Congratulations to our 2018 Immigrant Journey Awards Professional Excellence winner, Maj. Adebayo Temitope Adeleke! Adebayo’s enlightening commentary about immigrant soldiers serving our country was recently published in The Dallas Morning News. It’s truly inspirational so we took the liberty of posting it here:

Many of the soldiers securing our borders are immigrants who are proud to defend the U.S.

In 2010, while leading a U.S. Army command post in Afghanistan, I was struck by how the immigrants in our ranks made our unit stronger. As we set up our headquarters, a soldier from Ecuador showed us how to organize the buildings’ layout to get the best cross-ventilation. Another from the Caribbean had a great strategy for conserving wood. As an immigrant myself — I was born in Nigeria — I was inspired by how we combined our cultural wisdom and engineering solutions to create a first-rate command post.

As a retired U.S. Army major, I’ve seen firsthand how welcoming people from a variety of backgrounds into our military teaches us all to be more collaborative and innovative. That’s why I disagree with the Trump Administration’s efforts to restrict immigrants from serving in our military — whether it’s adding extra red tape for green card holders or failing to offer new recruits protection from deportation if their visas expire even after they enlisted.

I think it’s crucial that we recognize the unique perspectives and specialized skills that our immigrant soldiers can offer this nation. President George W. Bush recognized in 2002 the value of immigrants in military when he signed an executive order to expedite citizenship proceedings for noncitizens serving in the military. In 2009, the U.S. Defense Department began permitting noncitizens who possess critical language and health care skills to serve through a program called Military Accessions Vital to the National Interest. The program has enabled the military to fill critical skills gaps that are vital to our national defense. Unfortunately, it was closed to new applicants in 2016, and by the summer of 2018, the department reportedly had discharged as many as 500 immigrant recruits with those skills, even though research shows the U.S. military still struggles to fill such shortages.

Immigrants play a sizable role in our military, accounting for nearly 5 percent of all personnel. Nationally, there are more than 190,000 foreign-born residents serving in our forces — more than a quarter of whom are active duty, according to research by New American Economy. Here in Texas, there are 15,160 foreign-born residents in the military, and 4,068 are on active duty. There’s also proof from Pentagon research that immigrant soldiers serve longer than native-born troops.

We come from all over the world, but we are proud to wear the same uniform to defend our adopted nation. For me, serving this country has been the pride of my life, though when I enlisted I never imagined I’d stay for 20 years. Back then, I was a teenager living with my family in New York City. I was hoping to go to college but as a noncitizen was not eligible for financial aid or in-state tuition. While watching the Yankees play the Mets, I saw an advertisement for the Army. “Be all that you can be,” it said.

The Army did enable me to be all that I could be. It provided the financial help that enabled me to graduate from college. After that I became a paratrooper and traveled the world. I served in Afghanistan and helped civilians in Japan after the typhoon. But the most important lesson I learned is that my military achievements were never about me. I loved joining my brothers and sisters to fight for a cause larger than ourselves: the United States of America. After I became a commander, I dedicated myself to the brave men and women I led.

When it comes to the mission of keeping our borders secure, we already have the world’s best and brightest here. They simply want the opportunity to defend the country they love.

Adebayo Adeleke is a retired U.S. Army major and a lecturer at Sam Houston State University. He lives in Grand Prairie.

WASHINGTON, DC – Today marks the start of Immigrant Heritage Month (IHM), a nationwide effort to celebrate immigrants and share inspirational stories of immigration in America. Now in its fifth year, IHM is an opportunity for Americans to celebrate the countless contributions immigrants have made and continue to make to the United States, and to reflect on their family’s heritage.

This year, IHM is bringing interactive #CelebrateImmigrants experiences to diverse neighborhoods across the country, featuring public art installations and a blend of cultural performances, custom t-shirts, and appearances by public officials. The first event kicks off June 5 in our nation’s capital. Other events will be held throughout the month of June in Chicago, Atlanta, San Diego, Houston and Salt Lake City.

Also new to IHM in 2018 is a star-studded video featuring celebrities in film and entertainment — including Bellamy Young (Scandal), Javier Muñoz (Hamilton), Shannon Woodward (Westworld) and Matt McGorry (Orange Is The New Black; How to Get Away with Murder) — as they reflect on their family’s immigrant heritage.

“I think standing with immigrants means I’m standing for hope, for the future, for authenticity and for not having to sacrifice where you came from for where you are now,” said Broadway star Ana Villafañe, known for portraying pop icon Gloria Estefan in the musical On Your Feet!.

Westworld actress Shannon Woodward noted that immigrants are part of the fabric of the United States, adding that “to be an immigrant in this country is to be an American.”

Governors and mayors from 34 states have already issued 152 proclamations officially declaring June as Immigrant Heritage Month in their jurisdictions, including Governors Brian Sandoval of Nevada, Tom Wolf of Pennsylvania, Henry McMaster of South Carolina, Gina Raimondo of Rhode Island and Rick Snyder of Michigan. Additional proclamations are expected throughout the month from all 50 states.

Since its launch in 2014, Immigrant Heritage Month has grown into a powerful, impactful celebration of millions of individuals’ heritage as immigrants. Last year, hundreds of artists, entertainers and elected officials representing all 50 states, and more than 540 companies and nonprofit partners, came together to celebrate IHM 2017 – leading to over half a billion impressions on social media in June alone, and more than dozens of IHM-linked events held around the country.

IHM 2017 participants included famed fashion designer Diane von Furstenberg, Postmates CEO Bastian Lehmann, Paypal Co-Founder Max Levchin, America Ferrera, Bellamy Young, George Takei, Paul Wesley, Matt McGorry, Debra Messing, Christina Milian, Russell Simmons, Ana Villafane, Minka Kelly, Ilana Glazer, Jack Falahee, Tara Strong, Piper Perabo, Javier Munoz, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, and Phoebe Tonkin.

The campaign’s popularity is a testament to the rapidly growing grassroots support for immigrant communities and their significance to the social, cultural and economic fabric of the United States. For more information or to join an Immigrant Heritage Month celebration in your community, visit www.iamanimmigrant.com.

-from press release – Iamanimmigrant.com

We are so excited that 2016 immigrant entrepreneur award winner, Betty Manetta, will be our keynote speaker. Betty heads two of the top 10 Hispanic-owned businesses in north Texas. Her companies, Argent Associates and Asociar, generate over $300 million in annual revenues. Don’t miss hearing her inspiring story! Join us on June 16 for the Immigrant Journey Awards Gala.

 

Ann Massey Badmus and Sara Crilley talk about the history and purpose of the Immigrant Journey Awards.