Olathe showed me grace after my husband’s murder. Let’s extend a welcome to everyone | Opinion
In January 2025, I will have lived in the United States for 18 years. At 22, I arrived as a shy, timid young woman pursuing a master’s degree. Like many immigrants, I faced the uncertainties of navigating life in a new country. My first steps were in St. Louis, Missouri, before moving to St. Cloud, Minnesota, where I graduated from Saint Cloud State University. I was alone in a foreign land, but from the very beginning, I experienced acts of kindness that shaped my sense of belonging. I felt welcome.
One of my most memorable welcoming experiences happened early on when a campus colleague invited my roommate and me to her house for the Fourth of July weekend. We spent the day with her family, enjoying food, laughter and fireworks by the lakeside. What made this day unforgettable was when Jessie’s family sang the American national anthem, and in response, my friend and I sang the Indian anthem. It became a lighthearted moment of cultural exchange that made me feel truly welcomed. It left a lasting impression on me and helped me feel at home in a country far from my own.
Years passed, and my American dream unfolded. During my journey, I met Srinu, my husband, and life was perfect. But my dream was shattered on Feb. 22, 2017, when Srinu was killed in a hate crime at a bar and grill in Olathe. His last moments were marked by his assailant’s words: “Get out of my country.”
It was the darkest moment of my life. One question haunted me: “Do we belong here as immigrants?”
Again, the community that had once welcomed me with open arms embraced me in my grief. Their outpouring of love and support helped me heal, and reaffirmed my belief that there is a place for everyone in this country. That sense of belonging gave me the strength to start the Forever Welcome Foundation, a nonprofit dedicated to fostering inclusive communities.
Welcoming Week, Sept. 13-22 — a national celebration initiated by the 501(c)(3) nonprofit Welcoming America — is upon us. The Forever Welcome Foundation is among many organizations offering experiences to embrace Welcoming Week. We are offering two dialogue workshops in the Kansas City metropolitan area titled Fostering Welcoming Environments Through Inclusive Dialogue. These interactive workshops invite the community to build connections among immigrants and non-immigrants encouraging cross-cultural conversations and breaking down barriers created by fear, misinformation and stereotypes.
In a world that often feels divided, these types of discussions are essential. When people sit together, share their stories and listen to one another, they can find common ground that transcends their differences. I’ve learned firsthand the power of these conversations. Through meeting new people, allowing myself to be vulnerable, and asking questions with curiosity, I’ve grown into someone far more confident and enriched than the timid person I was when I first came to this country.
The pain of losing Srinu is something I carry every day, but I’ve found a way to give back to the community that helped me survive that tragedy. I do belong. Through the Forever Welcome Foundation, I am committed to building stronger, more connected communities — communities where everyone feels they belong.
Please participate in Welcoming Week and join me at one of our workshops. Let’s take the spirit of this occasion and extend it beyond this one week, making it a practice of everyday life. Together, we can create spaces where everyone, including the immigrant community, feels a sense of belonging: welcomed, included and valued.
Register for the workshop and other events at foreverwelcome.org/events