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 three presentations:
5:00 PM, Doors open
6:00 – 6:45 PM, Elisa Chan (Taiwan) – “Anything is possible in America”
7:00 – 7:45 PM,Yasmin Azimi (Sweden) – “You can do it”
8:00 – 8:45 PM,Shadia Khoury (Nazareth) – “Mediterranean Culture Center.Serving the community through cultural programs”
Speakers’ Bios:
Elisa Chan
Elisa Chan was born in Taiwan and moved to the United States in 1988 for graduate study. She became a U.S. citizen in 1999 and has resided in San Antonio for 30 years. She received her Bachelor of Science in Computer Software Engineering at Beijing University of Technology in 1987, and her Master’s degree in Computer Science at the University of Texas at San Antonio in 1993. For 13 years, she worked successfully in the computer software development field.
Elisa and her husband, Clifford Hew, P.E. founded Unintech Consulting Engineers, Inc., a structural and civil engineering design and surveying firm in 1992. Elisa ran for San Antonio City Council for District 9 in 2009 and became the first Asian American woman on the city council. Elisa has always shown passion for San Antonio’s economic development with a special interest in international business. While a member of the San Antonio City Council, Elisa led the city’s international economic development efforts. In 2010, she was co-chair of the city’s delegation to the Shanghai World Expo.
Yasmin Azimi
Yasmin Azimi is the founder and owner of Fancy Maids. Fancy Maids opened up for business in August 2017. Yasmin was born in Iran but she grew up in Sweden. She graduated from nursing school in 1999 in Gothenburg, Sweden. Soon after graduation, Yasmin relocated to Germany where she resided for 2.5 years and worked as a LVN. In 2002 she moved to Italy to learn about Italian culture and folklore. Yasmin also desired to learn the Italian language. At the age of 27, Yasmin returned to Sweden in March of 2003 and opened up her own business. She was the founder and owner of Fast Work Recruiting Company with 15 employees. In 2005, Yasmin sold her company and married her husband in the United States and moved to San Antonio, Texas. In 2006, Yasmin was employed at her first job, in San Antonio, at Saks Fifth Avenue. After 6 months of employment, her salary was doubled. Yasmin was promoted and recognized as one of the top sellers at Saks Fifth Avenue. In 2008 Yasmin left Saks to stay home and take care of her newborn baby. After being unemployed for several months, Yasmin decided to start her own business. In August 2017, Yasmin started her commercial and residential cleaning service. Today she has over 50 clients both commercial and residential. Fancy Maids has a 5 star rating.
Shadia Khoury
Shadia Khoury was born and raised in Nazareth, Israel.
She started her singing career in the church of the Annunciations in Nazareth at the age of 10 years. She currently resides in San Antonio and loves singing in multiple languages.
In the year of 1992 she started missionary volunteer work in Italy. (Madre Teresa Di Calcutta in
Rome). After two years she moved back to Israel to finish her first degree in Mathematics at Technion University. (Israel Institute of Technology)
Shadia moved to Texas in October, 1998-at the age of 24 and taught Mathematics at Southwest Texas Junior College for two years. She then worked for Cactus Behavioral Health focusing on psychological evaluations and testing. Shadia Khoury is a proud graduate of North Central University with a post master degree in psychology. As a licensed professional counselor, and licensed hypnotherapist she started her own business (American Behavior counseling center) with focus on working with minorities in the Mediterranean region.
In 2018, she started working for Mediterranean culture center a non-profit, non-religious, and non -political organization with a mission to celebrate the richness of the Mediterranean arts and cultures with the community of San Antonio.
