Our Home is collecting stories from our community. Our campaign seeks to show Asian-Americans and Pacific Islanders that sharing our stories, strengthens our voice. By expressing our voice through voting, we can make a difference in our communities.
Become a part of our community and share your story!
What does home mean to you?
If you could change something in your community what would it be?
On April 19th, Our Home attended the Mason Dreamers: Tale of Many Cities event at George Mason University. It was a multicultural event to educate the community about the Dream Act. Thank you to all the George Mason Students who shared their stories with us.
On April 22nd, Our Home held an event after their Sunday service at the Seoul Presbyterian Church. We had an opportunity to meet members of the local community and collect stories. Thank you to the congregation of the SPC for their hospitality and a special thank you to Rev. Joshua Kim. Join us today and share your story below!
I’m from Seoul, Korea. To be an American for me…it means regardless of whether you were born in this country or not, you have opportunities to give back to a very wonderful country. Home is where I feel comfortable. Home is where I raise my family. Home is where I share my dreams and aspirations with my husband and my children. Home is where I prepare my meals for my family and read together, eat together, pray together.
I was born in Silver Spring, Maryland. My parents are originally from China, they moved here in the 1980s. When I was 1 1/2 years old I moved to China to live with my grandparents and I moved back here when I was 3 years old.
The first language I spoke was Chinese…I was that kid that spoke no English whatsoever. It was all Chinese. I learned pretty fast. My family isn’t the most traditional. But we value education, hard work, and honesty. All this stuff was instilled in our household – Chinese values/Asian American values. All these traditions are important to me. I try to apply them to every part of my life. The only thing I feel strongly about is the economy. As a college student about to come out into the working world. The four year degree means less and less now. So if the economy can be improved in any way that’s what I would want to see. I feel that it’s important to vote because of the fact that it’s one of the things that upholds the democracy. It’s one of those things that it’s almost your duty to everybody else around you. You are part of the society and voting is your job. I wasn’t able to vote in the last election because I wasn’t 18 yet. I plan to vote in the next election. I plan to register.
I believe that voting is essential to being an active and involved member of my community. There are many things we take for granted such as a free and public education system, as well as the roads and public safety measures that are available to us. It is important to be informed and learn how voting can make a difference in our communities. There are still many parts of the United States with poor schools and high levels of poverty so I think voting is one way to voice my opinion so that these issues are addressed.
What does home mean to you? It means acceptance and encouragement. Sharing ideas. Sharing meals. Spending time together.
What does home mean to you? A safe place to be, without worry and stress. Home is where I find refuge and comfort.
If you could change something in your community, what would it be? I wish we had better communication in our area. Better roads, due to the weather and conditions…our roads are really bad. Traffic!! With construction, traffic is worse
What does home mean to you? A place I can come home to and feel comfortable/at ease/safe.
If you could change something in your community, what would it be? Improve traffic flow and accessibility to more affordable housing near the city.
What does home mean to you? A place that you feel attached to and where you belong. A place that feels safe without being judged. Ultimately, home is where your heart is.
If you could change something in your community, what would it be? More recreation activities for young people (youths) e.g. build more parks for exercise near all neighborhoods. Also, have more lights on the streets during the streets during the night to create a more safer environment. Lastly, more understanding and respect for different cultures.
What does home mean to you? A place where love takes root and is nurtured to fruition.
If you could change something in your community, what would it be? I would change the individualistic mindset and get people involved in their community.
What does home mean to you? Home to me means a safe place where you are accepted and loved for you are and are able to connect at a heart to heart level.
If you could change something in your community, what would it be? Unity in helping the community, such as poor, homeless, etc.
What does home mean to you? A place that feels safe and where you belong. I see home as a place where a warm place that I know where I can be vulnerable.
If you could change something in your community, what would it be? Being able to know more about each other and more recreation for youth and less traffic? and to care more about issues in our area.
What does home mean to you? Refuge. A safe place to return to after a long day. To be reunited with family. To celebrate with friends.
If you could change something in your community, what would it be? Events that can bring all people of the community to come together…community events! More unity, sharing, open doors. Learn together. Grow together. Fight for a cause together.
What does home mean to you? Where people are thinking about you.
If you could change something in your community, what would it be? Create mutual understanding amongst each other.
What does home mean to you? where family is.
If you could change something in your community, what would it be? the cost of living
What does home mean to you? A place where you can feel comfortable and supported. Where you have friends and family. And can raise your new family.
If you could change something in your community, what would it be? More involvement with each other. More ease of friendliness with strangers.
What does home mean to you? As cliche as it may sound, home is where the heart is and my home means the world to me, whether that means my physical home, church, school, etc. It’s a place where I feel welcomed, cafe and I can feel open to share and be myself without being persecuted or judged.
If you could change something in your community, what would it be? Maybe traffic?
What does home mean to you? Home is where the heart is
What does home mean to you? A place to return to at any time in life
What does home mean to you? A place where I feel comfortable with myself and culture.
If you could change something in your community what would it be? I would change where tax money is being used. Should be used in building community center for disabled children.
What does home mean to you? *A place to return to at any time in my life
What does home mean to you? It means I can relax and not worry about things. Or get stressed out.
What does home mean to you? It means a loving and support my family that is always there for me.
