Since the summer of 2020, writing for the local paper has been my greatest joy. Through my columns, I have built a community by sharing my love for this beautiful state I now call home, celebrating the culture, food and opportunities I’ve found here. As an immigrant and a proud naturalized American, I have used […]

Here we are, four more years of President Trump. To my fellow Mainers and my immigrant friends here in Maine, here are ways we can fight back. I have been writing these opinion pieces for some time now – more than three years. By now, I’ve learned enough about the people who read my work. […]

As the U.S. presidential election approached, I felt the familiar sense of anxiety creeping in. For many of us, this election isn’t only about policy changes, but deeply personal stakes that impact our security and sense of belonging. Unlike a sports game, this outcome will have lasting implications for our communities, families and futures, making […]

As a newcomer to America, particularly here in Maine, there are many things about the election season that have both surprised and intrigued me. This is my second presidential election, and I can’t help but reflect on how vastly different it is from elections I’ve witnessed in other parts of the world. My first time […]

Thank you, Maine, for another amazing summer. This summer, I joined a community of longtime Mainers, nestled in their cabins off the dirt roads of Shady Nook in Trenton. The driveways led to the peaceful Union River Bay, with a stunning view of Blue Hill where the sun set in golden hues behind the hill’s […]

Sometimes, it takes real courage to have an honest conversation about immigration, even if that means sitting down with people who are suspicious, unsure or convinced that immigrants are brought in by Democrats to bolster their voter base. This conversation requires us to confront deep-rooted misconceptions and challenge the narratives that have been fed to […]

Kamala Harris’ acceptance speech was more than just a moment of political significance — it was a beacon of hope for many across the nation, particularly for immigrant families and young girls who see themselves reflected in her journey. As the daughter of immigrants – her mother hailing from India and her father from Jamaica […]

The selection of Tim Walz as Kamala Harris’s running mate has injected new energy into immigrant communities, particularly in states like Maine, where immigrants have often felt overlooked by national politics, threatened continuously by Trump with mass deportation and defunding programs that support them. Before Walz’s selection, the immigrant community in Maine, including many asylum […]

Burning the U.S. flag, attacking the police and writing “Hamas is coming” on walls do not help the Palestinian cause. These actions can actually harm the very cause they aim to support, creating a backlash and further division. Our country has experienced significant turmoil recently. We witnessed an assassination attempt on a former president and […]