Ohio Is My Second Country (Paperback) (ISBN-13: 9798988862444)

"Ohio is my second country." That is what Birane Wane, a Columbus father, said after he was deported to Mauritania. He was talking about how it is possible to love and be "from" more than one place.

Migration is a basic act of being human. People have always moved for safety and opportunity, since the beginning of time. And they always will. Ohio is home to people born in many different countries. They bring with them courage, commitment to family, and the desire to help their communities. It takes tremendous strength to start over in a new country. Ohio benefits from new residents who are helping our state succeed.

Ohio Immigrant Alliance and Shema Asifiwe created this book by asking immigrants to tell us about their native places. Contrary to stereotypes, they are not constantly bleak or war-torn landscapes. There is vibrancy, beauty, and many happy memories, even in countries experiencing conflict.

The decision to leave is not made easily, or without pain. Many migrants carry with them the feeling of being from two places for the rest of their lives, and love both. In addition to making a positive impact in Ohio, immigrants often support and give back to their families and communities in their first countries. Taking care of each other, building up the places we live and the places we left, is how we improve our world for future generations.

This book is for everyone. Children and adults. Schools, libraries, and community groups. Individuals. It contains nineteen drawings, depicting scenes from sixteen countries and teaching words in fifteen languages. The final image is one of Shema and his friends - young people born all over the world, who now live in the same home, Cincinnati. The illustrations were drawn with varying detail, so that people with different motor skills can enjoy coloring.

Manuel Chinchilla, PhD, a language expert and the owner of Hexagon Books, researched languages spoken in these countries and identified the words to teach. Each illustration is accompanied by a text for learning. Lynn Tramonte, Executive Director of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, edited the book and wrote the sections surrounding the artwork.

We created Teaching Tools, which can be downloaded from our ohioimmigrant.org/second-country, to assist educators, group leaders, librarians, and anyone else who wants to host group experiences using the book. Of course, the book works perfectly well as a solitary activity to wind down your day. We hope you enjoy "Ohio Is My Second Country" as much as we did putting it together. Share it and help spread the message that migration is human and Ohio is home.