What does home mean to you? Bangladesh! Some place, where it is warm, cozy, and very comforting. It might be chaotic, but I will always go back there in a heart beat.
If you could change something in your community what would it be? The community is the biggest part of the country or home after all. I would change the biasedness, if there any. The thing that worries me the most is acceptance…
What does home mean to you? Family,comfort, stability and a sense of support-system
If you could change something in your community what would it be? Increase cross-culture acceptance/tolerance
What does home mean to you? It’s where the hugs and kisses can be found and makes your day a whole lot better. It’s where i can cuddle with my bed and eat a good meal because I am food junkie forever. I love home
What does home mean to you? A place where comfort, love, friendship and safety are all available and a person can be free and at ease!
What does home mean to you? family, comfort, love, nourishment, growth
What does home mean to you? Warm and peace of mind. Good food and family.
What does home mean to you? Place where I feel most comfortable.
What does home mean to you? Home is my job, my dogs, my family, a real city. Home means 25 restaurants within 5 minutes walking. Home means knowing everyone, and running into old friends. Home is the James River and Richmond Skyline.
What does home mean to you? Home is family.
If you could change something in your community what would it be? More athletic fields that are open to the public. So that members of the community can meet, play and bond.
What does home mean to you? Home is a place that I sleep, live, and spend time with my loved ones. It is also the town county, state, and country in which I live + work. If I contribute I feel like I should be able to stay, live and love where I have settle down. I was born here but if I decide that another country is my new home I would hope that they would choose to take me knowing that I will contribute.
If you could change something in your community what would it be? I would try to make people see that sometimes their everyday activities can hurt people all over the world physically and emotionally. I would also try to bring my community together because right now everything is kind of fractured. No one reaches out or trust those around them. There’s not a support system + there needs to be. I want everyone to be included. I want everyone to feel like they have a home and place they are loved no matter their personal choices.
What does home mean to you? Family, Friends, Loved ones
If you could change something in your community what would it be? People Perspective! (for a positive way)
If you could change something in your community what would it be? I would change the quality and availability of education. I am a HUGE advocate for education and I believe that everyone has the right to obtain one. If it were up to me the DREAM Act would pass, giving countless individuals the opportunity to higher education and a path to citizenship.
What does home mean to you? Home is a place where I can feel at peace and serenity. It is somewhere that I can feel comfortable and safe. Home is where I have closed loved ones that I can relate to and be comfortable around.
If you could change something in your community what would it be? Community involvement is what I would like to change, or better yet, increase. I want to increase individual’s involvement in the community because since they are living in it, they should care and give back to improve their communities.
What does home mean to you? Home is where you are accepted for who you are. Loved and never turned away. “Home is where the heart is.”
If you could change something in your community what would it be? The way people identify themselves with race. I would hope one day for people just to see another person instead of a black, white, hispanic, etc.
If you could change something in your community what would it be? The monetary system needs improvement. People should have better understanding of how to better use their money through financial education. Tax system needs to be fix: simple + efficient Have enough revenue w/o wages taxpayer
What does home mean to you? Home means to me a place were you feel safe and open to be who you are. Love and warmth all around.
If you could change something in your community what would it be? I would change people from being judgmental regarding sex, race, class and sexuality. Free the community from those judgements would be blissful.
What does home mean to you? Home means family. No matter where I am in the world, I only truly feel at home when I’m with the people I love the most.
What does home mean to you? Home to me means a place where I can feel at ease and safe. To be at home I need to be surrounded by people who know the real me and still love me and accept me.
What does home mean to you? It means being able to engage with my community
If you could change something in your community what would it be? Get everyone to participate in making decisions/choices that set the community’s direction
What does home mean to you? Means my family members. Home is warm and full of sunshine.
What does home mean to you? Place were you can feel safe and secure. Where all your memories are. Where your family and friends live or have lived. That is what home means to me.
What does home mean to you? Home is the place your heart belongs. It is not necessarily a place, rather the feeling we get when we feel valued and appreciated. The “place” we go to surround ourselves with the people who mean the most to us.
What does home mean to you? Home is where my heart is. Home is my haven, my safe place. It’s peaceful, full of love and compassion and kindness. It is my family.
If you could change something in your community what would it be? I would change the mentality that exists revolving success, success is not money or fame. Success is fulfillment, satisfaction, happiness. I would encourage my community to fulfill their dreams and reach for the stars.
What does home mean to you? A place to call your own.
If you could change something in your community what would it be? If I could change something it would be the availability of jobs to college students.
What does home mean to you? A place filled with lots of loved ones so we can all spend quality time with each other and be a family.
If you could change something in your community what would it be? I would change the health-care laws for people without insurance or who are aliens. I would have free clinics available to these people, especially those of low income.
What does home mean to you? It is where you are safe and can be yourself.
What does home mean to you? Home is where family is. For me I have two homes the U.S. and El Salvador. My family is split between two countries, but I am proud that I can call both home.
If you could change something in your community what would it be? The DREAM ACT impacts so many people in our community. Many “DREAM” students live in the shadows and I feel this is an injustice. I feel more people should educate themselves about the DREAM Act in order to get both sides of the story.
What does home mean to you? It is place or a group of people that makes me feel safe. I am comfortable with them or at that place.
What does home mean to you? Home is my family.