Ohio New Africans Immigrant Commission opens website

The Ohio New African Immigrants Commission, NAIC has opened its website to the public for viewing and contacts. This was disclosed at the December 2017 meeting of the commission and can be viewed at www.naic .ohio.gov.

 

The chairperson of the commission, Dr Rosaire Ifedi urged the public to visit the website and make contributions, adding that the commission’s office has been opened on the 18th floor of Vern Riffe State Office Tower, 77 South High Street, Columbus, Ohio.

ETSS opens Free English Class at East side Columbus

The Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services, ETSS has opened Free English Class to all nationalities at the Indian Creek Apartments on 421 Lancaster Avenue, Reynoldsburg, east side Columbus, Ohio.

Coordinator of the twice weekly classes, Tatjana Bozhinovski said that “classes will hold on Tuesday and Wednesday between 5pm and 7pm.”

“The classes are opened to beginner and intermediate students,” she said, adding that “registration is now open and they can call 6144070927.”

DHS raises concern over safety of Somali American children in Kenya

Concerns over the safety and welfare of Somali American children in unaccredited schools in Kenya were raised at the Department of Homeland Security Quarterly Central Ohio Community Engagement RoundTable on Monday, November 20, 2017 at the Ashland University, Columbus Campus.

 

The meeting which was coordinated by Abdirizak Farah of the DHS Office for Civil Rights and Liberties learned that some of the children taken from the United States by their parents to Kenya were discovered to be exposed to mistreatment and some of the children being chained as form of punishment in the schools. 

Community leaders at the meeting were advised to inform their communities and ensure that safety and welfare of American children abroad were properly monitored.

When contacted, the Executive Director of the Somali Community Association, Hassan Omar said the association was not aware of such development in the Somali community in Kenya.

NIDO: Edoja challenges Nigerians to be more involved

Teresa Edoja

The Nigerians in Diaspora Organization, NIDO, Americas, Central Ohio held its    elections on Saturday, November 18, 2017 with the President, Mrs. Teresa Edoja reelected for a second term. Others elected include Bukola Olaoye, Vice President; Onyemobi Anyiwo, Treasurer, Maxell   Ohakim, Public Relations Officer and Peter Eqwudo, Parliamentarian.

The New Americans spoke with the   reelected President, Teresa Edoja, mother of three who has lived in Ohio for 35years and whose first child and only son died in 2008 in the line of duty serving the United States Army, on the efforts to expand the organization and future plans.

She is currently serving in the Criminal Justice system as a Correction Specialist, managing 500 to 550 inmates with a team of staff who provide various programs under her supervision.

NIDO

NIDO was established in 2000, by then President Olusegun Obasanjo, to engage Nigerian professionals who live outside Nigeria, in the development of our country.

The role of NIDO is simply to galvanize in a well-organized manner, Nigerians who are interested and willing to contribute towards rebuilding Nigeria and in so doing, creating a better future for all Nigerians at home and abroad, as well as mapping out means to sustain the programs needed to keep Nigerians productive in building our country up again.

I got involved because I am a product of Nigeria when Nigeria worked. I dream of when Nigeria will return again to become that economic powerhouse it used to be in the 60s through the 80s.

Most Nigerians belong to one or more ethnic Nigerian groups, but NIDO serves a broader organization that can directly connect with the Nigerian Government, using the platform we have been given to network with foreign businesses and organizations, to invest in Nigeria, thereby boosting the Nigerian economy.

President

 Haven served on the Executive Board of NIDO since I became a member in 2011, we have been able to engage quite a number of other Nigerian groups, by creating a welcoming atmosphere to attract our people, and in so doing, we have more groups teaming up with NIDO to accomplish many programs that we provide to Nigerians in Central Ohio.

We have hosted our Embassy officials on many occasions and brought passport processing close to our Nigerians in Central Ohio and neighboring States.

Looking forward, I want to build on that relationship among all Nigerians, thereby, gaining more professionals who are willing to serve and bring good ideas that will benefit Nigerians in diaspora as a whole.

My plan this second term is to broaden our relationship with our foreign missions in the United States, and strengthen our relationship with the State of Ohio and the City of Columbus.

We intend to organize more forums for discussions on matters affecting our people and how to go about creating avenues for solving problems.

We plan on hosting a major conference in the coming year, to showcase our Nigerian Women in Development, and to expand on our existing programs.

Membership

We are proud to say that we have come a long way from where we were five years ago. More and more Nigerians are embracing NIDO, we currently have 24 active members and many more are still sitting on the fence. One of my goals in this term in office, is to grow our membership, by visiting other groups, and bringing NIDO to them, I am confident our people will begin to understand what NIDO Is all about.

