1. All of us have had personal and public encounters with African Immigrants in our day to day activities, in our places of work, job, the church, the malls and even on the streets. The great thing about these Immigrants is that all of them have a story about the reason that led them to America and that is what motivates me- a past story. What can be more fascinating than sitting down and allow them to narrate what they have to share in their hearts? The revelations can be heart breaking, stirring while others just funny.

2. Many years ago I come to this country as an Immigrant from Africa after post-election violence tore apart cities and left us homeless and refugees in my own country. The situation was hostile and tense when country men rose against each other and brought everything to a devastating state of bloodshed. I have since met many brothers and sisters from Africa and some from other parts of the world whom we share my experience some far worse as peace was never known to them prior to coming to the United States of America. 3. I will share three things that include who immigrants are, why they left their country and how it is to adjust to a totally new developed environment. 4. I will start by sharing why most of them migrate to America. Three factors have been identified as driving migration: reuniting with family members, searching for work the need for humanitarian protection according to the 2013 American Psychological Association Most immigrants left their country due to hostilities caused by political reasons and leadership that causes unrest where country men kill the minority tribes and destroy the entire group. Others come through the Green Card lottery program which selects over one hundred thousand people all over the world to come and work in the United States while others still come for business and education. 5. Who are they really? One may be tempted to ask. They are people who were going about their daily lives, education, professional callings among other things when violence erupted, or an opportunity cropped up and they decided to migrate for the search of peace and the American Dream. They have stayed in the forest in hiding, they have missed gun shots and machetes, they have gone hungry for days. I have met Engineers, Doctors, Nurses, teachers, great performing students and business people and those who had nothing at all, all striving within the safe borders of America to make ends meet. I have met refugees like me who from birth never saw peace but war and were living in hiding until they escaped the cruel hand of fate in their respective motherlands. Immigrant clients may often feel out of control in a new culture, so therapists may focus on issues of environmental masteryhelping clients understand how systems work, where to get assistance, and how to access resourcesin addition to more typical therapeutic concerns. Working With Immigrants withRita Chi-Ying Chung, PhD Part of the Multicultural Counseling Video Series. 6. How do members of marginalized groups cope with identity and discrimination in everyday settings like school and the workplace? How can stereotyping and discrimination be reduced among members of society's many cross-cutting categories? Social Categories in Everyday Experience- Book/Monograph (December 2011). Change is never easy and it can be misunderstood considering many factors, more so when you have to start all over again desperate to make ends meet with people who dont understand your past. Literally some immigrants left their big titles and wealth to start over in colleges taking basic classes to be somewhere. According to the Book Dream: A Memoir. By Harry Bernstein In a continuation of the acclaimed memoir,The Invisible Wall, the author describes his family's move to America to find a better life; the hardships, perils, and disappointments they are forced to confront as they chase the American Dream Things are never the same but better considering that they still hold on to life. But there is hope and determination the driving forces that make things go by fast each passing day. 7. America is such a blessed country because it opened up its doors to the wounded neighbor and gave water to them and a secure shelter. Diversity involves including, understanding and valuing differences in individual and group characteristics such as race, religion, ethnicity, gender, gender identity and expression, socioeconomic status, age, (dis)ability status, and sexual orientation. APA Diversity Implementation Plan- Publication Report (April 2012) Today we mingle with people from all walks of life with a burred bruised life forging forward knowing we have been given equality united in one spirit- nation building. 8. Dream: A Memoir. By Harry Bernstein Psychology of Immigration 101- 2013 American Psychological Association, Task Force Report (January 2012) Social Categories in Everyday Experience Edited by Shaun Wiley, PhD;Gina Philogne, PhD; andTracey A. Revenson, PhD- Book/Monograph (December 2011) Working with Immigrants withRita Chi-Ying Chung, PhD Part of theMulticultural Counseling Video Series- (October 2008) APA Diversity Implementation Plan- Publication Report (April 2012) 9. Dream: A Memoir. By Harry Bernstein Psychology of Immigration 101- 2013 American Psychological Association, Task Force Report (January 2012) Social Categories in Everyday Experience Edited by Shaun Wiley, PhD;Gina Philogne, PhD; andTracey A. Revenson, PhD- Book/Monograph (December 2011) Working with Immigrants withRita Chi-Ying Chung, PhD Part of theMulticultural Counseling Video Series- (October 2008) APA Diversity Implementation Plan- Publication Report (April 2012)