Immigrant Archive Project sponsored by Farmers Insurance.

The Immigrant Archive Project (IAP) and Farmers Insurance will host a special presentation featuring the stories of struggle and triumph of some of Southern California’s most successful immigrants during a special media event to be held on Thursday, October 6 at 8:00 a.m. at La Plaza de Cultura y Artes in the Historical El Pueblo de Los Angeles district, across from historic Olvera Street.

Because the stories of America’s immigrant’s merit being told and preserved, Farmers has agreed to partner with IAP to expand the reach of the group’s work and to increase the number of stories recorded and shared, especially from immigrants who have come from Asia, Africa and the Middle East. Some of the newest immigrant stories to be unveiled will include those featuring Giselle Acevedo of Costa Rica who now leads one of the nation’s most celebrated organizations dedicated to children; the honorable Jose Huizar who is the first Mexican immigrant elected to the Los Angeles City Council; and,
Naji Garabet, who immigrated from war-torn Lebanon as a youth to become district manager of the year for the nation’s third largest insurer of homes and autos. The stories of other immigrants of note will also be highlighted at the Oct. 6th event.

“The American Dream is a universal dream that inspires immigrants from around the world to come to our great nation,” said Luisa Acosta-Franco, vice president of multicultural marketing for Farmers Insurance. “These stories of struggle and sacrifice need to be captured and shared with today’s America and with future generations.” The Immigrant Archive Project is an independent national initiative dedicated to preserving the life stories of America’s immigrant population. Members of the IAP team have traveled throughout the United States to record, in their own words, the intimate stories of immigrants from a number of nations. Interviews are shared on television, radio, online, and through a traveling art exhibition.

“While every immigrant story is unique, there are some common threads that unite these stories—saying goodbye to family, struggling to adapt to a new way of life in a new country and overcoming nearly insurmountable obstacles to achieve success,” said Tony Hernandez, one the co-founders of IAP.

In addition to presenting new stories, Farmers and IAP will announce a new initiative designed to secure the stories from a broader range of nations and experiences.

ABOUT THE IMMIGRANT ARCHIVE PROJECT

Established in 2008, the Immigrant Archive Project is dedicated to preserving the struggles, dreams, and accomplishments of America’s immigrants from around the world. Over 300 videos feature subjects ranging from ages 7 to 95 telling their stories in their own words; videos are recorded at no cost. IAP founders include Tony Hernandez, owner of the Latino Broadcasting Company, and Colombian-born Gustavo Pambo of Miami, Florida. The Immigrant Archive Project is an independent initiative of the Latino Broadcasting Company, a minority-owned nationally syndicated radio network based in Miami