We encourage members to get involved by bringing ideas that will help build our country again. We encourage members to lend their professional expertise in our effort to organize events that benefit our community. In turn, our country will be stronger, and that is beneficial to all Nigerians.

It is going to take, selfless committed Nigerians, who are willing to volunteer time and professional services to build our country again. I joined NIDO because I believe that my effort will count and owe it to the country of my birth, why? Because we have a duty to leave a better Nigeria for generations to come.

Partners

NIDO Ohio has strived to maintain a good relationship with the State of Ohio and City of Columbus. For the first time, NIDO Ohio was presented a Citation by both the Senate and the City of Columbus, in recognition of Nigeria’s Independence Day. Our relationship with the State and City is going to grow stronger as we plan on engaging them in future programs and events that will create networking opportunities between them and our Embassy, Consulates and Nigerian Government.

Events

One of the major events in the coming year is the Nigerian Women in Development Conference.

I challenge Nigerians in our community to get involved. We have a lot to gain if we work     together and our common goal is to help build our beloved Country Nigeria up again, and in so doing a better future for our children and generations to come. Nigeria is our homeland, we have a duty to help with all the gifts and skills God has given each of us to apply those skills to bring Nigeria back to her old Glory.

Doctors Pharmacy opens with Opportunities in West-side Columbus

Monday, November  20, 2017, Dr.    Emmanuel Quainoo opened his Pharmacy, Doctors Pharmacy on West Broad Street, Columbus, Ohio. Emmanuel has always desired the independence of working with patients with the boundless availability of time that chain drug stores do not offer. He was born in Ghana, raised in both Ghana and the United Kingdom. He spoke with the New Americans on his motivation, goals and future plans:

Profile

 I studied Biological sciences and majored in Chemistry as an undergrad. I worked in my dad’s chemical shop as a teenager and developed the love for the practice of pharmacy. I went to an all-boys catholic boarding school and studied science. From there, I knew I wanted to become a chemist/ pharmacist. After undergraduate school, I lived and worked in London, UK for a while. I returned to Ghana and worked as a petroleum chemist/ Process Engineer at an oil refinery company. While there, I still worked at my dad’s chemical shop and I knew helping people on a path to better health was my real calling. I left for the U.S on a scholarship to graduate school. I studied Biochemistry in graduate school here in the U.S. While in grad school, my research interest in the field of biochemical analytics in the discovery of cancer drugs further drew me closer to taking care of people by offering them the best counsel on medication use. After completing graduate school, I contemplated on Medical school or Pharmacy school. I chose Pharmacy school due to my familiarity with the field and the fact that, I enjoy teaching and talking about drugs. I taught Pharmacy tech courses for a while at a college before going to Pharmacy school.  I graduated from the James Winkle College of Pharmacy, University of Cincinnati with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree with a major focus on clinical practice. People enjoy talking to me, because I am a good listener and have a good understanding for their needs and problems. What’s more, pharmaceutics has always been my field of interest.

Pharmacy

Pharmacists are members of the healthcare team. Patients do well when pharmacists are part of their healthcare teams because pharmacists know more about medications. As a teacher, I chose Pharmacy because I wanted to spend time with my patients while counseling them and educating them about their medications

Early time in the U. S

It was not too difficult for me. However, I had to become accustomed to the practice of pharmacy in the U.S from my days back in Ghana. The good thing is that Pharmacy school here in the U.S gave me all the needed training, qualifications and experience necessary to excel as a pharmacist in giving the best care to my patients. I believe that when you are born naturally to care for people, it is a joy to execute that duty.  For me, I treat patients as part of my family, so it is never difficult taking care of them. I enjoy talking to my patients and making recommendations for them.

Motivation

I like the independence of working with patients with the boundless availability of time that chain drug stores do not offer. I enjoy counseling patients and interacting with them so that they feel part of the pharmacy family. Nothing satisfies me more than knowing that I have helped a patient on a path to better health. With Doctors Pharmacy, I can achieve all that.

Location

I chose the west side of Columbus because it is a fast-developing side of town and very cosmopolitan – Spanish, Somalis, Americans, Nepalese, etc. You name them.  Pharmacists in both the North and East sides of town were doing fantastic jobs by making care very reachable to these minority communities there. I felt the need to extend this service to the West as well. After all, the best, they say, comes from the West.

Incentives

At Doctors Pharmacy, we work with other pharmacists and medical doctors who have volunteered their time to offer free counseling and care to our patients, especially those who find it difficult accessing healthcare from mainstream hospitals due to language barriers, etc. We offer free blood pressure monitoring, free pick-up and delivery to home and offices, free review of medications and easy transfer of medications. We also do follow ups with your doctor for refills and appointment schedules. We also offer recommendations to patients without primary physicians.

