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After feeling pressured to go into a career in investment banking or medicine, Somann found his calling in the hospitality industry. He tells the serendipitous story of how he came into his profession, and encourages others to find what they love and pursue it whole-heartedly. This story was produced in partnership with MALA and StoryCorps. […]

I’ve often heard my parents tell stories about the houses they shared with their cousins in their village, from the day they started walking to their school buildings to the day my mother agreed to leave hers for another. A south Asian history woven through a Muslim culture instilled a lifestyle strong enough in my

Inalienable rights are those absolute intrinsically posed rights that cannot be rescinded by anyone. The famous words of Jefferson from American Declaration of Independence (1776), ‘We hold these truths to be self-evident: that all men are created equal; that they are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights; that among these are life, liberty,

Life in one country is not mirrored by the life in another country. As an immigrant, I can attest to that. I spent my early childhood in the impoverished country of Bangladesh. In early 2009, my parents decided to move to the States in hopes of providing a better future for my elder brother and

Maiem Alam doesn’t know the struggles of immigration first hand, but he knows what his parents have endured and the strength it has taken. In his story, he talks about the numerous struggles that face families and individuals who immigrate away from their homes in search of a better life.  He writes about why immigrants

Farah moved to the U.S. with her family as a child, and found opportunity accompanied by hardship. Her story speaks to the struggles that come with growing up in a new country, and how we can find solace, support, and friendship in the kindness of others. This story was recorded in partnership with MALA and

Tarik has been thinking like an entrepreneur since he graduated high school in Morocco. In his story, he shares about the opportunities that led him to develop his latest endeavor, ‘Chore Relief’, an app that harnesses what he calls the “gig- economy,” and connects customers with workers within their own communities. This story was recorded

When Ayat’s family left ISIS-controlled Baghdad to come to the U.S. in 2014, they couldn’t tell anybody of their plans.  Here, Ayat speaks about the pain and remorse that came with uprooting her life in Baghdad, as well as the fulfillment she has found in the U.S., where she has renewed her passion for learning

Sofia describes her journey to understanding her own identity through the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.  Her story illustrates the ways in which spiritual wisdom coincides with academic wisdom, and how a balance of different forms of knowledge have contributed to her own world view.  Sofia is also a recipient of MALA’s Scholarship Program for

Laurel Hilbert: A Journey Towards Peace Laurel Allen Hilbert is the Founder and CEO of A Dignified Home Children and Youth Services. A native of Syria, he came to this country in 2013, where he experienced firsthand the challenges and difficulties of being homeless. Prior to founding A Dignified Home, his professional background included experience as