TESTIMONY
Ana Galiana on Her Journey as an Immigrant and the Impact of Mixteca
4:23:51
·
134 sec
Ana Galiana shares her journey from immigrant to advocate, emphasizing the crucial support received from Mixteca.
- Galiana discusses her challenges as a single mom and immigrant, including language and cultural barriers.
- She credits her academic achievements to the guidance and support from her community and organizations like Mixteca.
- Galiana highlights Mixteca's pivotal role during the pandemic in 2020, providing essential resources to immigrants.
- She expresses her gratitude by volunteering and serving as an advocate within Mixteca, aiming to support other immigrants.
- Galiana urges the New York City Council to support Mixteca and organizations offering aid to immigrant communities.
Ana Galiana
4:23:51
Good afternoon.
4:23:52
Anurag members of the New York City Council.
4:23:55
My name is Ana Galena, and I am a single mom of a kid.
4:23:59
I came to this country when I was seventeen years old looking for a better life.
4:24:03
And like many immigrants, I faced many difficulties.
4:24:06
The language, the culture, and even even the food were not the same.
4:24:10
Trying to fit in a foreign country has been the biggest challenge of my life.
4:24:15
But after my kids were born, the difficulties increased.
4:24:18
It was hard to navigate the system because I didn't know the language, and I had no idea about the resources they were available for immigrant like me.
4:24:26
I am a TV survivor, and and despite the trauma and difficulties that my family and I went through I went back to school, got my GED, then my associates, and finally, last year, my bachelor's degree.
4:24:40
All of that will not be possible without the help of my communities surrounding me.
4:24:44
I received support and information from teachers of my kids or how to get my GED.
4:24:49
My GED teacher gave me information about colleges, my GED therapist gave me information about scholarships and the rest's history.
4:24:57
All of that was possible because organization like Mixtape exist during the pandemic in 2020.
4:25:05
I arrived in Mixtape decas seeking help.
4:25:07
2020 was difficult year for everyone and many immigrant families suffered.
4:25:12
I was desperate because I had reached appointing which I didn't have enough money to pay rent of Ifood.
4:25:17
In Mxteca, I received the support that I needed.
4:25:20
They were able to provide the comment the community with resources, which is such as boxes of food.
4:25:26
Mixtape doesn't work within the community.
4:25:30
After seeing the amazing world, they do.
4:25:32
I start to get involved as a volunteer.
4:25:34
And now I can probably say, I am part of the team as an advocate.
4:25:39
I am happy to give back to the community the same support that I received when I need it.
4:25:44
And as an advocate, I know I can make the difference in someone's life.
4:25:47
Someone's life.
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Thanks to Mxteca, our community can have access to resources that can change their lives just as they change mine.
4:25:56
I ask that you please consider supporting Mxteca and similar organizations that that bring help in hand to immigrant communities.
4:26:04
Thank you.