Category: Immigrants
Ana Sura: An Immigrant Serving Other Immigrants in Her Community
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...
Giving the Gift of Time
Life experiences are often the best teachers and influencers of how we form our values and priorities. This has become powerfully evident in the mindful way that Fatema Chaklasi and her family volunteer within their own community of middle Tennessee. Inspired by their own modest origins in Mumbai and their move to the United States...
Service for a Larger Purpose
Written by: Zac Cooper November’s Nashville Volunteer of the Month is Jacky Gomez, a community leader who deals with Hispanic and immigrant issues. She works as a receptionist at the Hispanic Foundation, a Program Coordinator with YMCA Latino Achievers, and a volunteer with the Tennessee Immigration and Refugee Rights Coalition. An overarching theme in Jacky’s...
Compassionate Heart
Written by: Annie Low Monica Cooley is this month’s honored volunteer because she posses the qualities it takes to be an excellent volunteer. John Wesley once said, “Do all the good you can. By all the means you can. At all the times you can. To all the people you can. As long as ever...
Teaching New Citizens is Heartwarming for Ben Cook
Nearly ten years ago Ben Cook started teaching citizenship classes to immigrants who wanted to become American citizens. He has taught in three different programs, including the Woodbine Community Center and Catholic Charities. Currently he is a Citizenship and Civics instructor at Casa de la Cultura Latino America at Global Crossings Mall in Antioch, formerly...
