.S. for 6 years. She is the FINDING OUR VOICES TODAY podcast Social Media Coordinator who designs the weekly interview posts on Tuesday & Saturday that you see on our Instagram and Facebook pages. She is super talented and we are so happy to work with her and have learned so much together. She is a proud graduate of Norwalk Community College and is currently working as a legal intern and at a job in retail. Her plan is to attend college and pursue a degree in Political Science with the longer term goal of attending law school. Her motivation for this career is deep seated in the experience she and her family have endured. There is no doubt this intelligent and motivated young woman will reach her academic and career goals!

Marilyn Collins has committed her entire professional career to teaching literacy. Starting at the elementary level while living in VT, she decided to return to her beloved NY and begin working with adult learners. Although she officially retired a year ago in 2023 after a career spanning 40+ years, she continues to teach and mentor adult students. With an expertise in basic literacy, she also has extensive training and experience in teaching English as a Second Language (ESL) and has trained and prepared hundreds of tutors while in her role as education and curriculum coordinator. Marilyn continues to make significant impact in many lives and as an avid poetry lover she enjoys teaching writing and reading, and often weaves some of her favorite poets into her lesson planning. All this while being a loving and deeply engaged grandma to her beloved 4 grandchildren.

Mike Gopinathan, Ph.D., who is from India, is a true energizer bunny working diligently for his family and creating a legacy that has impacted his colleagues and overall community. As he sits on the cusp of retirement, he has enjoyed a successful career as an engineer and manager with Eversource and now will focus on his three international businesses. Mike has had a focused career impacting many in his organization with his talent and expertise along with his commitment to leadership and DEI initiatives. Additionally, his academic career has been equally as impressive as he has earned multiple master's degrees and most recently his Ph.D. An avid tennis and pickleball player he is a role model of living life to the fullest!

Mariia Vintoniak is from Ukraine and was a working nurse before she arrived to the U.S. just 6 years ago. She has worked diligently to improve her English and learn more grammar and language skills while raising her two young girls and supporting her family's needs. Her focus on creating a pathway to work was laser focused as she worked in a Ukrainian daycare and juggled the demands of being a working mother. Later it took a turn to what she feels most passionate about when she completed the certified nurses' aide training at a local community college in Fairfield County. She was hired instantly and able to put her previous work experience and newly learned training skills to work! For her this is just the beginning, as her goal is to eventually continue with nursing school and keep moving her career forward. We continue to pray for her family and loved ones in Ukraine.

Lina Arboleda, law graduate pending for bar admission, has had a long journey to achieve her career goals in the United States. As an attorney in Colombia, coming to the U.S. and finding her way wasn't always easy or involving a clear pathway. Moving from ESL classes, courses at the local community college, having different jobs not related to her career, to attending law school at Pace University, she has covered a lot of ground. Now, as a staff immigration attorney (working under a supervising attorney) at the Lutheran Social Services in NYC she is instrumental in helping immigrants create their own pathway during a critical time in our nation's history. Brava!

Marty Barry has had a career as a Human Resources manager/administrator and also as a controller in the field of finance. He grew up with encouragement to volunteer in the community and has continued to prioritize giving back. He learned German in college and when having to put it to use while working in banking he quickly realized how difficult it was to communicate in everyday life. This resulted in building a deeper understanding and empathy for non-native language speakers living in a new location. After a recent transition from NY to CT he was looking for a place to connect that would provide him an opportunity to meet people and engage in the community. Listen and learn from Marty as he describes how volunteering has impacted his quality of life!

Chef Ivan Romero is dynamic. He is laser focused on creating beautiful artistic dishes that are delicious beyond words, and enjoyed by people of all cultures. What you'll hear most in his interview is his gratitude…for his training, his mentors who believed in him, and how he remembers how challenging it was to get where he is today…how his diligence and commitment paid off. As Executive Chef and business owner of Rosemary Group, he is eager to share his talents with the next generation of incoming chefs. With a focus on Mexican food, he helps restaurants of all styles revamp menus, enhance training practices, and instill sustainability. In addition to running his business, consulting with local restaurants, and mentoring/teaching others, he is a proud member of the community making impact everywhere he turns. All this, while being a dedicated father to his son.

Lana Gifas, Executive Director for Women's Mentoring Network located in Stamford, CT, is making impact. As a former finance professional she took on the leadership role with this non-profit almost 10 years ago. The agency offers specialized strategic life skills workshops, 1:1 mentoring services, resume and workplace readiness support, along with a food pantry and business clothing closet for their clients. With programs in Stamford and White Plains, NY, they are expanding services into Norwalk and impacting more residents of Fairfield County than ever before. With her dedicated team, they work with the client's entire family, including high schoolers who can take on leadership roles in their Junior Leadership programs. Have a listen to learn more and to be inspired!

Pilar Illanes is a trailblazer. A woman on a mission. Her experience in America started during the pandemic with a phone call from a family member requesting her to come help with the family business. In an act of love and service she came to help her grieving family, but what was intended to be temporary turned into an journey full of a rich love story and entrepreneurial opportunities that would change her life. Listen and learn how family, commitment, love, hard work, and resilience can change the trajectory of life's path.

