I grew up first-generation American. My dad came as a refugee from Serbia in 1956, my mom as a young German au pair. They met in Chicago and stayed. Without extended family in the U.S., our “family” and community were mainly other immigrants: Serbian, German, Korean, Greek, Armenian, Iranian, Indian, Pakistani, Chinese.
I’ve photographed immigrants for the last decade and was very drawn to the issue of immigration when it became a political hot-button issue with this administration. Our response to the immigration ban was to bring together a close group of immigrant friends and business associates we are proud to know, and photograph them and share the stories of their experiences in a book that’s easy to pass around. What emerged was the American Immigrant Project: Women’s Edition, a project to document their experiences, show people how alike we all are, and honor what women immigrants weave into the fabric of our country and culture.
We assembled a team of people who volunteered their time and expertise to get this done, and the project was completed in just over one month from idea to book in hand. This is our way to share stories and highlight American immigrants. Here are a few of the stories from the book, which draw from interviews conducted and edited by Mindy Raf.
Marina Romashko
City, country of origin: Minsk, Belarus
Occupation: Founder, Big Idea Lab
Arrived in the U.S.: 1999
I had no clear picture of what living in the U.S. would be like when I moved here from Belarus. House? Car? Husband? It’s funny the things you think you want or need and what actually ends up bringing you joy.
Now I live in Brooklyn and work at New York City’s WeWork Charging Bull. I love to surf. I help women and men transform their lives through slowing down and storytelling as a coach and entrepreneur. And I want to build a yurt with a sweat lodge. I am still connected to my Belarus roots, though. In fact, in my photo, I’m wearing our Rio 2016 Olympic team dress designed by Yulia Latushkina. I’ve learned that it takes courage and willpower to go after your dreams. I believe that we grow through struggle, and America provides so many opportunities to grow. There’s that expression here, “You’ve got to walk the talk.” I’m happy to say that I’m living in the U.S. and I’m walking it.
Favorite, funny immigrant moment?
Once, while sitting in the car with a friend, I saw a parrot. So I started yelling and pointing, “Look a carrot! Carrot! Carrot!” I’ve been here 18 years, and I’ve yet to see another flying carrot.
What are you up to now?
I’m looking into scaling my business, Big Idea Lab, and adding the element of mindful productivity. The mission is not just about getting things done, but getting things done without burning out.
Nadia P. Manzoor
City, country of origin: London, United Kingdom
Occupation: Storyteller, actor, writer & producer; co-creator Shugs & Fats
Arrived in the U.S.: 2005
I came to Boston to study and work, but really it was because my Pakistani Muslim family didn’t approve of my Irish boyfriend and vowed to disown me if I stayed with him. I don’t need to get away from my family anymore, but living in America has allowed me to embrace myself and find out what truly matters to me. Coming to the U.S., telling and performing my stories, I have learned who I am, what I value, and why. I have recognized so much about my past and the things I need to face. The creativity I discovered in N.Y.C. was beyond my dreams.
Favorite English word, expression, or idiom?
“Live from New York… it’s Saturday night!”
What are you up to now?
I sold my web series Shugs and Fats to Amazon with my co-creator and am currently developing the pilot for Amazon. I’m also developing a duo comedy show, and a few other projects are underway. It’s a full-on creative incubation period!
Melanie Wagner
City, country of origin: Daejeon, South Korea
Occupation: Founder, Matilda
Arrived in the U.S.: 1986
My parents adopted and brought me to the U.S., to fulfill their hope of having a family. Living in the U.S., but most importantly coming to New York, has helped me achieve success. I’m the founder of Matilda, a software/hardware company that does IoT (Internet of Things) devices for hotels and homes. I am surrounded by so many fearless and supportive people in New York. We challenge each other every day. The wealth and value of the U.S. is the people.
Can you share any struggles you’ve had to overcome here?
I always get asked, “How does it feel to be different?” But I only feel different when I’m being asked that question.
What are you up to now?
We started our humble beginnings by shaping hardware and software by hand in our WeWork office. Two years later, we developed an IoT device for smart homes that caters towards the modern consumer that is time-starved. Navigating through a busy day with an overdose of websites and apps continues to be challenging. Consumers yearn for the simplest, most critical information and products, provided in a manner that is seamlessly integrated into their everyday needs.
How has the immigrant projected affected you?
Meeting a lot of women leaders inspired me more with the work I do.
Buy a copy of the American Immigrant Project or read more on the blog. The project will host a launch event in New York on November 15.
