Hello

I was born in a small town called Goma in the Democratic Republic of Congo. A very special town, quite like Tacoma. Standing tall and proud above the clouds, seen from anywhere in the town, is the active volcanic mountain called “Nyiragongo”. Just like Mt. Rainier, this mountain is a proud symbol of the town and home to the mountain gorillas of Virunga National Park. Although these two towns are miles apart, they both share a lot in common, like beautiful rivers, the Rocky Mountains, home to different species of animals and plants, clean air from the natural forests surrounding the city, beautiful history, and a home for so many. No other city would have been a better fit for my family and me to relocate to and call home than Tacoma. In 2016, we arrived here in “The City of Destiny” in the Pacific Northwest.

Goma completely changed after the war broke out in 1998, and we were forced to leave a town we had called home for generations as it had now become a war zone. For 32 years, a dictator ruled the nation, running it as though it were his private estate. The country was torn apart by ongoing conflicts in various cities, towns, and villages, as well as severe tribal disconnection with roots in colonialism. When that government was overthrown in a civil war that went on to claim over 3.8 million lives. This conflict was one of the deadliest since World War II. 

This chaos took over our town and put my family and many others on a journey of refuge. Our lives rapidly changed, and we started living in one violent situation after another. Different attacks would happen day and night on the roads or in small villages where we would stop to rest, and every time we would lose innocent lives. Among the people that died and were kidnapped were our friends and family. Women would be kidnapped and kept as sex slaves, and children would be taken and used as child soldiers, and this happened for over a year as we journeyed further and further looking for safety.

Then, fortunately, through sheer courage, sacrifice, and pure luck, we eventually made it across the border to seek refuge in Uganda in 2000, a neighboring country to the east of the DRC. As we waited to finally be granted asylum in a safer country that was far enough away for us to feel safe, we tried to rebuild our lives in these unfavorable and harsh conditions in various camps, moving back and forth from camp to city and city to camp. 

More than 22 years later, my family and I finally received asylum to move to the United States as refugees in Tacoma, Washington state, and had a chance to rebuild a new life in a place that we now call home.

Unfortunately, my story is not unique. There are millions of children, women, and men of all types from across the world with similar stories of leaving their homes, either running away from danger or looking for new and better opportunities for their families elsewhere. As the winds of immigration change all over the world, there is an emergent need for meaningful support, authentic collaboration, and storytellers to create conversations that highlight the journeys and experiences of refugees and immigrants to unite our communities that have adversely been disconnected due to political differences, bias, or systemic racism. Communities all over the country today voice their desire to seek connectivity, understanding, belonging, protection, basic human rights, transformative justice, and how those should be protected and given a safe space to thrive.

Tacoma is now my home; the Pacific Northwest is now my home; the United States is now my home. The same is true for the other refugees and immigrants from all over the world who move and resettle across the country. Just like them, I want to feel welcomed, loved, and treasured, I want to thrive without being labeled an alien or otherwise and considered a contributing citizen to the mighty and diverse history of this country.