Paola Fernandez was born in 1973 in La Plata, Argentina, just outside of Buenos Aires.  Although rel

Paola Fernandez was born in 1973 in La Plata, Argentina, just outside of Buenos Aires.  Although reluctant to come to America at the age of ten, her parents decided it was best for the family due to the uncertainty of the Argentinean economy. After her father spent a year in the United States, Paola, her sister, and mother joined him in Alexandria, Virginia. Initially she struggled because her school did not have English as a Second Language (ESL) classes.“We knew very little English and didn’t really know what was going on in the class.  The teachers didn’t know what to do with us.  There were no other Latino kids or teachers in the school which made it very, very difficult for us to communicate.”For this reason, along with many others, her parents made the decision to move their family to Pawtucket, Rhode Island.Paola’s life took a turn for the best when she moved to Pawtucket.  Not only was she put into ESL classes but she also was able to reconnect with her father’s side of her family, which was already established in Rhode Island.  From this, she made the life-changing discovery that she was not only Argentinean, but also Cape Verdean.  Learning this, she was able to connect with her newfound heritage as well as a whole other side of her family with whom she could share new traditions and experiences.After graduating from Shea High School, Paola moved to Laurel Hill, Florida where she worked for a family owned gourmet food-distributor.  There, she met people from all over the world with similar experiences.  Her time in Florida helped to reconnect her with her roots and she realized that she was not alone as an immigrant in America.“As a young immigrant I spent many years trying to figure out where I belong in this culture. I think many immigrants find the first years difficult because we have left our culture behind, while trying to assimilate to a new one.  We stand out because of our accents, our interest, and our love for the memories and of our countries.”This new outlook led her to return to Rhode Island, “I came back with a different attitude and a renewed appreciation for my culture. I embraced who I am and where I’m from and made a commitment to celebrate Argentina because it’s my heart, and to also celebrate America because it’s my new home.”In Rhode Island, she went back to school and received a bachelor’s degree in management from Johnson and Wales University.  After a short time as the administrator for an assisted living facility, Paola joined the United Way of Rhode Island where she currently serves as Director of Public Policy and Government Relations.  Paola is passionate about her work and is humbly motivated by the inspiration in the communities she is a part of.“There’s a strong sense of community in Rhode Island. The drive and enthusiasm of the people in this state to help each other motivates me.  In everything that I do, I want to help those who need help and I just give it my all.” One issue she would like the Rhode Island community to focus on is the education system.  She wants everyone to concentrate on taking a, “serious look at the education system and consider what our children need in this day and age to be successful.”  Paola believes that there is more to be done and that a lot of the answers lie within the students and the experience they are having. If adults take the time to, “just sit down and listen, and ask them to be a part of that change” a lot can be accomplished.Paola lives in Cranston where she is a wife and mother to two children.  She spends a lot of her time with family and makes it a priority to pass down cultural traditions, foods, customs, and knowledge.“I think it’s about remembering where we come from, building on our life experiences along the way, and helping make a positive difference in the lives of others which is most important.”             Written and compiled by Elizabeth Longo and Hayley Linabury -- source link

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