It's Her Brand Magazine - Issue 17 - Jan|Feb|Mar 2022 - Cover 2 of 2

IT’S HER BRAND

MAGAZINE A PASSION FOR TRAINING HORSES w ith E lsab e Hausaue r

EVERLASTING

TECH4KIDS G ivin g H ear t s Day

LANGUAGE OF A MOTHER’S HEART w ith Lina Pet rus Bender

H O P E S u p p ort i n g F amil ie s

Ex p eri en c i n g In f e rti lit y

PAINTING BEAUTY IN LIFE wi t h A n g el i c a Ji men ez

COVER STORY | PAGE 5

A TRANSIENT EDUCATION | JOY GICIRO LOCAL NURSING STUDENT FROM THE CONGO ISSUE 17

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COVER 2 |

JANUARY|FEBRUARY|MARCH 2022

IT’S HER BRAND MAGAZINE

INSIDE THIS ISSUE COVER 1 STORIES

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AN AFRICAN’S FLAVOR OF LIFE

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FINDING A PLACE TO CALL HOME

JULIE RAMOS LAGOS Featured Contributing Writer

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MOSAIC OF COMPASSION

THE IMPORTANCE OF LAW & EDUCATION

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COVER 2 STORIES

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A TRANSIENT EDUCATION

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LANGUAGE OF A MOTHER’S HEART

A PASSION FOR TRAINING HORSES

PAINTING BEAUTY IN LIFE

HER IMPACT FOR THIS ISSUE

ADVERTISING GRANT RECIPIENTS

Our focus for this issue is to create conversation and understanding around the concept of diversity; understanding that each individual is unique, and that each of our individual differences share a purpose in society. Diversity brings in new ideas and experiences, and people can learn from each other.

Bringing in different ideas and perspectives leads to better problem-solving, while working in diverse teams opens dialogue and promotes creativity and innovation. Our hopes with this issue are to emphasis the importance of celebrating our differences, while allowing them to unite us rather than divide us.

Affairs by Brittany Christian Adoption Services Everlasting Hope Grateful Cratefulls NuVation Health Services Sage Legal PLLC Taea Made Tech4Kids Together Counseling Vision Events Water Works SEA

COVER STORY

JOY GICIRO

A TRANSIENT EDUCATION

LOCAL NURSING STUDENT FROM THE CONGO Submitted Photos

By Julie Ramos Lagos, Bismarck Global Neighbors I am so blessed to work with an intuitive, kind, and loving gal named Joy Giciro; Integration Specialist at Bismarck Global Neighbors. Every day that I work with her, our office is full of adventure and joy! She resonates her name as she is truly one joyful soul. Joy Girico (meaning: of great significance or valuable) was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo. However, Joy, like so many other people from Congo, grew up in various other locations around the world due to the war.

Joy grew up in Rwanda (Kigali) and Kenya (Nairobi) before moving to Cleveland, Ohio. She learned from a very young age how hurtful words can be and that change is constant and inevitable. She learned to be adaptable because she was always the “new” kid; in a new school; in a new country.

As a way to cope with her ever-changing circumstances and environment, she convinced herself that she was on a different adventure each time she moved to a new location. With each new move, she knew deep down that wherever she ended up, it was just another place that would never be home. Pretending she was on an adventure made “missing home” a little easier.

Joy learned to let things go and to not take things personally. She focused on loving her friends and family and appreciating the time she had with them, as so many people she knew lost their loved ones, or even their own life, due to times of war. Her experiences have made her passionate about the well-being of others, and she wants to help people who have experienced similar situations through the mission of Global Neighbors and the work she does with the organization.

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COVER STORY

COLLECTIVE COMMUNITIES

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BITTER COLD

A COMPASSIONATE NURSE

UNDERSTANDING THE PAIN

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LANGUAGE OF A MOTHER’S HEART Submitted Photos

By Julie Ramos Lagos, Bismarck Global Neighbors There is nothing quite like a mother’s love and her devotion to her child.

Lina Petrus Bender, mother of four, is originally from Zakho, Iraq, which is a small town in the mountainous area of northern Iraq near the Turkish border; often referred to as Kurdistan.

Growing up in Iraq, Lina has beautiful memories playing with her friends and family, as her village was a very close-knit community with many activities based around family. The pace of life was much slower with a focus on relationships, as opposed to materialistic objects and careers.

Social life in Zakho was also very important. It wasn't uncommon for the people of Zakho to do everything together as a community, and both local and family traditions are a big part of their lives. Lina contributes her upbringing to her values today as a mother. For those who know her, Lina would be described as a family-focused, loving, and compassionate person who is always grateful for all that God has provided to her and her family.

LINA PETRUS BENDER A Kurdistan’s Plight to North Dakota Home Away from Home Lina shares that there are very few similarities between the Middle East and the United States when it comes to culture. Approximately 20% of Iraq is made up of the Christian faith. Raised as a Catholic, Lina continues to practice her faith as an adult in the United States. However, the way she practices her faith in the states is much different than how she practiced it in Zakho. Lina’s basic structure of language is also vastly different, making the English language very difficult for her to learn. After many years of conversation and practice, she is now able to speak the English language very well. Although there are vast differences between the two cultures, she's found a home away from home and has come to enjoy her life in the states.

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Freedom’s Plight Iraq was torn by war for most of the 23 years that Lina lived there, and it saddens her that it still has not yet found peace, as she believes both the people and the landscape are some of the most beautiful in the world. Her understanding and perspective of the meaning of freedom is profoundly different than those whose country has never been ravaged by wars or dictators. Although she lived a good life, she did not have the same "freedoms" in Iraq as she has in the states.

According to Lina, her journey to the United States is an exhaustive story, and it's one that she didn't have much control over or say in.

