White House Recognizes a Nation of Immigrants--Call for Family Stories

President Obama has called for Americans to share our Immigration Stories in order to further a sense of immigration solidarity among a nation of immigrants. Here is the information about the White House Effort and below it is our submission.

Hi, everyone -- This is the start of a national debate. Across the country, we're having a serious discussion about how we can build a fair and effective immigration system that lives up to our heritage as a nation of laws and a nation of immigrants. And we need your help to make sure that genuine, personal perspectives are part of the conversation. The truth is, that if we go back far enough, nearly every American story begins somewhere else -- so often with ancestors setting out in search of a different life, carving out a future for their children in this place that all of us now call home. We want to make sure that idea isn't far from the minds of policymakers here in Washington as we work to reach an agreement to reform immigration. To kick things off, one of the President's senior advisors sat down to share his story with you. Watch David Simas tell his American story, then tell us yours. When Americans from all over the country -- each with different backgrounds, each from different circumstances -- all speak out with the same voice, it's powerful in a way that's hard to ignore. We've seen it again and again, in debate after debate. And this is the kind of issue where putting a face on the push for reform takes an abstract concept and makes it real. So share your American stories with us, and we'll put them to use. We'll publish them on the White House website. We'll share them on Facebook and Twitter. We'll do everything we can to make sure they're part of the debate around immigration reform. Get started here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/issues/immigration/stories Thanks, Cecilia Cecilia Muñoz Director, Domestic Policy Council The White House The White House • 1600 Pennsylvania Ave NW • Washington, DC 20500 • 202-456-1111 Our Sabatini Submission

My name is Nancy J. Bell and my maternal grandfather immigrated to America in 1922 from Abruzzi Italy, and while my maternal grandmother was born in America, her parents and older sister were immigrants from Calabria Italy. They raised their children, including my mother, with a strong emphasis on both good citizenship responsibilities and educational opportunities which would lead us to become contributors to society, as well as good role models for our family.

     In addition to good citizenship and education, our family has always been strong supporters of the American Armed Forces and all of my uncles, my father, my husband and my son-in-law all served in the military in either the army, navy or marines, including my father being on the first nuclear sub to the North Pole, and one of my uncle’s service in the Vietnam War.

     We believe Americans must contribute to the country's defense and the preservation of American freedoms, the beacon of which drew my family to American shores to start a life here. Hopes and dreams of having access to opportunities under a set of Laws that promises freedom, upward mobility, and active paths to act on behalf our communities.

     My mother was recognized by the United States Congress after years of volunteer service in our neighborhood from just after the Detroit '67 riots through the early 1980s, being a member of community organizations that sought and gained Federal Funds for several non-profit organizations that included such services as caring for our shut-in elderly people, such Meals-on-Wheels, and low-income housing repair, a teen drop-in center to combat idleness that could lead to gang activities, drug use or violence by developing a strong sense community unity. A community newsletter ran for several years identifying and sharing information of local events and identified problems to address together. We also participated in tutoring, a drug-rehabilitation program, and providing for help new immigrants to assimilate into the American system by educating them about our laws, school systems, and tolerance.

     I have been a civil rights activist since I was 8 years old and not only was active in Peaceful Integration of the schools, but also served as a Student Ambassador for Peace to Israel in 1978. We believe that our role as Americans is to further peace efforts whenever possible, both domestically and internationally.

     We love America and although we see America as an ongoing work in progress towards the ideals upon which our country was founded, we know the work will never be done. The dynamics of growth and positive change is hard-wired into our thinking, our beliefs and our actions as a family and as members of society.