Passionate about their patriotism

America is a land of immigrants. Whether we arrived on a plane last week from Europe, or our ancestors walked across the Bering land bridge eons ago, we've all come from somewhere else.

Today, on our nation’s birthday, we present the portraits and brief stories of 7 immigrants to the South Sound, all current or former clients of Tacoma Community House. For the past 100 years the nonprofit Hilltop organization has served immigrants and runs a range of social services, including programs in education, employment, translation and literacy.

Whether pushed here by persecution or pulled here by the lure of a better life, these immigrants are living their version of the American Dream.

Alice Karanjah, 48, Kenya

Student, Lakewood

Only in America six months, the widowed mother of three attends classes at Clover Park Technical College. She left one older son behind in Kenya. Her younger son, John, 14, and daughter Ninah, 11, moved with her to Lakewood.

She appreciates America for its educational and work opportunities.

“If you want to continue learning and working, you get a better chance to do that (here).”

Tacoma Community House helped her get set up at school and find housing. “It has opened so many doors. I have an apartment now.”

She hopes to become a nurse soon. “I’m really determined.”

Evgeniya Cornwell, Russia

Wife and mother, Lacey

Cornwell met her husband, Sean, in South Korea where he was stationed in the U.S. Air Force and she was working as a bartender off-post. They have one daughter, Aleksandra, who is 10 months old.

Cornwell says she feels more at home in the United States than in Russia.

“People are very polite. I love this. When you look at somebody, they smile at you. People are very nice over here.”

She’s studying to become a citizen and hopes to work with fellow immigrants where she can “weed out the bad and make sure the good stay.” She’s concerned about the image some Americans have of Russians.

“I want to show we’re not mafia or mail-order brides. I want to show there are some good citizens from the place where I come.”

She’s proud of her car, a Chevy Aveo, the first she’s ever had, because women in Russia traditionally did not drive. But as nice as that luxury is, she’s quick to point out that her husband and daughter are far more dear to her than any material possession could ever be: “Most importantly, I have him and I have her.”

Javier Ortiz, 39, and Sara Jiminez, 42, Mexico

Print shop owners, Federal Way

Javier Ortiz and Sara Jimenez, 42, of Mexico City, have lived for 14 years in the United States where they are raising two children and studying to become citizens. Their home life is bicultural and bilingual. They try to speak Spanish at home but their children (Cesar, 13, and Juliana, 10) prefer English.

Javier said he appreciates the liberty, free speech and security that America offers, while Sara cites good schools and opportunities. “It’s totally different than in Mexico,” Sara said.

Still there are things about Mexico they long for.

“The food!” Sara exclaims.

“We miss the people, the family, food, friends ... a lot of stuff. But if I have to go back to Mexico and if somebody asked me the same question, ‘What do you miss from the U.S.?’ I’ll say, ‘everything’ because here is a life,” Javier said.

Sok-Khieng Lim, 35, Cambodia

Attorney, Federal Way

Lim came to the United States at age 3 after escaping a Cambodian prison camp with her mother and siblings. She now gives back to the community by encouraging other Cambodians to get into the legal profession.

Growing up in Oregon in an all-white neighborhood, she became a U.S. citizen in 1986 and wanted to put her roots far behind her, but her home life was filled with the smells of Asian food and the heavy accents of her parents. “I was embarrassed to bring (friends) over to my house.” Now, she embraces her Cambodian heritage along with her American culture. But it took a trip last year to the village in Cambodia where she was born to fully appreciate the gifts that America has given her. On that trip, she found herself at the hut that her father grew up in.

“I realized that if we had never been able to escape and never had the church sponsor us to the U.S., that would be my life in that village, in that hut. And that was very hard for me to swallow. On the flight back, I turned to my mother and I said, ‘Thank you for making the sacrifices that you did, for bringing us over here to the U.S.’ ”

Maryan Mberwa, 26, Somalia

Mother, Tacoma

Born in Somalia, this mother of five has lived in the United States for almost six years after emigrating from Kenya.

Mberwa came here so that her children could get an education and good jobs. It’s a long way from war-torn Somalia, where life was a day-to-day struggle for survival. She hopes one day to become a citizen.

“I appreciate (the United States) for the freedom and the jobs. In Somalia, we didn’t have freedom because there’s a war. When you go outside someone will kill you.”

Paul Many, 52, Laos

Social worker, Tacoma

Many immigrated in 1976 from Laos, where even traveling to a neighboring city required a permit from the local Communist Party. When he arrived, he spoke very little English and couldn’t even understand how to operate vending machines. He became a citizen in the 1980s.

“When you become a citizen, you have a responsibility to protect and make this country a better place. I hope my work helping people to get training and jobs has helped them to become better persons. That’s my legacy, I hope.”

Mulham Mohamed, 19, Yemen

Student, Tacoma

Brothers Mulham Mohamed and Wagdan Mohamed, both 18, were brought to America at ages 16 and 15 by their father, who had already been living here. Their mother and a younger brother live in Yemen but hope to immigrate in 2012. A sister also lives here.

Life was hard at first, Mulham said.

“Because I didn’t speak English, I can only stay in my apartment. And then I went to Tacoma Community House.”

TCH taught him English, job skills and general living skills. “It’s changed my life so much. I can go shopping. I can go anywhere. I can speak with other people.”

The brothers are U.S. citizens.

Mulham said he’s living the life he dreamed of back in Yemen.

“I would ask my mom, ‘When is my dad taking me to America?’ I would look up at airplanes and wonder. Now I’m here.”

Craig Sailor: 253-597-8541 craig.sailor@thenewstribune.com