Lina was a part of NATO’s relocation plan of many Kurdish people following Operation Desert Storm. Many of her family members are still scattered around the world; some residing in the United States like her. Several of those family members, including her mother, were reunited at a military base on the island of Guam after a very complex process of seeking asylum. She can only summarize her family’s struggles as being traumatic, as there were many unknowns involved; not knowing where one was being taken, not knowing whether one would ever see their family again; the whole experience is very painful for Lina to recall.

Unfortunately, the same situation happened to many families from Iraq during that time. The story of Lina's family is a very common story that can be recalled my countless families like hers.

A Mother’s Journey At the age of 23, Lina was forced to leave her home country for her own safety and for the safety of her daughter. She remembers holding her daughter, who was only 3-years-old at the time, in her arms and taking that first step to embark on their journey. Her daughter's father was not able to leave with them at the same time. He joined them four years later,

so her journey felt much like that of being a single mom. Although it was an extremely difficult time for her and her daughter, she has always believed that God does things for a reason, and so she remained faithful through all of the struggles and challenges that came her way, which included starting a new life in an unfamiliar place.

The skills she learned and the education that she achieved in Iraq did not transfer successfully in the United States. Although she had a business school degree and had worked in International Trade within the Middle East prior to arriving in the United States, Lina was unsure about how she was going to put that experience and knowledge to good use in her new life. That, on top of the language barrier, made it incredibly difficult for Lina to provide for her and her daughter initially.

When she first arrived in the United States, she learned to translate for other people arriving in the states. Over the years, she worked at schools as a volunteer and currently works full-time in the kitchen at the Catholic Middle School in Bismarck. One of her greatest skills is her cooking, which many call top-notch. Her goal is to start a Middle Eastern food restaurant or catering company once her kids are finished with school.

In the meantime, she focuses on the love and support she shows to others, and she continues to open her heart and her house to those who now call North Dakota home just like her.

Driving Opportunities In the late 1990’s, Lina worked with a group of foreign nationals here in North Dakota who helped pass legislation to require that the State of North Dakota Department of Transportation provide the Driver’s License testing in multiple languages. This was a great accomplishment that now provides many immigrants with the opportunity to pass the driver's test and be able

to have transportation available for their families for employment or school needs.

Language of the Heart Lina feels incredibly blessed in life. Why God intended for her to leave her homeland, she may never fully never understand, as there were so many challenges associated with acclimating to a new country and culture, but she continues to trust His plan and feels blessed every day.

Despite the challenges one is facing, Lina believes time and grace can bring one many blessings in life. She says we just have to be patient during the many seasons of life, especially the challenging ones. She is a witness to the blessings that can occur after a season of suffering. Some blessings may take longer to experience, but Lina believes those blessings are there if we look for them. One example is the blessing that came after the struggles she faced when she fled Iraq with her 3-year-old daughter in her arms. Her daughter is now married and is a Doctor in Residency at the University of Iowa; giving back to her community in so many ways. Her daughter is living proof that God always has a better plan for us if we choose to follow it; no matter how difficult it may be.

Lina is grateful that God led her to North Dakota. One of the many things she loves about living in North Dakota are the people. She says they're honest, and if they trust you they will take you in and care for you. She also appreciates that it's a safe place to live with a low crime rate, and a great place to raise a family. If there's one thing she could share with others it's this; it does not matter how many languages you know. To know the language of the heart makes you worthy and valuable to your community. #IHBM

A PASSION FOR TRAINING HORSES ELSABE HAUSAUER

MBR Performance Horsemanship LLC

Photo Credits Unseen Expressions

by Carrie Kovash

By Julie Ramos Lagos, Bismarck Global Neighbors Elsabe Hausauer grew up in South Africa. From an early age, Elsabe could be found on the back of a horse. She has always had a love, compassion, understanding, and special connection with horses.

Elsabe believes this connection gave her insight into how horses think and what they need to be happy and productive. Elsabe says, “we’re never done learning from these animals. The moment we think we know it all and have them all figured out, they do something to prove us wrong.”

Growing up, Elsabe spent much as much time as possible with horses. Her passion for horses quickly went from a hobby to a passion she wanted to pursue full-time and long-term.

She began training horses, attending horse races, competing in professional horse events, and coaching.

She also began showing Arabian horses in many events, including Dressage, Western, Costume, Halter, and Jumping and Endurance riding. After high school, Elsabe continued her horse training in New Market, England, where she had the opportunity to work for a well-known race horse trainer. She helped him train race horses for competition at many of England’s famous race tracks. This was an amazing learning experience for her, as she was able to spend even more time with horses; riding an average of 8 to 11 race horses each day, 7 days a week.

Elsabe eventually had the opportunity to attend the prestigious British Racing School in England, where she completed her diploma in Stable Management.

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“In fact, horses train us versus us training them. The better we get, the better they get. They teach us so much about grace, forgiveness, honesty, and mindfulness.” ~ Elsabe

Today, as a wife and mom of three, Elsabe's passion is still evident in her life as a farmer, rancher, and clinician in the United States. As a family, they also raise small grains and Simmental/Angus beef cattle on their ranch.

Recognized as an AQHA Professional Horseman through the American Quarter Horse Association, Elsabe is committed to working with horses as much as she can and has a special love for training colts.

A Family Lifestyle Through the life she’s living, Elsabe hopes to inspire other moms with young kiddos to not give up on their dreams and goals. She wants others to know that she’s able to run a farm and ranch, attend to cattle, operate farm equipment, train horses, and perform clinics, and she’s been doing all of that since her kids were just a few weeks old. She hopes her story can inspire other moms to not give up on their dreams, but to let their kids be part of their dreams instead.

In fact, her deep passion for horses and the lifestyle they live is evident in each of her children, as they too enjoy youth rodeos where

all three of the kids compete in roping, barrel racing, pole bending, goat tying, and even mutton busting. Mutton busting is an event held at rodeos similar to bull riding or bronc riding, in which children ride or race sheep.

Elsabe’s husband, Jorden, works at the Coteau Properties Company in Beulah. While he is at work, Elsabe and the kids operate the ranch. When she is not ranching, you can find her doing Horsemanship Clinics throughout the state of North Dakota.

