When I arrived in Grand Forks years ago, I didn’t know exactly what to expect. Like many who move here from other parts of the world, I hoped for opportunity, stability, and a place to build meaningful connections. And above all, further my education. What I found in this community has been more than that. I found friends like Paul, Maggie, Bridget and you, and Grand Forks became home, not just a place to live, but a place where I could grow, give, and feel part of something larger than myself: a family, and a community.
As someone who works closely with New Americans and local artists, and someone who lived and worked all over the world, I often reflect on what makes a city welcoming. One of the first things that stood (stands) out to me about Grand Forks was (is) how people make time for one another. Whether through a quick conversation in the grocery store (a gentleman who commented on my outfit at Walmart) or a longer exchange at a local event (A Vietnam veteran with whom I spent 30 minutes talking culture and war and how we are all the same), kindness is present in everyday interactions (I feel safe around people even when we disagree with each other.)
I love my work. But I love my coworkers more.
