Hello there! My name is Moussa Niangane from Senegal, and I speak, Soninke, Wolof, French and English. The things that are important in my life include family, friendship, kindness, creativity and building connections with others. My biggest dream is to create my own company, have a big car park, sell cars and invest in a different domain. I would like to create a non-profit organization to help poor people or the kids who don’t have a family or a home. 

My profession in my home country was computer sciences and social media video creator. I currently work at amazon and sometimes my work involves deliveries. I go to the gym 5 times a week, and in the summertime, I play basketball and football with my cousins and friends. When I first arrived in Philadelphia, I was feeling lonely, nervous, I didn’t know where I should go and what to do, I was lost. When my cousins came back from Alaska, they started to show me a few things and I started working a lit a bit. I needed to learn English and my cousin told me about The Welcoming Center   

I found The Welcoming Center to be a safe place where everyone was open-minded, a judgement free zone with joy and peace that made me comfortable. There is an experience I had In the Immigrant Leadership Institute when we were doing our presentation in our public action project event. It was my first time talking in front of people and Maureen Smith encouraged us and told us “You can do it” and we did it! 

Since participating in the Immigrant leadership institute at the Welcoming Center, many things changed in my life, I remember when I was talking to Manuel Portillo, and he asked me if I wanted to continue learning and I told him that I had many responsibilities. He gave me a lot of advice like it’s never too late to learn or do something. When I reached home, I realized that I could continue learning whatever I want, it just takes managing time, and we can do it.  

I started accomplishing my goal and started learning and practicing things that I learnt from The Welcoming Center at work and everywhere I go. A short story I can share from work at the amazon fulfillment center, where we do lot of things, but I started by packing and picking and I asked the manager if I could do problem solving. I also did a training so if the picker or the packer have issues, I can be the problem solver to resolve any problem. The manager selected me to be the new operator lead, so that I can help people when they have issues. In my new role, I talk to people who are immigrants like I am and if they have any issue, I can help because I consider myself a leader.  

I still have relationship with the people I met at the Welcoming Center like my Action project team, Abdourahmane Diallo, Alya Fofana and Winny Cupidon, we called each other “the French team” and we occasionally check on each other. One remarkable thing that happened when the plane crash happened on Cottman Avenue, one of my teammates sent me a voice message to check if I was safe.  

My favorite memories from the Welcoming Center are the photos that I took during the sessions and the action project events. When I scroll on my phone, and I see all the photos I’m so proud and glad to see immigrants supporting each other.