The DreamHour Migrant Series 2020: series of 21 presentations that focus on the migrant experience in America. It will showcase diversity, challenges, struggles, and successes through each individual’s participation highlighting the navigation of the cultural intersection between one’s home country and one’s new home. Today’s Series will consist of two migrants’ presentations from two different countries:
5:30 PM Doors open
6:00 – 6:45 PM, Andrew Blouet (England) – “Bridges to Inclusion”
7:00 – 7:45 PM, Nadia Noel-Anglade (Venezuela) – “Cross Cultural Misconceptions”
8:00 – 8:45 PM, Ambika Dani (India) – “The Complexities of Accessing Opportunities as an Immigrant”
Speakers’ Bios:
Andrew Blouet
Andrew Blouet was brought to the country as a small child, from Great Britain. Being dual-cultural has many advantages, but not all the time. Even though he comes from a country with many apparent ties to the U.S., sometimes it doesn’t always feel that way. He will talk about some of the struggles that all immigrants feel, and how these can be ameliorated with compassion, understanding, and education. Andrew received a B.A. from the University of Arizona and an M.S. from Texas A&M.
Nadia Noel-Anglade
Nadia Noel-Anglade was born and raised in raised in Trinidad, West Indies. She moved to New York City as an international student to study at Monroe College where she obtained a BBA in Business Management with honors. She later earned a MS in International Management from Manhattanville College. In 2019, Nadia launched her own company called “The Networking Embassy.” It is a Global Consulting Firm which provides access to exclusive networks by leveraging key relationships. Nadia currently consults with Sales/Marketing teams to increase brand awareness and profitability. She has been a part of over 15 professional Associations statewide (including nationally).
Life was full of adversity and trauma as Nadia transitioned to the US. Nadia’s story is one of perseverance, self-belief and courage to rise above the ashes in her lowest moments. Today, she gives back to others by being empower others and is highly involved in her community, sharing her story through diverse speaking engagements.
Ambika Dani
Ambika Dani was often deemed by others as a ‘third-culture kid.’ Having grown up in Lagos, Nigeria until the age of 13 and then attending a boarding school in Bangalore, India before moving to New York City for college at the age of 17, the question ‘Where are you from?’ was always a complex one to answer.
Moving to the United States at a young age was overwhelming and exciting at the same time. She felt like there was a world of opportunity at her doorstep yet navigating how to access these opportunities was challenging. From researching what a social security card was to obtain her first job on campus to understanding the process to obtain an Optional Practical Training (OPT) card just to be able to intern as a teacher over the summers, every opportunity seemed to pose an unexpected layer of complexity.
She left the country soon after graduating from college, only to come back three years later to work as a teacher in New York City. Through a series of events (i.e. incredible life experiences and many immigration processes), she now finds herself in San Antonio, finally a legal resident of this country and able to do the work she has always dreamed of doing – ensuring that other children furthest from opportunity, have access to an education that will put them on a path to a life of choice and success.