Danielle moved to the U.S. from Jamaica with her family at an impressible and tender age. Listen to her journey as she shares the differences in schools and learning as well as the social challenges that come with being the “new girl”. The realities of trying to fit in as the new person in a new school…as a teenager…can be rough! Have a listen to her story of working as a young banking professional while enrolled in college, and the thrilling plans she has for herself. This self-assured woman has a bright future ahead and the advice she would give herself is something we should all listen to!

Suzie Heiland has been an educator for 30 years in a small school district locted in Northwest CT. She has taught many children during her tenure and she can't imagine doing anything else than teaching. Join the conversation to learn about her changing district as they welcome more immigrant families into the schools. In her small town, families are finding resources and invaluable support for the children and for themselves which truly makes a difference in their educational and journey to independence.

Mayerli, an engineer, was an au pair in the U.S. for 2+ years dividing her time between Colorado and Connecticut. She traveled quite a bit during her time here but also took every advantage to learn and find pathways to education and creativity serving the community. She was part of the Youth Assembly- a platform founded in 2004 by the Friendship Ambassadors Foundation (FAF), a not-for-profit organization, a unique platform that cultivates a global network of young leaders and changemakers through exchange, education, action and impact, in NYC where she started a project inspired by the global Sustainable Development Goals initiative in the areas of recycling as well as responsible consumption and production. From there, she and a dear friend, started a non-profit program. Listen to find out how she made an incredible impact in the U.S. and in their native country.

Stacia Morris is an energetic corporate professional who has authored Teen Money 101, Teen Money 101 Teacher's Guide & Teen Money 102 and is the founder of Your Life TREK. She works tirelessly to improve the quality of life for women and families with a focus on financial literacy, financial health & wellness, as well as professional leadership coaching. She holds a Certificate of Advanced Graduate Studies (Accounting) and an MBA from Pace University in New York and a BA from the University of the West Indies. She spent the majority of her career with IBM as a leasing executive and has had diverse experiences working globally. She is deeply committed to service and has created micro enterprises for various non-profits including support for women refugees from Afghanistan,empowering them to be financial contributors to their family's livelihood through training and community support.

Dr. Jose Mesquita is a Professor of Marketing from Brazil who has been in the U.S. for 6 years. As a visiting research professor at UCONN in Stamford, he has engaged in research and collaborative global partnerships in the academic arena of marketing. Additionally, he has successfully published numerous academic articles as well as an instructional manual for researchers and students titled, Marketing Analytics: Statistical Tools for Marketing and Consumer Behavior Using SPSS. His motivation is to make data analysis more efficient and easier to aggregate for researchers, instructors, and students. He is a dedicated family man and a very proud father of 2 daughters.

Lauren Drazen is a former foreign language teacher and administrator. She embraces her commitment to lifelong learning by engaging in consistent exploration through travel and earnest curiosity, in addition to her love for diverse languages and culture. Listen along and hear how this enthusiastic educator transformed the landscape of foreign language learning in her district and continues to impact the community in dynamic ways.

This episode features Millie who shares her story as she journeyed from Peru to the U.S. in her early 20's. Arriving with a dream in her mind, and a goal to learn English and build her life, she continues to break down barriers to pave her pathway to career and educational success. She still focuses on learning and improving her English while working on her MBA program and networking for a career in marketing and communications. Her passion to succeed is palpable!

Fernanda Ramos, is our second interview of the podcast and we are thrilled she is sharing her incredible personal story with us. She arrived in the U.S. with a two year old and her husband just a year before COVID, and if quarantining wasn't hard enough to stay healthy, how do you make friends, expand your language skills, and build a new community during a pandemic? Listen to our podcast to find out how she persevered and kept moving forward to where she is today! From a banking career to real estate in a highly competitive region, she is thriving and has only just begun to scratch the surface!

Nancy Meckel is an experienced instructor of adult learners of English and she is deeply committed to building a culturally responsive community of learners who support and respect one another. Nancy honors and values the previous education, work, and life experience that her students bring to the country. In addition to teaching ESL classes at all levels, she is the founder of American English Guide where she serves the ESL community with themed ESL mini-courses, individual instruction, workplace group classes, and American accent training.

Kelly Ha, LCSW, is a first generation American with an incredible journey rooted in rich family history and perseverance. She has navigated many barriers to achieve personal happiness and professional success. As an LCSW, she is on a mission to create awareness and a cultural shift that will impact generations to come. Listen and learn about her journey! I think you'll all agree, she is just getting started.

This podcast is committed to celebrating the immigrant's journey to the U.S.A. and the process of learning how to navigate a new culture, new language, and finding resources that lead to a happy and independent life. From new arrivals, or those who have been in the country for years, you will hear inspiring interviews with adults and their family members. Additionally, you will hear stories from first-generation Americans as well as non-profit leaders, educators, and volunteers who are deeply committed to making impact. Moving to a new country is a unique and daunting experience that takes courage and trust, but our mission is to include ALL voices, and to provide equitable space and an opportunity for them to be heard and celebrated, as well as to learn from professionals how when we work together, we can effectively support them.