Been in the Lab with a Pen and a Pad
Trust and believe I know it’s been some time since my last post, but please try to understand; it’s definitely not because I don’t care or that I think the problem has taken care of itself. In fact it’s quite the opposite. Think of my hiatus as a chance for me to sharpen my saw. I took a step back for several reasons, some professional and others personal.
Among the many questions I tried to answer for myself were
a) Is this information truly vital to anyone, and for how long will support for this community be necessary?
b) Is this subject actually interesting or sustainable to anyone besides me? & most important;
c) Is this idea scalable – how big and how long can I continue to attempt to enlighten others on the reality being faced by this community?
Over the last eight months I have done research, spoken to mentors and thought long and hard on what I found. The answers to these necessary questions have excited me and are encouraging me to move this mission forward.
“Before I answer these important questions let me update you on what I have been doing for the past eight months to further the mission. ”
In February I traveled to Connecticut to participate in the annual IRIS Run for Refugees. Each year this organization that supports refugees in Connecticut organizes an event which raises over $100, 000 to support refugee resettlement.
In March I performed Stand Up every week at The Broadway Comedy Club where I told jokes about being raised by immigrant parents.
In addition I helped my friend and queer bi-lingual rapper JK film his latest music video. In the months that followed I took many steps to support my immigrant community including performing the wedding of a friend who was previously living in the United States undocumented.
I also had the great pleasure of attending a panel discussion at Microsoft where I had a chance to meet real estate mogul Barbara Corcoran, young entrepreneurs and eyeglass moguls Cocoa and Breezy as well as Dee Murthy MENLO House founder and Chris “Drama” Pfaff the Young & Reckless founder and the inspiration for me starting this blog.
These past months I have been able to take a step back in order to take a real look at how to take actions and real world steps that can allow me to stay true to my mission. It was also a great opportunity for me to witness first hand others who are also on a path to support their ambitious dreams for a better world. In the end it has left me inspired and ready to take on the new challenges this mission will bring to me.
A. Is this information truly vital to anyone and for how long will support for this community be necessary?
As I have witnessed over the past several months, this community is in need of honest and consistent supports. Those of us who benefit both directly and indirectly from immigration to the United States need to lend our supports and resources to all of our siblings in the struggle. After all it is the sacrifice and hard work of those that came before us that allows us to enjoy the fruits of their labor today.
In any battle intelligence is vital to prosperous outcomes for all stakeholders. A healthy working immigration system is integral to the safety of the marginalized as well as the native population who benefit from the inexpensive skilled labor that immigrants bring with them. Holding a safe space for people to get information from a supportive vantage point is integral to the mission of evening the “playing field” for individuals who are steadily being pushed to the margins.
B. Is this subject actually interesting or sustainable to anyone besides me?
Being raised by immigrants granted me a unique perspective on what marginalized immigrants face on their journey to what is a new world for them. Although I was born and raised on this soil, it was always made clear to me that this experience was cut from a tree whose roots are firmly planted far away from here. This information is helpful to anyone who has a friend or family member that may be affected by the rapid changes being made by the current administration. It is also designed to be informative to those interested in gaining a better understanding of how these changes are affecting the current society we live in.
C. Is this idea scalable – how big and how long can I continue to attempt to enlighten others on the reality being faced by this community?
Taking a step back has allowed me to study this problem from a vantage point of a year of research and a place of personal commitment. In this time I have come to understand that this issue which can appear to be very personal is actually playing itself out on a national scale at this moment. Immigration is defined as the movement of people across predetermined borders. By this definition this is something that is as old as the story of civilization. A world that is against immigrants and immigration is one which is moving into the dark ages. Undertaking a move which involves uprooting not only yourself but often loved ones young and old will almost always prove itself to be a difficult feat. As long as there are people willing to disrupt their lives and livelihoods in search of a better life, there will be a need to inform and support.
So…What’s next? What comes next is as up to me as it is to you. While information about what is going on the ground will continue to be an important focus of this blog, the mission is and will remain to inspire and empower. This means that the focus will definitely involve getting out the vote during the next election cycles to insure that the politicians and administration are moving in a pro immigrant direction. It will also mean sharing more real stories of the challenges being faced and overcome by immigrants every day. For the next year theimmigrantexperience.org will serve as a platform to tell real life stories of obstacles and hopefully ultimate success. If you or someone you know has a story to tell please submit it at theimmigrantexperience.org@gmail.com using the subject line My Immigrant Experience. Please also include your name and the best way to contact you. If we choose to publish your story you will be contacted by a member of the team. Moving forward, this is an opportunity to build a community and affect real change in the lives of people we may never meet but who are relying on all of us to make this world welcoming for their immigrant experience.