Plans

The future plan is to establish ourselves as the go-to pharmacy within the community by producing the best customer service and care to our patients. We want to build a trusting relationship with our patients and offer them the best care at very affordable cost. From there, we can expand our service to other areas of Columbus and beyond and give our patients a taste of real patient care by pharmacists who care about their wellbeing.

With this, I appeal to everyone living on the west side of Columbus to come and check us out. We stock over the counter medications, vitamins, and personal beauty care and products. We have the best deal on our quality products you will never find anywhere. There are free vitamins and products when you transfer your prescriptions to the Doctors Pharmacy.   

Evening of Promise 2017

Tatjana Bozhinovski

By Tatjana Bozhinovski

Photographs by Joel and Amy Harcar

On November 4, 2017 ETSS hosted their third annual Evening of Promise at a fully packed party venue, LaNavona in Gahanna. This fundraising event was so gratifying, full of fun, inspiring stories, laughter, and so much more. As I walked around throughout the evening, talking to people I met at last year’s event, meeting new, catching up with colleagues and friends, I could feel the positive atmosphere, the passion and love for helping, and a feeling of thankfulness and appreciation towards an organization that has done so much to help the new Americans in so many different ways.

The doors of LaNavona opened at 6:30 that Saturday evening, and waves of people started pouring in eager to see what the evening will bring. After registration, everyone made sure to explore the silent auction items spread in one of the rooms of the venue and start bidding.  There was so much to choose from: coffee kits, dinner packages, romantic getaways, sport events’ tickets, jewelry, art pieces and more.

Dr. Darrell Mason Gray II, Gastroenterologist at the OSU Wexner Medical Center, and an ETSS Board Member was the Emcee for the evening. He welcomed all the guests and recognized elected officials in the audience. Among them were Franklin County Commissioner Kevin L. Boyce, Ohio State Representatives Davis Leland and Herscel Craig, and Clerk of Courts, Lori Tyack.

As dinner was served, Board Members and ETSS Administration honored several individuals, calling them “remarkable champions, who deserve recognition for their tireless advocacy in making immigrants and refugees in Columbus feel like a vital part of this great city”.

Advocate for the Community

Kathy Crandall, Director of Franklin County Homeland Security & Justice Programs

Advocate in the Community

Sharif-Ali Hashim, Somali community elder

Advocate in Medicine

Dr. Gail Besner, Chief of the Department of Pediatric Surgery at Nationwide Children’s Hospital

Advocate for Youth

William Sherry, Founder of The Ann Sherry Foundation

Advocate for the Neighborhood

Lela Boykin, Retired COO Neighborhood House

Each honoree received a crystal award and a very special kente stole, handcrafted by a local Ghanaian Master Weaver.

The keynote speaker for the evening was Commissioner Boyce who has been a friend of ETSS for a while. Dr. Gray described the Commissioner as someone who has always been so passionate in understanding the obstacles immigrants and refugees are faced with when they first come here. “After the most recent election, many local officials looked to Commissioner Boyce for leadership and guidance on how to support new Americans. He took this call for action very seriously and within a few weeks the New American Advisory Council was formed.”  After Commissioner’s speech about the importance of helping the new Americans in our wonderful city, he was also awarded with a kente stole. 

We were then asked to turn our attention to the three photographs up front that I had wondered why they were there since I had entered the venue. They were beautiful photos of three beautiful women that I have known for a while and had the privilege to work with a couple of them. These photos were taken by Tariq Tarey and Laura Berger read their stories. One from Eastern part of China, one from Eritrea and the third from Nepal, the stories of Tursunay Awut, Nazarth Mesfin and Priya Sharma were beautiful. Each woman went through struggles that some of us cannot even imagine. They may have each had different battles in life, yet they all have one thing in common.

ETSS has been a part of their lives for the last few years. The ETSS family has “the privilege of working with people like Tursanay, Nazareth and Priya every day. It is a great honor to walk alongside them during their journey as they pursue their hopes and dreams for the future”, Laura said.  She urged everyone in attendance to help so ETSS can continue serving the immigrant and refugee community in Central Ohio. 

After these beautiful stories of three amazing women, Dr. Gray urged everyone to help raise funds for ETSS programs and services by raising their paddles starting with $1,000, then $500, $250….Paddle after paddle were raised up in the air! With big smiles on their faces, so many opened their hearts and without any hesitation donated for such great cause.

