On Navigating the Immigrant Experience: Overcoming Ongoing Residency Battle (w/ Omba Thomas)

Conversations from the Diaspora

I'm joined by a dear friend and sister, Omba Tejan-Thomas, whom I have known for 20 years or so as we attended the same church when we first came to the country as young children. She talks about her experience coming to the U.S. at the age of 8 from the Democratic Republic of Congo and how her family had to assimilate to a new culture, leading to culture loss and feelings of identity crisis, being classified as a refugee, as well as other challenges related to navigating the immigrant experience. After discovering that she was a DACA student before graduating from high school along with the fear of deportation looming over her head, she had to postpone her education and focus on family. In May 2022, Omba completed her Masters in Health Administration and after 32 years of being in the States, she now has her permanent residency. She discusses how her faith in God helped her throughout her journey as well as key organizations in the Charlotte area that supported her in the immigration process. She concludes by sharing what she's learned about herself throughout this journey and her confidence in who she is today.

To follow her Healthcare Executive Future Leader internship series, connect with her on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/omba-marilyn-tejan-thomas.

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