Eye of An Immigrant

🌍✨ Meet Reda Ibrahim: speaker at From Home to Here! Born in a small village in Egypt, Reda’s journey took him from Cairo to Zanzibar, and eventually to Kansas City. Facing language barriers and discrimination, he worked his way up in the roofing industry, eventually founding RK Contractors LLC to create job opportunities for immigrants, refugees, and second-chance citizens. Now, with Mercy in the City, he’s working to provide affordable housing and job training for those finding their way in a new country. We’re honored to have him share his powerful story of resilience and community! 🌟 Join us on Friday, November 8th from 6:00-9:00PM to hear Reda’s story! Get your tickets now at https://lnkd.in/gRDctR2v

We’re just 3 weeks away from From Home to Here! On November 8th, from 6-9 PM (VIP reception 6-6:30 PM), join us at Glory at Midtown for a powerful night of celebration, storytelling, and culture. This event will highlight the resilience of immigrants as they embrace new beginnings and share their stories of perseverance and success. Immigrant experiences are a testament to strength, determination, and hope. Let’s come together to honor these journeys and uplift voices that deserve to be heard. 🎟️ Tickets are now available! Don’t miss out — secure your spot here: https://lnkd.in/gRDctR2v #ImmigrantStories #FromHomeToHere #Resilience #Diversity #CulturalCelebration #CommunityEvents #Storytelling #KansasCityEvents #Inclusion

🌾 It All Begins with Family 🌾 In tonight’s episode of From Home to Here, Aman Malhotra opens up about the roots of her story—starting with her father. She reflects on his experiences during the 1984 Sikh genocide, growing up farming at a young age, and shouldering immense responsibilities. It’s a journey of resilience and strength that shaped not only his life, but hers as well. Don’t miss this powerful conversation, where Aman shares how her father’s story laid the foundation for her own journey of identity, belonging, and navigating life’s challenges. Tune in tonight at 5 PM to hear this incredible episode! 🎧✨ #FromHomeToHere #EOAI #PodcastDrop #SikhGenocide #FamilyRoots #Resilience #ImmigrantStories #TuneInTonight

📆This Thursday at 5 PM, we’re diving deep into the complexities of identity in our latest episode of From Home to Here! ⭐️Join us as Aman Malhotra shares her personal journey navigating school changes and the challenges of redefining her identity along the way. 👂She opens up about the struggles of fitting in, the impact of cliques around race, and the quest to find a place where she truly belongs. Her insights resonate with anyone who has ever felt the weight of expectation and the desire to be seen for who they really are. Don’t miss this powerful conversation! Tune in and let’s explore the journey of self-discovery together. 🎧✨ #FromHomeToHere #PodcastTeaser #IdentityStruggles #Belonging #ImmigrantStories

How it all began...🌱 🎙️ This Thursday at 5:00PM, October 17th, hear Komalpreet and Aman share the story of how it all began—from Aman attending Komal’s parents’ wedding to now serving on the Eye of an Immigrant board. 💭💬 Listen in as they discuss the roots of their friendship, the journey from personal connections to community advocacy, and how it all led to building EOAI together. ✨ Set your reminders—it’s a story of history, heart, and the power of immigrant voices you won’t want to miss. 🎧 #FromHomeToHere #EOAI #PodcastEpisode #CommunityImpact #ImmigrantJourney #TuneInThursday”

We are excited to introduce Jose E. Rodriguez, CSPO as the newest member of the Eye of an Immigrant board! Jose E. Rodriguez is originally from Honduras and migrated to the United States during high school. He holds an associate's degree in Hospitality Management and a bachelor's degree in Business Administration from Baker University. Having served as a Patient Administration Specialist in the U.S. Army Reserves, Jose has been with Unbound, an international development agency based in Kansas City, since 2009. He initially oversaw and supported program operations across several Latin American countries and now serves as Vice President of Operations at Unbound (nonprofit) headquarters. Residing in the Kansas City area with his daughter Arianna and partner Sabrina, Jose is passionate about cooking for friends and supporting soccer and Formula 1. He expresses his profound respect for those who relocate in search of opportunity, stating, "I have deep respect for any individual that has had to make the difficult decision to relocate countries in search of a better future. Being uprooted from my family and friends at age 15, I know firsthand the struggle of not belonging. I arrived in the US with $300 to my name and no path to citizenship. I am deeply inspired by the mission and work of Eye of an Immigrant, which exists to affirm the struggle and potential of immigrants in the US and to ensure no one has to face their journey alone or without resources."

