In Philadelphia’s Welcoming Center, a nonprofit focused on immigrant economic integration, Mariama Diallo sits confidently at her desk, where she works as an administrative support specialist. Under a black blazer that matches her hijab, Mariama wears a west african ankara dress, its bright pink fabric making her immediately noticeable. In the center, she exudes a quiet confidence, from the way she speaks to her mannerisms as she shows us around.

Just a year ago however, Mariama was in Conakry, Guinea, a city she was forced to flee following the 2021 coup. Initially, the coup was seen favorably by many Guineans, including Mariama; Conde, the previous president, had become increasingly authoritarian, and Mamady Doumboya, who took over, built his platform on promises of recapturing the power taken away from the people and holding fair elections. These promises, however, didn’t last long, as Mariama recalls the descent into violence after just a few months.

“We were very afraid. Sometimes I’d go to work, and couldn’t go home because they were fighting. I would sleep at a friend’s house or leave in the morning,’ she said. “One time we couldn’t leave the house for three days. Every day I prayed to god to stay alive. We saw people around us losing everything. And so my husband started to think about immigrating.”

Mariama insisted on migrating ‘legally’. Whilst awaiting a number of immigration applications, ranging from Quebec and Paris, both locations where she has family, Mariama and her husband won the US visa lottery. They immediately took the chance to leave, bringing them from the blue shores of Conakry all the way to concrete Philadelphia in December 2023.

The transition wasn’t easy. For only 11 months of English study she speaks with impressive confidence and fluency; her initial experience however, was tainted by linguistic barriers, cultural differences and even setbacks from within her own community. Although Mariama and her husband won the diversity lottery, they had a Guinean sponsor family. When they got here, the advice they gave them regarding their economic prospects as immigrants was discouraging.

“I thought maybe I could study and work in law here because in Guinea I had my masters in law,” she said. “But when I asked them, they said no – here, you’re an immigrant. You can work in a care home or in daycare, and your husband can do something like uber. I couldn’t be around people who didn’t want to help me grow as an individual. When I told them I’d got a job helping people at the welcoming center, doing administration and translation, they were shocked.”

With her extensive experience and education, Mariama didn’t want to confine herself to roles which were traditionally expected of immigrants such as herself. She soon got involved in the programs the Welcoming center offered, enrolling in the International Professionals Program (IPP) and Immigrant Leadership Institute (ILI), initiatives aimed at helping immigrants with previous qualifications in their home country integrate and gain the skills necessary to thrive in the American workplace.

As part of the program, she spearheaded the project “Who will listen to Us”, about the challenges immigrants face learning English, having been vocal about the specific barriers issues African, non-english and non-spanish speaking immigrants face in the USA, saying that spanish speaking immigrants have an easier time due to the abundance of multilingual resources already available in the language. She calls the event ‘her greatest moment here’, and is planning another initiative, a proposal for the Philadelphia department of education which suggests creating specialized language learning programs for immigrants based on their specific needs, from professional English to tailored programs for individuals with disabilities.

These programs were instrumental in helping Mariama find her footing professionally when she got to Philadelphia. She now works as an administrative support specialist for the Welcoming Center. When asked what is still missing from her new life in America however, she always goes back to the family and community she left in Guinea.

“In Africa, we have a culture of community and sharing. Socializing is a very big part of the culture. I was in a big family, there were always people around me. Now, I’m only with my husband. Especially during Ramadan, I felt so alone. It can be especially depressing for my husband, especially as he works at home and is alone for longer periods of time when I leave for work and go to Center City. Socializing isn’t a big thing here. You can go mad if you’re not careful.”

It’s a challenge she tries to address in her volunteer work, saying that this isn’t an issue that only affects immigrants. She works both as a Fulani and French translator for AFAHO (African Family Health Organization) events as well as volunteering at the Lutheran Settlement House, which she credits for creating a semblance of the community she had back in Conakry. “I do food distribution every Thursday,” she says, smiling. “We eat, put on music. The old people dance. They’re happy because in their homes, they’re alone too. Even American people need something like this, an environment where they can meet with other people, even once a week. That’s why I like that house. They’re good people, and you can learn alot from them.”

When talking about the current anti-immigrant sentiment from the political right, Anuj Gupta, The Welcoming Center’s director, remarked;

‘When we shut our borders, we lose out on the collective benefit from talent, education, skill, and most of all, determination. You want us to say no to that kind of drive? That kind of determination?

Give immigrants the skill sets and knowledge to address barriers. To become advocates for themselves and their communities. To learn how to engage with elected officials, local government, and become agents of change. And that 3 part model is what comprises the Welcoming Center.”

Mariama’s professional transition, ambition and commitment to serving her community exemplifies the purpose of the center and its programs. Even when talking about what lies ahead for her in the long term, she is oriented in the ways in which she can make an impact, but sees her future eventually circling back to West Africa. There, she dreams of creating an initiative to raise awareness and support Albino communities, who she says are targeted and face discrimination.

The coup and its aftermath brought Mariama to Philadelphia. At the end of the day however, she says; “I am African. I know many things, and many problems in Africa. I won’t stay in America because I can say that they don’t need me here – Africa needs me more.”