Building Relationships Elsabe’s horse training technique is all about building relationships and being a willing partner to her horses. Elsabe says, “a quiet and willing frame of mind is my number one priority when it comes to horses. I believe in building a confident and balanced horse from the ground up. To do that, I believe horse training really starts with us first. In fact, horses train us versus us training them. The better we get, the better they get. They teach us so much about grace, forgiveness, honesty and mindfulness. The journey of self awareness through training a horse is beautiful if we are willing to receive it and embrace it with no ego involved."

Digging Deeper Elsabe believes her horses have helped her grow in her faith in God, and she can feel the Lord speaking so clearly to her through these animals. She says there are some days when she likes what she hears, and other days when she has to embrace the growing pains.

Elsabe believes living a spiritual life can help us to be open and honest, not only with others, but with us ourselves, and that can start with your connection to your horse. She says, "living a spiritual life can help guide you to your real purpose in life. It's a lifestyle not everyone will understand, but once you feel it, you will realize that the journey is beautiful, and even the set backs are huge blessings in disguise!" Elsabe believes when we face things on a spiritual level, it's much easier to move forward in life and to try new things; things that we may have once believed we couldn’t do or wouldn’t be good at.

When people approach her for help with their horses, she encourages them to dig deeper and to connect with them on a level that's beyond what the eye can see. Elsabe offers spiritual and faith-based horsemanship clinics for anyone interested.

Elsabe's training is all about building a relationship and willing partnership with a horse. She says, “the horse’s response to a human is a direct result of how we, as humans, make that horse feel. Most of the time, I'm not helping people with horse problems, I'm helping horses with people problems. It's up to us to take responsibility to help the horse reach its full potential by connecting with them and by being firm but fair, gentle, and kind. It's no different than raising kids. My horsemanship isn't about me preaching to the students. Rather, letting the students feel comfortable; knowing that I’m in this journey to learn and grow with them because learning and growing is a never-ending journey.“ It's evident that Elsabe has a huge passion for what she does. She has always felt connected to horses, but she also feels connected to people and loves being able to help them through her own experiences. When it comes to horses, Elsabe says it takes time to build a relationship with your horse and to feel connected to them. The same concept applies to our relationships with humans. Trusting relationships don't just happen overnight, and in order to build those relationships, we must be mindful and treat each other with kindness, compassion, respect, grace, forgiveness, and honesty. The same is true in regards to our relationships with our horses.

Elsabe loves meeting people, sharing her passion for horses, and helping them to reach deeper relationship with their horse.

Witnessing people experience major breakthroughs with their horses brings Elsabe so much joy. Breakthroughs that are beyond getting a horse to simply perform a fancy maneuver or win an event they're competing in. Although those breakthroughs also make Elsabe happy, she's referring to deeper breakthroughs where a person allows the horse to be the teacher, and where they dig deeper within themselves to be mindful and to connect with their horse on a deeper level. She loves it when she witnesses someone who allows their horse to inspire them, and then transfers that connection and relationship with their horse into their relationships with others and how they treat their fellow humans.

Elsabe admits that, despite her years of experience, she's still a work in progress and is still learning. She says she definitely doesn’t know everything, nor does she have all the answers, but she's always willing to share what she has learned from hands-on experience and years of training.

Focusing on Life "Focus on the life, not just the results." Elsabe came across this sentence while reading one day, and it really stuck with her. She says she may catch some "flack" from all the goal-oriented people out there, but she never set goals for herself in a way that most people do. She says, "I'm not saying that setting goals is a bad thing to do, but I never set goals for myself to accomplish the things in life that I accomplished. I accomplished things because I lived a life of passion. I didn't make it to the NFR (National Finals Rodeo) because I set that goal for myself. I made it to the NFR because, from the time I was a little girl, I had a passion for horses, and I lived a life according to my passion every day. That passion led me to the opportunities that I then chose to pursue. I didn’t focus on the end goal. I focused on the passion and living life according to it. That passion prepared me for opportunities and the ability to make the most out of them; I was then blessed to see amazing results.”

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Elsabe wants to encourage others to focus on life, not just the results. She says, "do what makes you happy and love the journey.” She explains it this way: the best ropers in the world don’t make themselves go rope every day so they can become the best in the world. They rope every day because they love to rope, and that passion helps them to become the best in the world. They love the journey, and then the success is just the icing on the cake." She says this concept applies to all of us in all areas of our lives.

Elsabe knows it’s easy to feel defeated when things don’t go as planned, especially when you’re working so hard, but those moments of defeat can help you find strength that you didn’t even know you had. She says,"you can learn what it’s like to have true grit. You become stronger and more dedicated than you knew you could be.” Regardless of what one goes through in life, Elsabe says the most important thing is to live your life with integrity, in addition to passion. She says, “we should all be people of integrity. If we don’t have integrity, we will never reach our highest potential. Integrity is the foundation on which a truly successful life is built. Any time we don’t have integrity, we are creating a slight crack in our foundation. We need to be open and honest and have integrity at all times, even when it's difficult. A lack of integrity weakens our foundations, creating all kinds of problems in the future."

Two Huge Lies Elsabe believes many of us have accepted two lies. First, if we disagree with someone’s lifestyle, we must fear or hate them.

Second, to love someone means we agree with everything they believe or do. She says both lies are nonsense, and we don’t have to compromise convictions to be compassionate. We can be different and still support one another. Elsabe wants to encourage others to always be people of excellence, integrity, passion, and justice, and to have compassion for all. #IHBM

ANGELICA

JIMENEZ “Everyone deserves a smile.”

