Immigrating to another country is an intimidating task that Ana Sura once completed. Now, with the nonprofit Better Options Tennessee, Ana guides new immigrants toward a future in her home state.
Ana began her volunteer journey in 2007 when she moved to Franklin, Tennessee and opened a few churches alongside her pastor husband. There, she volunteered, teaching Sunday school. Soon after, she got involved in mentoring with the Christian Women’s Job Corp., a faith-based organization that provides language classes, mentoring, and job readiness to female immigrants. She then took those mentoring skills to Better Options Tennessee, an organization that provides culture and language education, housing, and legal assistance for immigrants – an important service given the number of immigrants and the difficulty of translating legal jargon.
At Better Options Tennessee, Ana primarily works with hispanic families, and women in particular, who are new to the United States. She helps them apply for jobs, find apartments, and register their children for school. It’s easy to see these as mundane chores, but when English is not one’s first language, a job application can be difficult to do.
Having someone like Ana to help with these undertakings can be reassuring for these immigrants who have few allies right away and are experiencing culture shock from all angles. Ana not only coaches, mentors, and assists in paperwork, she also provides guidance for those adjusting to U.S. and Tennessee cultures.
“It was so hard for me when I came to Nashville, Tennessee, especially to understand the southern accent,” she jests.
Additionally, Ana has hosted immigrant families in her home as part of her work with Better Options. She not only finds these immigrants inspiring but also grows close to them and considers them family. In speaking of her extended family from various countries, Ana says that “it’s no more about the blood… it’s about the heart.”
By volunteering, Ana and her husband have created their own community. A family in Tennessee which truly exemplifies the power of giving back.
To hear more about Ana’s story, listen to her interview on the Doing Good Podcast.
