How does your establishment contribute to the vibrancy and growth of the local community?

“Our businesses have always been involved in sponsoring local initiatives. For example, during the COVID lockdown, our business donated face masks to our local community. We are always involved in local organizations, such as the Hamtramck Community Initiative, whose events we sponsor. We try to give back whenever an event tying the community together comes up.“

How has your entrepreneurial journey been shaped by your community?

“The community has always been supportive of me and my businesses, which has helped us grow and expand. I appreciate and value everyone that has been loyal and supportive and am always excited when an opportunity to give back is granted.“

What motivated you to start your business?

“Ever since I was younger it has been my dream to start my own business so I can have time to contribute to my community.“

What challenges have you encountered in your work and how have you overcome them?

“As an immigrant with no background experience in my field, it was a struggle to learn and navigate running a business without the necessary tools. There is no answer to how to get through tough situations and sometime persevering through is all that can be done. What I do know is that if you help people, God helps you.“

How has your background or cultural experience influenced your work?

“Coming from a Yemeni background, generosity and compassion has been engrained in me from a young age. Whether it is the customer service our employees provide or our contributions to the local community, we try to showcase our generosity and compassion. We want these strong values to be integrated in our community through our businesses.“

Beyond the usual trimmings of good food and great networking opportunities, this year, in spite of the spike in anti-immigration national policy and discord we anticipate a record breaking attendance and a record breaking fundraising goal. This year we are also excited to welcome Eva Millona to our Board of Directors, and as a keynote speaker at Tapestry. Eva is the former longtime director of the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy (MIRA) Coalition, former co-chair of the National Partnership for New Americans (the national coalition of state immigrant rights groups that produces the NIIC conference) and former Assistant Secretary of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security under President Biden where she led the White House Task Force on New Americans. Eva is an Albanian immigrant, an attorney, and a fighter for immigrant rights who is joining our board and keynoting our event because of her strong belief that the economic messaging and work is critical to the future of immigration in America.

We invite you to join us for the celebration, speakers, and to recognize the efforts of Adnan and others, of whom model the simple idea that Michigan Prospers with Immigrants.