Painting Beauty in Life

By Julie Ramos Lagos, Bismarck Global Neighbors Submitted Photo

Angelica Jimenez is from a small town in Nicaragua. Although that small town has grown into a large city over the years, she still considers it to be a friendly and secure place to live. She remembers her home as a peaceful place, often with very beautiful weather. Angelica says, “the word organic comes to mind when I think of my country.” Besides the weather, one of her many favorite things about home is the brotherhood of the community in which she grew up. She often sees many similarities in her new home of North Dakota. She says North Dakota families are friendly, goodhearted people. They're always looking out for each other, they want a safe place for their kids to grow up, and they place a strong emphasis on education and values.

According to Angelica's observations, the biggest difference between the two cultures is the pace. She feels the lifestyle in her country is a lot more slower paced than the lifestyle she's experienced in America, including here in North Dakota. However, she enjoys the lifestyle and feels North Dakota is a state of opportunity. She says there are always great jobs that offer decent pay, and North Dakota offers families a good quality of life.

Growing up, Angelica spoke Spanish as her primary language but learned to master the English language over time through various studies; a skill that has proven beneficial during her life. Angelica recalls growing up in a large family of ten people. With a large family, came many challenges and difficulties, which included living in poverty. According to Angelica, Nicaragua is the second poorest country in Latin America after Haiti. She remembers countless times when the family didn't have access to so many things, including simple, everyday necessities that are often taken for granted in America.

While her family and so many others lived in poverty and struggled to provide basic essentials for their family on a daily basis, many of them still saw Nicaragua as a "rich" culture and enjoyed the natural beauty around them. She believes growing up in Nicaragua was a wonderful balance of pride and humility. She believes the struggles she experienced growing up impacted her both in both positive and negative ways; more positive than negative. Dealing with struggles taught her the value of work and the important role it played in achieving goals. She truly believes her struggles made her a stronger and better women today, and she wants others to see her as a woman who never gives up, is friendly to others, and is always helpful to those in need.

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A Blend of Nicaragua The two most common staple foods in Nicaragua are corn and beans. According to Angelica, beans, in particular, are eaten almost every day by most families because meat is not easily obtained, and they are a good source of protein. Angelica loves to cook and makes the most amazing beans and plantains, which is a cooking banana. She often offers to make her famous dish for others in the community.

In addition to her love for cooking, Angelica loves to dance and sing. In fact, she can often be found singing karaoke at different events. The modern Nicaraguan music style is a blend of several other styles, including indigenous, European, and Spanish styles. The music style that Angelica loves to sing and dance to is lively and full of energy.

Led by Faith For Angelica, her faith is an important part of her life, and she's led by it in everything she does. According to Angelica, religion is a crucial component of the Nicaraguan culture and has played a vital role in shaping and determining the way of life for many in Nicaragua. Angelica indicates that religion is so crucial that it's often included in state matters and within their constitution. In fact, she says the constitution states there is religious freedom and tolerance for everyone.

Angelica shares that the variety of cultures in Nicaragua have also been influenced by different heritages from previous times, especially during the period of colonial Spanish rule.

Education is Key Angelica is passionate about sharing the importance of freedom and tolerance for everyone. She believes education is the key, as it's important to be educated and informed about other cultures and ways of life to help us better understand one another. As difficult as they are, she says she appreciates hearing the stories of other immigrants and the challenges they faced, and continue to face, as it helps others in the community better understand why things are often so much easier here in America.

She believes one thing in particular that makes like much easier in America is the vast resources that are available to those who live here. Those resources 22 | IHBM

include the people and their skills and experiences, and she loves making herself available as a resource to others in need.

She would love to see others become successful just like her daughter, who has received a college degree in Business Administration and Marketing. Her other daughter is pursuing a degree in International Business.

To be a part of their successes is one of her greatest joys and accomplishments in life. She'd like to see others have that same experience, and she believes that can happen with more resources.

Angelica wants others to know that she feels fortunate to be in this great nation. Angelica says, “this nation has changed my life in a much better way and the life of my family and my daughters. It made it possible for my daughters to receive an education and to be successful in college, which has provided them with a brighter future, and I will always be thankful for that.”

It's important to Angelica to be remembered as someone who is compassionate and has done as much as possible for her family, friends, and anybody who may need her help.

The Entreprenista Angelica's greatest career goal is to take her new business to the next level and bring it to its full potential. As a self-proclaimed Entreprenista, Angelica is a measure tech self-contractor, and she just recently started a new business in painting for both commercial and residential homes. She absolutely loves bringing new life and beauty to homes through paint.

"God has given me the talent to paint, and I believe this is my purpose in life," she says. "Making buildings beautiful and making people feel at home is important to me. Everyone deserves a smile, and I want to make people smile through my painting."

It’s inspiring and heart warming to know that there are people like Angelica in this world who truly strive to make a difference and to make a community beautiful.

Besides her painting, she is also achieving this through her new position at Bismarck Global Neighbors as a care coordinator. She cares so much about others and wants to make sure that they receive all the resources needed to have the quality lifestyle they deserve. #IHBM

In collaboration with NDWBC, IHBM is proud to introduce our new IHBM Advertising Grant Program; a FREE advertising platform for female-led small businesses, nonprofits, and community events in North Dakota!

Our brand-new Advertising Grant Program & new business model have launched!

The intentions of these grants are to 1) help establish a new small business or nonprofit, 2) help re-establish an existing small business or nonprofit that was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and/or 3) help promote an upcoming community event.

APPLY TODAY Apply for an Advertising Grant today.

Recipients will receive up to $3,000 of IHBM digital advertising credit.

up

to

$3,000

Round 2 Applications due by February 15, 2022 For more information, visit www.ItsHerBrandMagazine.com/Grant

Average online reach of 12,000 20,000 readers per quarter

Celebrating 5 years in circulation

Average readers are college educated women ages 30 - 55

UNLIKE ANY OTHER PUBLICATION We no longer SELL ad space in our publication!

IHBM is now a 100% FREE advertising platform for female-led small businesses, nonprofits, and community events throughout North Dakota (and bordering cities). For full program details and information about our publication, visit www.ItsHerBrandMagazine.com.

