International migrants day: honoring the ability to overcome adversity and live a better life

Today is International Migrants Day, a global event that highlights the contributions of the millions of migrants and displaced people around the world. The United Nations initiated this day of solidarity with migrants on December 18, 1990 when it adopted the International Convention on the Protection of the Rights of All Migrant Workers and Members of Their Families.

To quote the UN’s website, “Throughout human history, migration has been a courageous expression of the individual’s will to overcome adversity and to live a better life.”

I recently had the great opportunity to interview and document the stories of 24 migrants to my hometown of Richmond, Virginia in “ Portraits of Immigrant Voices,” a new content initiative sponsored by The City of Richmond’s Office of Multicultural Affairs and co-funded by Virginia Humanities. It provides a perfect example of humanity’s “will to overcome adversity and live a better life.”

Colombian artist Alfonso Pérez painted each person, including their name, language and country of origin on the canvas, while I wrote the life story that accompanies each portrait. The personal histories shed light on the challenges of migration and displacement as well as the commonalities of learning to speak English and acculturating to the United States. Moreover, the stories showcase the incredible creativity and ingenuity of these immigrants in overcoming numerous obstacles in their journey, some of whom went on to start companies and obtain graduate degrees.

You can visit the virtual exhibit and read their stories at RVAStrong.org/portraits.

President John F. Kennedy called America ‘A Nation of Immigrants’ in his book of the same name. Yet, however diverse the countries of origin and languages spoken, what unites these immigrant stories is character. They are hardworking and family oriented. The appreciation and gratitude that they feel for our country’s freedoms and democracy is crystal clear. Most importantly, they have taught me the mindset required to creatively solve problems and learn new skills and languages.

In reading their stories, I cannot help but realize just how lucky we are to live in the United States. I more deeply appreciate our own democracy and freedom having learned what so many other countries unfortunately do not have.

While some people leave their countries to escape violence and war, many others come to attend university, find work, and seek professional opportunities. Still others come here simply because they’ve fallen in love with an American!

“Virginia is for lovers. … But we need to keep that slogan alive,” says Mahmud Chowdhury, originally from Bangladesh (#19 in the series), quoting the slogan for the state of Virginia. “Let’s continue to love each other, be our brother’s keeper and have each other’s back,” says Hannah Adesina, from Nigeria (#17 in the series). Immigrants are here “to demonstrate the best of ourselves, manifest our hopes and dreams,” says Brenda Aroche who was born in Guatemala (#13 in the series). And even though we just got through a divisive election, Ping Chu from China (#12 in the series) encourages us all in saying, “We need to build up a united country. This is the United States, right?”

In the words of Abdul Jabouli (#12 in the series), “peace be upon you” on this International Migrants Day and throughout this holiday season.

Note: We selected this Op-Ed to be published in our opinion section as a contribution to public debate. The views and opinions expressed in this column are those of its author(s) and do not reflect the views or the editorial line of Univision News.