Despite the incredible journey that he has already taken, Alinasr “Ali” Yahya is eager to add new miles. A youthful refugee from the Sudan, Ali came to the U.S. in 2000, and immediately set to work rebuilding his new life. He worked on learning English, and took any entry-level job he could get to save enough money to complete a truck-driving course that certified him to become an over-the-road trucker. Ali gained important experience driving for another firm, but knew the true rewards in a trucking career would come only when he had his own truck. With admirable drive, Ali saved once again for a down payment, and overcame his lack of a credit history through help from Enterprise Development Group. His energy and discipline has been rewarded. EDG lent $35,000 to Ali based on his business acumen and his determination, enabling him to purchase his big tractor-trailer, and putting Ali on the road again, as Esam Transportation. “I see this as the beginning of my fleet,” Ali says as he looks to the future.
IDA Opens New Worlds for Mariama Sheriff
Arriving as a young refugee from Sierra Leone in 2003, Mariama Sheriff went right to work in order to make a living in her new country. She soon learned that her annual income of $17,000 would not be enough on its own to purchase the home she longed to have to stabilize her life in America. Participating in the IDA savings program at EDG was a help, but she realized through EDG financial literacy and homeownership training that a boost in her income would become essential to buying a home. Because of this, Mariama bravely made the decision to switch her savings goal to higher education, and is now enrolled in the Practical Nursing Program at the Virginia School of Nursing and Medical Institute. Her IDA account matched two-to-one by EDG enabled her to put a $3,000 downpayment on her education, and leverage a loan for the remaining $7,300 to finish the course. Her plans after graduation? Having a degree will help Mariama obtain a much higher paying job and begin saving for a house in the D.C. area.
Courage and a Computer
When Mumina Hassan Ali first came to the EDG IDA program, she was working full-time, but had the determination to better herself. A refugee from Somalia, Mumina saved in the IDA program for the higher education she had never received. $2,200 later (in IDA savings and match), she was able to enroll at the ACT College, The Allied Health School. Mumina soon discovered that she would need a computer for all the technical homework involved in the course. Again, she saved and received match monies from IDA in order to buy her $800 laptop. Altogether, Mumina saved $1,000 for a $2,000 match. But what is more remarkable is the stamina and perseverance that she has demonstrated to handle both school and full-time employment in order to achieve a better life. Mumina exemplifies the courage of many refugees to do everything possible to achieve their dreams.
Keeping Hope Alive for a Local Frame Shop
Hope Gallery has been through many ups and downs, but continues to thrive under the artful eye of owner and entrepreneur, Ana Marie Lopez. With a BA in Fine Arts from the Universidad de Sato Tomas in the Philippines, Ana came to the U.S. for a better life and the chance to start her own business. After attending an EDG seminar on “Starting a Small Business,” and working with loan officer, Brenda Williams, she learned how. In the late 90’s, Ana was a part-time entrepreneur as a certified framer and designer, but with EDG’s financial and technical assistance, she was able to open Hope Gallery in D.C., but then shortly afterwards, move it to the base at Ft. Myers. EDG loans supplied her start-up equipment, and soon Ana was a contractor at the base, specializing in the framing of military memorabilia. The events of 9/11 kept Ana especially busy, but as the base reorganized two years later, Hope Gallery lost its space. Relocation to Old Towne, Alexandria, seemed a promising move, but after a few months, she learned that the building she was in would be shut down. Despite these changes, Ana sought other alternatives, and now operates within the walls of Gallery G, a trendy art gallery in the heart of Old Towne. In exchange for managing and bringing her design talents to the store, she has bartered a location for Hope Gallery as a complementary custom-framing shop, where she continues to embrace Hope’s mission of “uplifting the human spirit through inspirational art.” Ana herself is an inspiration to what is possible through entrepreneurship and hard work.
