Skokie Illinois is putting on seminars helping immigrants fit into life here. Immigrants who have succeeded are using their experiences to teach newcomers. DP
Immigrants share tips on becoming a part of community
By Deborah Horan | Tribune staff reporter
Chicagotribune.com: Jody Wadhwa is executor of his family's non-profit educational foundation and an Oakton Community College trustee. But the immigrant from India didn't start his American journey as a wealthy philanthropist. When Wadhwa came to Chicago at 22, he drove a taxi, worked in factories and toiled as a day laborer.
With hard work and smarts, Wadhwa eventually became CEO of an aluminum foil company, which he sold for a tidy sum that allowed him to retire at 54.
Last month, he told his rags-to-philanthropy story during one of two seminars organized by the Village of Skokie designed to encourage immigrants to get involved in civic life.
The story involved a receptionist who wrote "yoused" instead of "used" on an inventory list, a misspelling that started Wadhwa on a campaign to strengthen American education. The tale captivated the 20 or so immigrant leaders who attended the seminars and, most importantly, it highlighted how simple it can be to overcome an obstacle that community leaders say prevents many immigrants from getting involved in mainstream America: the tendency to view themselves as outsiders.
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