“Jenny”
About Jenny:
Jenny immigrated to the U.S. from China. She was the mother of a girl and pregnant with her son when her husband died, leaving no financial support for the family.
Before AACA:
Evicted with no place for her family to live and underemployed.
After AACA:
Living in public housing in East Boston, receiving food stamps, and referred to job training.
Faith Xu
About Faith:
In 1998, when Faith was 11 years old, she signed up to get a visa to come to America. She waited for 10
long years. After she had graduated from college and started working as a teller in the Bank of China, she got the news that she was awarded a visa. She came to the U.S. in 2009 alone as young woman.
Before AACA:
Worked very long hours for low pay in restaurants and hoped for a better job where she could use her skills she learned in Chinese banks and earn a living wage.
After AACA:
Working full-time as a Bank Teller at Bank of America.
Juan Soto
About Juan:
Growing up in the inner city of Boston, Juan faced many challenges that prevented him from staying in school. One of them was being attacked and almost stabbed to death when he was in 10th grade. After dropping out of school and staying home for a year, he got transferred to another high school and graduated three years later.
Before AACA:
Upon being discharged from the army, unemployed, Juan could only get a temporary minimum wage job. He worked as a cleaner for a while but was laid off and collecting unemployment.
After AACA:
Working full time job as a condition report writer at Quincy Auto Auction and a new
father.
Norman Ali
About Norman:
Noman was born in Sudan and conscripted into the army during a civil war. Refusing to fight against his own people, he fled to Egypt. Receiving refugee status from the U.N., he immigrated to Boston in 2006.
Before AACA:
Worked low-wage, low-skill jobs including cashier, driver, and baggage claim attendant. He had been collecting unemployment for nearly one year when he enrolled in BEEMS.
After AACA:
Working full-time as Maintenance Technician for Winn Residential for over one year. Winn’s Senior Superintendent says “Noman is a great asset to Winn.”
Minnie Huang
About Minnie:
Minnie was an elementary school teacher in China for 10 years. She immigrated to the U.S. in March 2006 to be united with her husband.
Before AACA:
Struggled to understand and speak English and had very little confidence that she would ever be a teacher in the U.S.
After AACA:
Enrolled in Bunker Hill Community College and will graduate with an Associates Degree in Education in 2012.
Maria Teixeira
About Maria:
Maria was born in Cape Verde. As a teenager she moved to the United States with her family. Becoming a single young mother, she was unable to complete high school.
Before AACA:
Worked as a Housekeeper and Patient Transporter at Tufts Medical Center.
After AACA:
Received a promotion within the hospital and is working as an Endoscopy Technician.
