Jabeen, a Pakistan-born woman watched her mother, who did not know English, struggle to the point of suicide in England.  Jabeen’s own knowledge of English was essential to overcoming loneliness when she found herself without friends or family after immigrating to the U.S.  English was the difference between failing and flourishing for these two women.

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Jeffrey Engel is a historian who directs the Center for Presidential History at SMU Center for Presidential History | Center for Presidential History (smu.edu).  He is the author of over a dozen books on American history, and an expert on immigration to the U.S.   https://www.smu.edu/Dedman/Research/Institutes-and-Centers/Center-for-Presidential-History/About/People/Staff/Engel

His own family emigrated from Eastern Europe before World War II.  Those who did not were lost in the holocaust. 

Professor Engel discusses the fable of the Statue of Liberty, uncovers the historical pattern of welcome successive waves of immigrants to the U.S. experienced, and suggests a realistic message of hope for our immigrants. 

Listen to The Center for Presidential History’s own podcast series:  The Past The Promise The Presidency The Past, the Promise, the Presidency (pastpromisepresidency.com).

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Daniel, a Haitian whose parents brought him here as a boy, goes through a “serendipity of experiences” to overcome the poverty of his youth, become an engineer, and learn to be a black man in America.  Is Daniel really lucky or does he make his own luck?  A transcript of Daniel’s story is posted in Read More Stories on the Literacy Achieves website:  literacyachieves.org /podcast.

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In this episode, a young Mexican woman, a university graduate and marketing executive, wrestles with feeling welcome and unwelcome, free and lonely.  This immigrant's experience shows the power of words—and the prejudice behind them—to hurt.  Is her faith in the American dream for people like her naïve?

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The story of Femi Omonije, a Nigerian man who learned how to be a successful businessman—and a black man—in the U.S.   He had to change his assumptions about American culture.  He redefined his American dream.  He achieved something far more substantial in Texas than what he imagined when he left Nigeria.

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This episode features a young woman journalist who fled economic hardship, social chaos, and terror in Venezuela to make a new life for herself and a new family in Texas.  Now a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion executive, she has a window on some of America's flaws.  Nevertheless, she is passionately giving back to the new paradise she found here.

Learn more about Literacy Achieves: http://www.LiteracyAchieves.org

Share your immigrant story: http://literacyachieves.org/podcast

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About Our Host
When I Got Here is narrated, edited, and written by Byron Harris. Harris is a longtime Dallas journalist and winner of two Peabody Awards.

About Our Music Composer
John Wesley Gibson is the composer-in-residence for the Dallas Winds.

Want to support Literacy Achieves?
http://www.literacyachieves.org/volunteer

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This is the story of Ruben and Alina Esquivel who were forced to leave Cuba when they were teenagers.

60 years ago Ruben and Alina's early lives were shaped by two dictators Fulgencio Batista, the president of Cuba in the 1950s, and Fidel Castro.

Listen as they share inspiring personal stories of why they left their homeland, how they got to the U.S., and the lives they are making here.

They've met the challenges of a new land with determination, perseverance, resilience, and creativity.

See America through their eyes and renew your appreciation for the land we love.

Learn more about Literacy Achieves: http://www.LiteracyAchieves.org

Share your immigrant story: http://literacyachieves.org/podcast

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About Our Host
When I Got Here is narrated, edited, and written by Byron Harris. Harris is a longtime Dallas journalist and winner of two Peabody Awards.

About Our Music Composer
John Wesley Gibson is the composer-in-residence for the Dallas Winds.

Want to support Literacy Achieves?
http://www.literacyachieves.org/volunteer

Support the show