Our signature Advertising Grant Program is made possible this quarter by the following Program Sponsors.

READY TO RULE THE ROOST?

Founded with the values of Midwest roots and strengthened by global experience. We believe people should love where they live and do business everywhere.

We recognize that the world of advertising has changed. The industry best are flying solo and migrating to warmer opportunities. Free from the cages of a traditional agency, we don’t limit our partnerships to four walls. We create custom solutions for advertisers who seek to connect with the industry best in marketing, media, and production.

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We are birds of a different feather, flocking together for the betterment of our clients.

We have no boundaries except those we put on ourselves. And that, in turn, means that our clients have more choices in terms of how and where their brand makes an impact.

Bring your team with you or we’ll build a flock around your needs.

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ISSUE 17 | JANUARY|FEBRUARY|MARCH 2022

FROM THE FOUNDER IT’S HER BRAND MAGAZINE

Ashley Rae Klinger Founder Owner Editor Published by It’s Her Brand Enterprises

LET’S GET SOCIAL

www.ItsHerBrandMagazine.com www.Issuu.com/ItsHerBrandMagazine www.Facebook.com/ItsHerBrandMagazine

#HerBrand - As women, we represent and master many roles in life. From our roles within our families, communities, careers, and social circles, we are often times stepping out of one role and into another, while trying to manage the many responsibilities that each role requires of us. The primary roles we choose to represent throughout our lives, and how and when we choose to master them, is different for each of us. The life and journey of each individual woman is unique and should be valued and CELEBRATED. There’s no set imaginary timeline or method to representing and mastering these various roles, as we all have different life experiences, abilities, passions, and opportunities. However, the roles we choose to represent, and how and when we choose to master them, will ultimately cultivate a personal brand unique to each of us. This personal brand will create a perception of who we are and what we have to offer to the world around us. Although taking a passive approach to cultivating a personal brand is common, It’s Her Brand Magazine wants to empower every woman to proactively cultivate HER BRAND in an effort to be PURPOSEFUL, INTENTIONAL, ENGAGED, and FAITHFUL in the life she’s living and in the roles she represents and masters throughout her lifetime. By being proactive about HER BRAND, each woman will be better equipped to become the woman she was created to be. #HerMovement – At It’s Her Brand Magazine, we want to lead a movement of women celebrating women that will bridge the gap between communities and create connections between community members throughout the state. We want to lead by example and demonstrate how our differences can unite us rather than divide us, and how we will accomplish more when we stop competing and start supporting. In fact, we’ll accomplish more TOGETHER than we will alone. One woman’s accomplishments DO NOT take away from another woman’s accomplishments. The more we can embrace this mindset, the better equipped we’ll be to encourage, support, empower, and CELEBRATE the woman next to us and create a movement that will forever impact the lives of women, their families, and our communities everywhere! #HerImpact - At It’s Her Brand Magazine, we are passionate about creating conversation and understanding around important topics that are impacting women, their families, and our communities. Every woman has a unique story to tell; every woman’s story matters; and every woman’s life experiences are valuable. When embraced and celebrated, she can utilize her story and her experiences to make an impact in the world around her, while living life with purpose and passion.

It’s Her Brand Magazine is a digital and print publication published quarterly by It’s Her Brand Enterprises and is printed in the U.S.A. Copyright 2022 It’s Her Brand Magazine. All Rights Reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced without written permission from the Publisher. It’s Her Brand Magazine assumes no responsibility for unsolicited manuscripts or photographs. It’s Her Brand Magazine does not necessarily endorse or agree with content of articles or advertising pre- sented. It’s Her Brand Magazine is not responsible for accuracy of articles or advertising presented.

It’s Her Brand Magazine is distributed statewide through participating and approved Distributors. Although Annual Subscription options are available on our website, a limited number of copies of each quarterly issue of It’s Her Brand Magazine are available for free through our Distributors. It’s Her Brand Magazine is a trademark pending registration at the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office.

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MAGAZINE MOSAIC OF COMPASSION w ith Juli e Ramos Lago s

WATER WORKS

CHRISTIAN ADOPTION SERVICES

An American Girl's Journey to Bring Clean Water to Africa

G ivin g He ar t s Day

THE IMPORTANCE OF LAW & EDUCATION

FINDING A PLACE TO CALL HOME

wi t h R a c hel Mil le r

w ith Ge ral dine A mbe COVER STORY | PAGE 5

AN AFRICAN'S FLAVOR OF LIFE | JASMINE TOSSETH-SMITH AFRICAN NOMAD CATERING COMPANY ISSUE 17

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COVER 1

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JANUARY|FEBRUARY|MARCH 2022

IT’S HER BRAND MAGAZINE

INSIDE THIS ISSUE COVER 1 STORIES

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AN AFRICAN’S FLAVOR OF LIFE

11

FINDING A PLACE TO CALL HOME

JULIE RAMOS LAGOS Featured Contributing Writer

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MOSAIC OF COMPASSION

THE IMPORTANCE OF LAW & EDUCATION

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COVER 2 STORIES

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A TRANSIENT EDUCATION

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LANGUAGE OF A MOTHER’S HEART

A PASSION FOR TRAINING HORSES

PAINTING BEAUTY IN LIFE

HER IMPACT FOR THIS ISSUE

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Our focus for this issue is to create conversation and understanding around the concept of diversity; understanding that each individual is unique, and that each of our individual differences share a purpose in society. Diversity brings in new ideas and experiences, and people can learn from each other.

Bringing in different ideas and perspectives leads to better problem-solving, while working in diverse teams opens dialogue and promotes creativity and innovation. Our hopes with this issue are to emphasis the importance of celebrating our differences, while allowing them to unite us rather than divide us.

