Organization: La Esperanza
Ancestral Country of Origin: Ecuador and El Salvador
Share a brief story about how or why your ancestors came to the U.S.:
My father is from El Salvador and came to the U.S. in 1970 through his sister, who is a U.S. citizen. He came to the U.S. on her request since she saw that there was very little opportunity for a young man like my father in El Salvador. Though my father didn’t have an interest in leaving El Salvador at that time, he was convinced by his sister to emigrate so that he could study in the U.S. and build a better future for himself. Because of his sister’s support, not only in immigrating but in supporting him as a newcomer as well, my father was able to learn English, become educated, have a good career and even start his own business. My mother is from Ecuador and came to the U.S. in the ’80s as a young woman. She originally did not want to leave Ecuador but decided to come to the U.S. to work to help support her mother and siblings in Ecuador. As a newcomer, her focus was work, and she worked very hard and with very little support. She eventually would work as a seamstress for my father’s company, and that is how they met in the U.S. and eventually started a family here. Through my father’s support, my mother was able to finish her own education, learn English and become a U.S. citizen. My parents share two different stories of the immigrant experience, yet their story built a foundation on which my siblings and I could thrive.