With the generous donations of PNC Bank as a Gold Sponsor, Park National Bank and Molina Healthcare as the Silver Sponsors and more than a dozen of Bronze Sponsors, Ohio Capital Corporation for Housing as the Presenting Sponsor, dozens of kind contributions, all who contributed in “Raise the Paddle” and the total amount raised from the Silent Auction, Evening of Promise brought in $45,500. All net proceeds will benefit ETSS initiatives. 

As the evening was coming to an end, I couldn’t help but think how much of hard work this was to plan and execute such an outstanding and successful event. Laura Burger was the one to organize this third in a row event, with the help of her Development Committee who worked tirelessly throughout the year to make this happen. With Dr. Gray as a Chair of the committee, the group meets monthly. They are already planning next year’s event. Because this year’s event was sold out quickly with a huge interest, the Committee is looking for a venue that will hold 400-500 people for next year.

Dare to Run: America gave me opportunity – City of Helena Mayor-Elect Wilmot Collins

Wilmot Collins

             When the first civil war broke out in Liberia, West Africa in 1989, the decision of Wilmot Collins and wife, Maddie Muna Collins who was pregnant at the time, was that they must leave the country.  While Maddie was able to get help to the United States through those she once stayed with during her school days in the U. S, Wilmot had to register as a refugee in West Africa, pending approval to join his wife.

In an interview with the New Americans, Wilmot Collins, the first African-American to be elected Mayor of Helena, capital of Montana State said that the wait period was tortuous years for him, especially when he was not confident if the application will be approved.  But eventually, America gave him an opportunity, this in addition to “an incredible opportunity to help the people of my city,” he said. Tuesday, January 2, 2018 Wilmot Collins will be sworn-in as the Mayor of Helena and he will take his seat at the  Assembly of Mayors in the United States  of America.

Wilmot Collins

First and foremost, I'm a father and a husband, those are undoubtedly my two most significant titles. I'm also a former refugee who knows what really struggling feels like, so I've spent a vast majority of my career in America involved in community activism and have always been passionate about finding work that allows me to help those who could use a hand. That's why I've been a professor, a CPS employee, a social worker and most recently, Mayor-Elect. I'm passionate about this community and I've been given an incredible opportunity to help the people of my city.

Helena

My wife was my ticket to Helena. She had studied in Helena as a foreign exchange student before we met. When the First civil war broke out in Liberia, we knew we couldn't stay and so my wife contacted her host family that she had stayed with during her time as an exchange student. They were able to petition for her to come back to America on a student visa. I could not join her immediately and had to officially register as a refugee and went through the process.

When my wife left Liberia, she left pregnant with my daughter and I didn't meet her until she was almost two years old. It was torture being away from them and not being completely confident that I'd ever get to join them. However, eventually America gave me opportunity.

Helena was and still is a very welcoming community and when I first arrived I knew I could make this place home. Sure, I've had my run-ins with racism and bigotry, but I always say the support and the encouraging individuals I'm surrounded by, always overshadow the ugly.

Motivation

As I mentioned earlier, the support of such an accepting and humbling community of people has kept my family not only in Helena but in Montana. My son went out of state for school during his first year in college and ended up back in Montana after a few months. This is a hard place to leave. The landscape here is enchanting.

 Politics

I went to school for political science in Liberia. I've always had an interest in public service but during my time in Liberia I never could've dreamed I would win an election in Helena, Montana. When I got to America, I began to understand that with the complimentary duo of hard work and persistence, the road to success is endless.

Response

I had a lot of support from family and close friends. There were a few people who thought the idea was crazy. The majority of people I talked to on the campaign trail were very eager to hear a new voice. They listened to my platform, gave their feedback and as the results show, many of them gifted me with their support and trust.

Campaign

I was just telling friends the other day, how thankful I am that the campaign part is over now. It was rewarding getting to talk and meet with various members of the community but it was tough. We really ran a grassroots campaign because running against a 16 year incumbent is not an easy task. It was an uphill battle and not every constituent gave pleasant feedback. With it being my first time running for public office, some days took a toll on me. My family jokes about how my beard began to gray out during the campaign.

Result

My son gave me the final results from his phone. He had been constantly refreshing the results page online.

Guide

 I always say for an immigrant coming to America, do your very best to stay focused on writing a new chapter. Contribute to your community and realize that in being active in your community, you will need thick skin. Not everyone will be pleased with your arrival. Understand that in America, a nation built by immigrants, there is a place for you here. Work hard and be an example that the world can be proud of. Your standards for being a decent citizen are much higher because people will want you to mess up. Make mistakes, learn from those mistakes and fight to make your mistakes your roadmap. In doing this, you know where you've been, what works and what doesn't, and that is the best guide.