#13. We've made it a rite of passage for immigrants to struggle
And we glorify that by calling it resilience.
Hello,
And welcome to the 40+ new subscribers who signed up for The Newcomers in the past week. So, what have I got for you all today?
In today’s newsletter: We need to stop glorifying the immigrant struggle.
Also: Food as a way to integrate for we immigrants.
Plus: If you’re looking to move to Canada, start here.
By: Dozie Anyaegbunam
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You can find the online version of this newsletter here.
Anam Zakaria & Haroon Khalid are done with glorifying the immigrant struggle
Immigration is hard. Like really hard. But that doesn’t mean we should make it any harder.
Before Anam and Haroon launched Qissa, they had to take a lot of Uber rides as they navigated doctors appointments, daycare, and all the stuff new parents have to deal with.
Almost all the drivers were immigrants. Almost all were overqualified. Almost all had stories about the systemic barriers that shoved them into the gig economy.
The shitty thing about all this is you sometimes see people term this struggle as a "rite of passage." We call it resilience. And instead of pushing for policy changes that fix the system, we celebrate the immigrants ability to survive it.
Listen to the full episode⤵
Food can be a way to kickstart your integration process
Food is culture. And I think it’s can be a a bridge between individuals and communities, a tool for connection and integration, a form of identity, a way to preserve our culture, or a way to share about our ancestry.
But it can also be a boundary that defines and limits us.
You know the saying "you are what you eat"? When viewed through the lens of migration, it takes on sensitive contours and very specific logistical nuances.
and I explore food, what it means for immigrants, and how it can be a way to build connection, foster understanding, and create belonging.Read the full thing⤵
Who’s eligible for immigrating to Canada?
Canada has over 100 immigration programs and streams. There are the federal, provincial, and territorial programs. There are programs targeting entrepreneurs, skilled workers, refugees, family members, international students, and more.
If we counted all the Provincial Nominee Program (PNP) streams across all the provinces and territories, we probably have over 60 streams combined.
This sounds great in practice. If you’re looking to move to Canada, you would be hard pressed not to find a program that suits you. Theoretically, yes. Practically, it’s not that simple.
This piece is a great place to start if you are looking to move to Canada, move between provinces, apply for your spouse, or make sense of a new immigration program someone told you to check out.
Read the full thing⤵
What am I excited about?
I was on an immigration conversations series with William of . I had a lot of fun, answered some great questions from folks looking to immigrate, and hopefully was helpful.