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COVER STORY

JASMINE TOSSETH-SMITH

AN AFRICAN’S FLAVOR OF LIFE AFRICAN NOMAD CATERING COMPANY

Submitted Photos

By Julie Ramos Lagos, Bismarck Global Neighbors I keep thinking of the song that has the lyrics "the spice of life", and it so reminds me of my time shopping with this fantastical, joyful lady named Jasmine. Her character is bursting with such life and color, and you are naturally drawn to her spicy energy. After our shopping trip, we prepared ingredients for one of her first pop-up events for her new catering business. I have never bought so many spices in my entire life. I felt like we bought out the entire store!

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COVER STORY

"What I love the most about my home country of Africa is the hot weather, the warmth of the people, and the incredible flavors." ~Jasmine

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Another impactful thing was Jasmine's father’s love for culture and food. She remembers every time they went to a restaurant they had to try something different on the menu; they were not allowed to order the same thing over and over. If they absolutely hated it, her father would buy them something else, but he always encouraged them to try new things and experience different cultures.

They always looked for non-chain restaurants when they traveled. Jasmine feels her father is the king of finding the best "hole-in-the-wall" establishments with the best food!

There is just not enough space to talk about Jasmine’s various culture shocks coming to North Dakota, so we will talk about the one that stuck out to her the most — the food! Jasmine lost 40 pounds in her first three months because the food tasted so different! On top of that, it was a new experience navigating a grocery store in the states. Thankfully, God sent her an angel in the form of a coworker who taught her how to navigate the supermarket.

In time, she found the foods she liked and recipes she enjoyed, but those first few months were a challenge for her.

BITTER COLD Besides the food, when Jasmine moved to North Dakota, it was the cold that struck her the hardest.

She had studied in Switzerland, so she was no stranger to snow, but that bitter cold was a new experience for her. After being stuck in a white-out blizzard, she even bought a plane ticket back to Zimbabwe, but her mother encouraged her to stay.

Jasmine is so glad she did and says it’s true that mothers knows best.

In North Dakota, one of Jasmine’s biggest challenges was the lack of diversity. She missed seeing an abundance of people in the community who shared her cultural background and ethnicity.

She admits that it felt a little lonely for her. The locals were incredibly hospitable to her, but the lack of diversity was very challenging at times.

Jasmine is so glad to see how that is changing!

She moved to North Dakota because she had fallen in love with a man and got married. Even after it didn’t work out and after her divorce, Jasmine stayed because of the people. The community, hospitality, and friendships she made in Bismarck kept her here, and she has no regrets to this day.

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ENTREPRENEUR’S DREAM Jasmine wants people to remember her for being funny, full of life, and living as her most authentic self. She wants folks to feel seen, heard, and loved after spending time with her. She is passionate about people and entrepreneurship. She wants people to know that they have options. Jasmine feels that while being a business owner can be tough, it can also be so incredibly rewarding to chase your dreams.

Her goals are to grow her business, African Nomad Catering Company, to reach more people and to be profitable in order to best care for her family as a single mom. She hopes to one day have a physical location or a food truck that allows her to feed people all over the state and country. She is also excited to offer cooking classes, and to show how preparing and sharing a meal together can be healing.

Jasmine strives to be an active member of her community and wants to serve it well. As long as she is afforded the freedom to be creative, serve people, and love them, she says she will be very happy. She also cares about food security and the integration of new people into our community. She wants new immigrants to feel seen and heard. She had not heard about Bismarck Global Neighbors before 2020, but now that she knows the organization exists and has completed the Immigrant Leadership Program, she hopes to continue partnering with the organization to reach new and existing immigrants, as Global Neighbors had a great impact on her African Nomad start-up business. With their help, her business was featured on the front page of the Bismarck Tribune. Her hope is to make the biggest impact as it relates to business and the entrepreneurial endeavors of the immigrant community.

NORTH DAKOTA HOSPITALITY Jasmine loves the warmth, generosity, and the hospitality she has been extended here in North Dakota and hopes to share the same with others.

For her current day job, she works at Poppy’s Promise, which is a local organization that meets the service needs of children with developmental disabilities. Her passion, and what she hopes will turn into her full-time job, is African Nomad Catering Company, where she can extend hospitality and serve the community by offering them the flavors of Africa. #IHBM

Submitted Photos

FINDING A PLACE TO CALL HOME

By Julie Ramos Lagos, Bismarck Global Neighbors Geraldine Ambe is an immigrant from Cameroon and a great activist for her local community. As a loving wife and a proud mother of an amazing 13-year-old young lady, many who know Geraldine would describe her as being strong, smart, and loyal.

Geraldine grew up in a city called Bamenda, which is situated in the Northwestern region of Cameroon. She was an only child to a single mother. Having received her high school diploma, an achievement not common for many in her community, her mother was considered to be the smartest in the family.

Geraldine lived with her uncle and his family during her mom’s sickness and after her passing. When her mother passed away, so did the funding for her family, as her mom was the main bread-winner for her family. Her uncle's family also had three young kids.

Recognizing the challenging circumstances that the family experienced to provide for everyone, Geraldine found a full-time job, while also attending school as a young teenager.

Geraldine states, “loosing my mother to cancer when I was 21 was a life changing moment for me. As an only child, I looked for comfort in the wrong places, which resulted in me getting pregnant at 22-years-old.”

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“Losing my mother to cancer when I was 21 was a life changing moment for me. As an only child, I looked for comfort in the wrong places, which resulted in me getting pregnant at 22-years-old.” ~ Geraldine IHBM | 11

When Geraldine gave birth to her daughter, she desired to give her the best life. Being a mom inspired her to look for new opportunities to grow and to provide for her daughter. When Geraldine graduated from high school, she immediately looked for opportunities to travel abroad and for better jobs, so that she could afford to send money home and provide for her family. It was important for Geraldine to provide for her family so they had enough food and resources to survive. This search for opportunities eventually led her to the United States.

Even at a young age, Geraldine quickly found herself as the new bread winner and support system for her family.

Although she appreciated her life in the states, Geraldine loved and missed the community spirit back home in Cameroon.

