AnewAmerica Alum | Café Gabriela | Oakland, CA
Penny Baldado moved to the U.S. from the Philippines in 1999, to reunite with their father who had been living in the states for many years. They viewed the move as a way to expand their opportunities. However, Penny found the transition to life in America difficult, and they felt powerless after leaving their support system in the Philippines.
When Carmenza was a child in Colombia, her mother and father made her arepas , a local corn pancake, every morning for breakfast. During the drug war era in Colombia, Carmenza moved to the U.S. in search of economic survival and personal safety.
Rebekah's Ugandan roots inspire her to share the artistry of her homeland with her business, Lwanga Design. Lwanga boasts a unique array of African home décor, kitchen accents, jewelry, and bags, made by village craftswomen in Uganda.