Naeema Farooqi - Editor-In-Chief

Naeema Farooqi

Country of Origin: Pakistan

Date Arrived in London: July 2010

Occupation: Entrepreneur/Founder and Editor-In-Chief - London LINK Magazine 

Why did you decide to settle in London? What do you like about London?

I like the fact that it is kind of small and there is a lot of natural beauty. There is so much beauty, but we don’t use it enough. It has a lot of positive stories here and a lot more potential to grow and thrive.    

How are you involved in the London community (employment, volunteering, community organizations, etc.)?

I founded a magazine called London LINK that shares positive stories about people and is designed to bridge the gap between communities in London.  

What message would you like to share with newcomers to London?

Before you come, do some research, know yourself, and don’t be shy.  Reach out, make connections, make contacts. Take things in your own hands. Be motivated. Its not easy, but its doable. Don’t be disheartened.  Appreciate where you are. Think about how you can add value to Canada and you will just get everything back.

What message would you like to share with the broader London community?

 

Don’t give up on the city that you live in.  Keep working hard.  Be more open to new business and ideas.  Support one another and local businesses.  Go to the farmers market. Take walks. Enjoy. People should be open to other cultures. Be kind to the environment, be kind to each other, be polite, be good, work hard, enjoy life, appreciate each other’s differences.    

Marc Forrat - Chocolatier

Marc Forrat

Country of Origin: Brazil

Date Arrived in London: 2002

Occupation: Chocolatier - Forrat's Chocolates 

Why did you decide to settle in London? What do you like about London?

My wife lived and grew up here. We moved after our daughter’s birth.  London is a safe, clean, and organized city. Londoners support the community and people are friendly.

How are you involved in the London community (employment, volunteering, community organizations, etc.)?

I own two chocolate stores. I am a part of various events that help the less fortunate.  I work with Boys and Girls Club, Mission Services, donate products to raise money.

What message would you like to share with newcomers to London?

Give back, work hard, and never quit. Time is better off spent focusing on the positive than negative. Create yourself as opposed to focusing on being found.

What message would you like to share with the broader London community?

Support small business, coach young people, and focus on being great, not just good.  

I am London 2014 Begins!

 

2014

It's the moment we have all been waiting for, we are finally ready to launch I am London 2014! 

This year we are excited to again showcase 10 newcomers to be our Faces of London!  Rather than release them all at once, we are going to showcase two or three of them each week for the next 4 weeks.

We hope that you will share their photos, stories, and messages with everyone you know! Send them a link to the blog, share on Facebook, or retweet on Twitter!

We would also love to hear from you so share your thoughts by commenting!

It's not just these 10 people who "are London".  Share with us below why you are London! How are you involved in the community and why is London your home?

Check back every week to meet this year's Faces of London!

I am London is a project sponsored by the London and Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership!

Adam Garba - Entrepreneur

Adam Garba

Country of Origin: Nigeria

Date Arrived in London: 1985

Occupation: Business Entrepreneur – A & B Printing 

Why did you decide to settle in London? What do you like about London?

As a college student in Brockville, ON, I visited London a few times.  After graduating from college, I settled in Northern Ontario.  In 1985, I decided to go with my instinct and move my family here to London.  London is a great city.  It is safe, accommodating, and offers opportunities that I could not find where I was in Northern Ontario. It was a decision I was glad to have made. I have raised my four boys here, made a lot of friends, and get involved in the community in various capacities.  Best of all, I started my own business in 1986, just one year after I settled here. Yes, I’m glad I’m a Londoner!

How are you involved in the London community (employment, volunteering, community organizations, etc.)?

I have just been elected as the President of the African Canadian Federation of London and Area (ACFOLA). Before that I was the Treasurer of the Federation. I was a soccer coach and sponsor with South West Optimist Soccer Club for 12 years.  I was also a two term President of the Nigerian Association of London and a new immigrant mentor with Cross Cultural Learner Centre.  I am also involved in the Fugitive Slave Chapel Restoration Project.  I try to involve myself with any organizations that strive to give back to the community I live in.

What message would you like to share with newcomers to London?

My message to newcomers to London is to try as much as possible to get involved with many organizations as you can.  Reach out to service providers, like African Canadian Federation of London and Area (ACFOLA), Cross Cultural Learner Centre (CCLC), London Multicultural Community Association (LMCA), churches and mosques, and most of all volunteer your time and skills whenever you have an opportunity to. You will be amazed what volunteering can bring your way in terms of friends, skills, and even jobs!

Stretch out your hands.  When you take the chance and open up, you’ll be amazed how many doors open.

What message would you like to share with the broader London community?

My message to the broader London community is continue to be open and accommodating.  Keep an open mind when dealing or interaction with newcomers. Every person you meet has something to learn from you and to teach you. We are all connected in some way.  We all want to contribute and improve the community we live in to make life better for ourselves, our children, and our children’s children. Newcomers to London chose London for or reason or another.  We should affirm this choice. Let us all give everyone an opportunity to be: Included, Engaged and Integrated into the Society at Large.

I am London in the Classroom!

After the success of last year's campaign, we decided to take I am London into the classroom!   

This year, students in a third-year psychology class at Huron University College completed a service learning project that was actually a small-scale version of the “I am London” campaign. As part of this project, students wrote a report about how social media can be used to promote diversity using psychological theories as the basis for their report. Students also interviewed an immigrant in the London community and learned about their immigration experience and how they fit into the local community. The project culminated in a poster session at Huron in which students presented their findings from their report and featured the community member they interviewed to faculty, staff, and students in the Western University community.  It was a great opportunity for Huron University College and the London and Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership to join forces and promote diversity in our community!

I am London will Launch Friday June 6!

Hi everyone,

I see that we have had several people checking our blog today and we are super excited that you are coming by to meet our Faces of London!

We are putting the finishing touches on the campaign, because we want it to be the best it can be. So, we will be postponing our launching till the end of this week, Friday June 6th!

So, please, keep checking back! We can't wait to share our new friends with you!

Faces of London on Display at London Public Libraries - UPDATE

UPDATE June 10, 2014 - Starting today the I am London and London: A Newcomer's Story travelling display is at Cherryhill Library! They will be there until the end of this month.  Stop by and check them out!

If you are at Westmount Library this month you might see some familiar faces.  Our 2013 faces of London, along with the stars of the LMLIP video "A Newcomer's Story" (watch this great video here!) have been converted into an art exhibit that is traveling around London.  They started their journey at the Fanshawe Pioneer Village's Trillium Community Gallery. In February the display moved to the Central Library.  The photo below is from that display.  

   
 If you can't catch the display at Westmount, keep an eye out at a library near you.  Word is that they will be moving to Cherryhill Library next!

And don't forget that a month from today we will be adding a whole new group of engaged newcomers to our Faces of London!  I am London 2014 will run from June 1 until June 30!