She shares, “the community would consider you family and many around you would help you. There were many women who considered themselves grandmothers to many children in the community. They made sure the local kids would never go hungry.”

Although the winters are cold, Geraldine says that the people in North Dakota warm her heart. She shares that they've been very kind to her. They seem to genuinely care about her well-being, and she loves that they want to know more about her.

Geraldine has many amazing talents, but the one talent that she believes God blessed her with is her talent for hair braiding.

Although she enjoys doing it, she admits that she keeps it a secret, otherwise she has too many people asking her to do it for them. She also loves to dance, play good music, and she often finds herself thinking about going on a vacation; preferably somewhere warm.

Geraldine was recently honored with an award from the North Dakota Women’s Business Center during one of their "Leading Ladies Luncheon" events. Her and five other women were recognized for the selfless and amazing work they're doing in their local communities.

Before moving to North Dakota, Geraldine lived in Maryland for five years. She moved to North Dakota when she found a job with a great salary. A year before she moved, Geraldine was in an accident that left her with a broken leg and hand, and she was still recovering from those injuries when she found the job in North Dakota. Not knowing what types of opportunities would be available to her, she felt grateful for the opportunity in North Dakota and just wanted to get here to accept the offer.

Geraldine wants to be remembered by others for the impact she made in their lives. She says, “I have this personal thing where I evaluate myself after every meeting. I want to know if I helped make a person better than when I first meet them.

I want to know that telling my story about my experience moving to North Dakota helps others recognize that there are endless opportunities available to them here, and I want to encourage them to not let the cold weather scare them away."

Geraldine remembers arriving at the Bismarck Airport on June 14, 2014. An individual from her new employer's Human Resources Department picked her up from the airport. She recalls being scared in a new and unfamiliar place. She walked behind the person, as she wasn’t entirely sure if she was in a safe situation and didn't want to be kidnapped. It took her a while to trust others and to feel safe.

Geraldine wants to help create a program that provides additional opportunities for young African immigrants just like her, and she wants that program to exist long after she's gone. This desire is what connected her to Bismarck Global Neighbors who work with immigrants. Geraldine says, “I am a huge believer in the all hands on deck concept. I believe many hands make the load lighter, which is why I spend at least 20 hours every week volunteering throughout the community with different groups and organizations, such as Global Neighbors.”

She was starting to get familiar with her new environment, and then the winter season arrived, along with her first experience with snow. She had never experienced anything like it before and had never been so cold in her entire life.

Initially, she wanted to leave North Dakota and never come back. However, she's thankful that she decided to stay. Seven years later, she is still in North Dakota loving life, despite the cold winter months.

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Growing up in Cameroon, Geraldine witnessed resources and programs that weren't allocated equally. It wasn't uncommon for a few certain individuals to control all of the resources, while the majority of the people suffered and were left to die of hunger or had to flee to other counties to survive. This is why she's also a

strong advocate for the creation of programs that benefit everyone; no matter their class, race, background, or role in the community. Geraldine believes when opportunities are made available to everyone, it creates a level playing field. The result will be a system that works for itself because people can easily have the resources to fix any problems they have identified in that system.

Geraldine currently works as a Fair Housing Specialist with High Plains Fair Housing Center.

They are a nonprofit organization that works to eliminate housing discrimination and ensure equal housing opportunity for all. She believes that having the opportunity to own your own home is a huge achievement for those coming from other countries.

She shares, “we did not own a house before I came to America. Thanks to my trip here, we now own what we would consider to be a mansion.”

Geraldine says she loves her current home and feels blessed to be able to provide her family with a beautiful and safe place to live.

For Geraldine, it's a blessing to be able to live in this great county, and through the many experiences in her life, she has learned to never take anything for granted. Her ultimate hope in life is to make her community great, and she wants to accomplish that by running for public office one day. #IHBM

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Mosaic of Compassion IGNITING THE PASSION IN OTHERS

By Julie Ramos Lagos, Executive Director for Global Neighbors

As I sit down to reflect on my life, my mind is filled with a mosaic of thoughts and lessons I have learned along the way. Growing up in a North Dakota Scandinavian family, I was always taught to be a strong and moral individual, as historically, Vikings are my cultural heritage, but being a Christian is my faith heritage. While I may have always been a strong individual and held many leadership roles in my life, my character would have been truly lacking if I didn’t have compassion for others and a passion to help them succeed in life. The world is a mosaic of culture and passion, which is evident in every person I meet.

Every individual is passionate and talented in one way or another, and I find that they light up when they talk about what motivates them.

What strikes me the most is hearing the amazing stories of courage from immigrants from around the world.

One of my favorite things in life is to help ignite the passion in others by being an advocate in helping them present their talents and stories to the world around them.

Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie states, “Culture does not make people, people make culture.” The things that make each person unique is beautiful, and that is what makes up their culture. I love finding those unique treasures in others and helping them share them. This is why there hasn’t been a single year in my life since college that I haven’t worked with a ministry or non-profit.

As a small town, North Dakota girl, I have always been intrigued by diversity; in society and in others, and I absolutely love helping people from all nations and all backgrounds.

Growing up, I devotedly watched documentaries on Egyptology, historical shows, worldwide destinations, cultural studies, and more.

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Growing up, I was always drawn to things in life that were unique and out of the ordinary. I remember the few times when an exchange student would come to our little town. I would instantly befriend them, as I was intrigued by their life and their story, which was usually much different than that of my small town. When I graduated from high school, I was offered scholarships from local universities, but I turned them all down to attend a Bible College in Canada, as I wanted to study culture and planned to spend my life working with ministries that helped people from around the world.

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I loved college and was always looking for unique ways to experience life. For my first field study in college, I was able to develop the first ever International Student and Refugee Program for Canadian Mennonite University, as they had no program set in place that catered to international students. I also became a volunteer and coordinator for International Student Ministries in Winnipeg that met weekly for international potlucks and events. I often managed English Conversation Classes and offered special English tutoring to help many international students who were trying to pass their English test requirement in order to attend the university.

