Tag Archives: americanstories

FOOD AT HOME

A Palestinian-American talks about finding a place to belong in food. For the last episode in Food at Home series, meet my friend Laila El-Haddad. Like many in the Palestinian diaspora, “food is a place” for Laila. A people driven out of their home by political conflict, Palestinians find solace in creating the sights and smells of homeContinue reading “FOOD AT HOME”

FOOD AT HOME

Neha Misra talks about her “mango love” and how it is threatened by global climate change. Neha Misra is an artist and climate justice advocate. Born and raised in New Delhi, India, Neha has lived in the United States for 16 years. I connected with Neha and her work last year, and we instantly sharedContinue reading “FOOD AT HOME”

Food at Home

Melody Nangle talks about food and fusion of identity Melody Nangle was born in Flushing, New York, to parents who were immigrants from Caribbean islands. She grew up in a multigenerational household, surrounded by cultural foods at home. “As a teenager, I was like, c’mon!  I just want McDonalds for a change!” But once Melody movedContinue reading “Food at Home”

Food at Home

Soo Koo talks about family, global citizenship and the creative power of food Soo Koo serves as the Deputy Director for Maryland Governor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs. Originally from South Korea, Soo came to the United States in 2010 to attend Georgetown University in Washington, D.C. She comes from a family where women cook exquisite mealsContinue reading “Food at Home”

‘Becoming American’ Story # 10

Lana Shami Lana Shami immigrated to the United States of America from Damascus, Syria, not once but twice in her life. Her family first moved to Maryland (Md.) USA in 1973 when Lana was 5 years old. She entered Kindergarten and learned to speak English at breakneck speed. “I was keen on losing my accent,Continue reading “‘Becoming American’ Story # 10”

‘Becoming American’ Story # 9

Chef Emilienne Nebie Zongo Sanmde Pawende Emilienne, known to people across Baltimore as Chef Emilienne, emigrated from Burkina Faso to the United States of America in 2017. U.S. Department of State’s Diversity Visa Program, commonly known as the visa lottery, paved way for her family’s residence in the United States.  Despite the official recognition ofContinue reading “‘Becoming American’ Story # 9”

‘Becoming American’ Story # 8

Stavroula Sofou Stavroula Sofou came to the United States of America in 1995 to study Chemical Engineering at Columbia University in New York City. It was not easy for her to leave her close-knit family in Greece, but the promise of an American education, that allowed one to pursue interdisciplinary studies was alluring. “I graduatedContinue reading “‘Becoming American’ Story # 8”

Becoming American: Story # 6

Selina Doroshenko In 2014, then twenty-four-year-old Selina Doroshenko left her hometown of Montreal, Canada to pursue a Master of Fine Arts (MFA) at Maryland Institute College of Art (MICA) in Baltimore, Md. “I really choose Baltimore because my dream since I was a young child was to study art and to study in the US.Continue reading “Becoming American: Story # 6”

‘Becoming American’ Story #4

Zeyneb Sayilgan Zeyneb Sayilgan came to the United States of America in 2006 to further her studies in Islam and interreligious dialogue. Born and raised in Germany, to Kurdish parents from Turkey, Zeyneb saw herself as a bridge-builder; someone who can help build community connections and facilitate dialogue because of her “hybrid identity.” As aContinue reading “‘Becoming American’ Story #4”