Enroot Celebrates Immigrant Leaders

Our panel of speakers, representing different countries of origin, races, ethnicities, and professional backgrounds, will reflect on the challenges immigrants face in succeeding in the U.S. and celebrate the many contributions immigrant leaders make to our community each day. The event will also raise awareness of and increase support for Enroot’s work with 200 immigrant students in Cambridge, Somerville and across 16 college campuses.

The evening will include a performance by U-Meleni Mhlaba-Adebo and a panel featuring Betty Francisco, Michel Bamani, and Yvette Modestin, moderated by Grace Talusan.

U-Meleni Mhlaba-Adebo is a Zimbabwean American poet, author, speaker, singer, and educator. She was featured on WGBH Suitcase Stories, the Naturalization Ceremony at the MFA, and the 15th Annual Refugee Conference.

Betty Francisco is an entrepreneur, business executive, attorney and community leader. She is known as a powerful convener and changemaker, unapologetic about creating visibility for LatinX communities and people of color.

Michel Bamani is Vice President and Counsel at State Street in Boston. Michel was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and is the author of ‘What does a Refugee Look Like?’.

Yvette Modestin is a writer, poet, and activist who focus on the Afro-descendant experience in Latin America. She was born and raised in Colon, Panama and is the founder Executive Director of Encuentro Diáspora Afro.

Grace Talusan was born in the Philippines and raised in New England. She is a Tufts University lecturer and author of the memoir “The Body Papers” . This is her first book and it is the winner of the Restless Book Prize for New Immigrant Writing.

*Note: There is some construction happening in the area. Be sure to look for signs directing you to Google Cambridge, 355 Main Street, Cambridge, MA 02142.