🌟 Meet our next speaker at From Home to Here: the incredible Genesis Mercado-Arias! 🌟 Born to Salvadoran immigrant parents in Wichita, KS, Genesis is breaking barriers as the first in her family to attend college. After graduating from Wichita State and earning her law degree from UMKC, she’s been working with Jewish Vocational Service of Kansas City (JVS) in KC, helping asylum seekers find safety and hope. 🙌 But that’s not all—Genesis also founded The Ella Initiative providing scholarships to young women in Latin America. This year, she’s already helped five women from El Salvador chase their academic dreams! 🎓💪 Ready to be inspired? RSVP now using this link (https://lnkd.in/gRDctR2v) to hear her powerful story! 💫 #FromHomeToHere #EyeOfAnImmigrant #LatinaLeaders #WomenWhoInspire #ImmigrantStories

Earlier in September, we had an incredible day at “Fostering Welcoming Environments Through Inclusive Dialogue” workshop during #WelcomingWeek! 🌎✨ This event was all about coming together to create spaces where every voice is heard, and every story is valued. We had an amazing turnout, and the conversations were nothing short of inspiring. 🤝❤️ A special thank you to Mayor John Bacon of City of Olathe for joining us and offering thoughtful remarks on the importance of creating welcoming environments in our community. We also extend our gratitude to the other elected officials who attended and supported this important dialogue. A huge thank you to Forever Welcome Foundation, Trinity Fellowship Olathe, and Welcoming KC for collaborating with us and making this workshop such a success! Together, we’re having important conversations to foster a stronger, more inclusive community that celebrates immigrant diversity. 🙌 We couldn’t have done it without YOU, our wonderful audience! Thank you for showing up, sharing your thoughts, being authentic, and making a difference with us. 💫 Let’s keep the dialogue going and continue to build spaces where everyone feels welcomed. Join us on Friday, November 8th for our second annual From Home to Here! More details in our bio. 🏡 PHOTO CREDITS: Iqbal Singh #EyeOfAnImmigrant #ForeverWelcome #WelcomingKC #Community #InclusiveDialogue #TogetherWeAreStronger #CelebrateDiversity #ImmigrantVoices #FosteringBelonging

🦋 At Eye of an Immigrant, we are driven by three core pillars that guide our mission to create lasting change in our communities. 🌍 1. Storytelling:
We amplify immigrant stories that too often go unheard. By sharing personal journeys and experiences, we aim to break the silence barrier, cultivate community advocacy, and shift the narrative around immigration. 🤝 2. Financial Assistance: Funding Pathways to Citizenship:
We provide financial assistance to cover the costly fees associated with citizenship applications. Our goal is to remove barriers and ensure that every immigrant has access to the legal support they need to become U.S. citizens. 🌱 3. Resource Assistance: Building Welcoming Communities:
We cultivate spaces of belonging through advocacy, dialogue, and community events that unite people of all backgrounds. Together, we build a future where everyone feels welcome, supported, and valued. ✨ Join us on November 8th at our second annual From Home to Here to support our mission to uplift, empower, and unite! RSVP NOW AT https://lnkd.in/gRDctR2v 💪🏽💙

Family ❤️ We are incredibly grateful for everyone who made our This Is Me event a success! This summer, we hosted This Is Me in collaboration with Big Brothers Big Sisters Kansas City, Small Changes Big Shifts, and ArtsTech. This special event welcomed immigrant children, first-generation families, and allies into a unique space to focus on themselves and take a moment to breathe. A heartfelt thank you to Ingrid for leading a soothing yoga session with guided meditation, allowing everyone to reconnect with their inner selves, and to Ngan for leading the beautiful guided painting session, where participants expressed their creativity in a mindful way. Every detail of the event was intentional—from providing healthy snacks and fruit-infused water (thank you, Small Changes Big Shifts!) to ensuring all attendees had the opportunity to reflect and recharge. Lastly, a big thank you to Alejandra Villalobos-McAnderson from our Eye of an Immigrant Board for leading the planning and execution of this event. Your leadership ensured everything ran smoothly, and we couldn’t have done it without you! Everything we do is to share immigrant stories and break the silence barriers. This event allowed us to put time and energy into the kids, helping them discover their inner intuition. This Is Me was about storytelling through unique and unconventional ways, empowering our youth to express themselves beyond words. PHOTO CREDITS: @jkaurphotography