My love for other cultures was so deep, my family assumed I would eventually run off with a foreign gentlemen to a foreign country and never come home. Well, only part of that story actually happened. I did date individuals from different countries in college, and I did marry a very sweet guy from Honduras, but instead of never returning home, I brought him back to North Dakota with me; and in the middle of February!

In addition to the Northern Lights each year in Canada, we would experience another delight in town called the Folklorama, which is the largest folklore and cultural festival in the world. The annual, two-week event was held in Winnipeg towards the end of Summer and was considered to be the Cultural Olympics. It was absolute joy for me to participate with some of my international friends. Across the city, there were 40 different pavilions that represented a country and culture. The pavilions were dedicated to celebrating the cultural heritage through dance, music, dinner, and more. Because it was a two-week event, you had an opportunity to visit a different pavilion each night. Through my involvement with the International Ministries and the annual Folklorama, I was blessed with more than five years of sharing cultural heritages with people from all around the world.

Forever a Student I could have been a lifetime student, as I loved being in school. I finished my first Bachelor of Arts degree very quickly and started another during my first two years. By the end of the five years that I spent studying in Canada, I already had four degrees: Bachelor of Arts in Social Sciences (Psychology, Sociology, and Anthropology), Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, and a Master of Arts in Student Development. I also had a Certificate in T.E.S.O.L (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages).

These accomplishments makes me pause and reflect on how many people from other cultures are never given the opportunity of a higher education, and I was blessed with over 5 years of study.

At times, this is truly humbling.

When I completed my degrees, I moved to Denver, Colorado and was blessed with an amazing opportunity to manage a Huntington Learning Center. As the Center Director, I assisted students who were behind in their studies and would help them get caught up in school. I eventually began working with international students and students from all around the United States as an Enrollment Counselor for Denver Seminary (a graduate theological university). Wanting to help where I could, I often assisted international students with the student and work visa processes.

During the eight years I lived in Denver, I was also involved with other international student and refugee ministries and non-profits that helped many foreign nationals; very similar to the work I did with the ministry in Canada. By this time in my life, I had over 15 years of experience working with refugees and international students, which included a month in China teaching English, a backpacking trip around Europe, and various other travels.

Diverse Celebrations Not only do I enjoy meeting diverse people, but I love diversity in just about all aspects of life. I have been blessed by a very successful career that took me into diverse career paths, but each path had one similarity; I was always managing some type of celebration or event that focused on community building with a diversity of interests. Malcolm Forbes states, “Diversity is the art of thinking independently together.” I view event planning in the same way. Each person is using their independent gifts from music to tech, décor, food, speaking, planning, and so forth, to work together to celebrate and to share an experience with the surrounding community.

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Plan from the Heart As an Enrollment Counselor in a higher education setting, I hosted various student events. As a City Auditor/Administrator for the small town of Tioga during the oil boom, I managed all city-wide events to help bring established citizens and newcomers together. As the Marketing Manager for the Bismarck Tribune, I managed large expos, such as the Bismarck Tribune Sports Show. And, my all time favorite role as been as the Executive Director for Global Neighbors, where I am currently able to plan and host so many diverse cultural celebrations. Regardless of the event that's being a planned, I truly believe if you plan from the heart and focus on giving your attendees a great experience, your event will be a great one!

A Different Perspective To truly understand a culture, you need to experience it. There is no other way.

Stephanie Gilmore expressed, "Experiencing different cultures is one of the best things a human being can do. It puts your whole world into perspective.” I believe we should all try to look at the world through another cultural perspective outside of our own. There are many ways to do that. I believe the best way is by connecting with a family or individual from another culture or participating in one of their cultural celebrations. This is why I think the mission of Bismarck Global Neighbors is so important and beneficial for North Dakota. So many people that live in North Dakota have not had the opportunity to travel internationally. Becoming a mentor for a local immigrant can give them an opportunity to learn about other cultures and ways of life, while sharing their own story and heritage at the same time.

Global Neighbors provides that opportunity, which allows all parties involved to get a different perspective.

Community Ties Seeing an entire community come together and become a family, regardless of the culture they are from, is the best gift you can experience. Earlier I mentioned I married a sweet guy from Honduras. As an immigrant, he played a big part in helping to bring a community together during the oil boom.

That man I fell in love with is an amazing pro-mountain and road biker star and pro-bike coach from the National Honduran Team. When I first met him, he was working for the top bike shop in Santa Monica, California as a pro-bike mechanic for the celebrities and bike pros in the country. His first visit to North Dakota was during the year of the flood in Minot and during the month of February. It was a bad winter, and he couldn’t believe how people could live with so much snow. We were planning to move to Santa Monica when we got married, but God had other plans for us. God decided we were needed in the small town of Tioga, North Dakota during an oil boom. So, ten years ago, we moved to my hometown.

There were many circumstances that required us to stay in Tioga, including a lengthy and difficult immigration process. With no housing available, we moved in with my parents, which happened to be our first year as newlyweds. Needless to say, that made for a very entertaining and interesting year! As soon as the first apartment complex was constructed in the area, we were the first couple to move in. They loved us so much that we became property managers for some of the company’s many residential and commercial properties.

During our time in Tioga, we started a Hispanic Ministries, as there were no resources at the time for the Hispanics working in the oil fields in the area. This was definitely a part of God's plan for us. During our four years there, we also helped the schools establish language programs and the churches provide translation services, led Spanish Bible studies, translated safety meetings in Spanish for oil companies, helped individuals find jobs and homes, filled out applications, connected to the overall local community. and made forever friends. Together, the two of us were instrumental in helping the Hispanic community connect to Northwestern North Dakota in a meaningful and positive way. We even participated in the very first Hispanic wedding in Tioga.

Global Neighbors When we moved to Bismarck, we continued to help diverse individuals in a similar way through various nonprofits, ministries, and events. That journey eventually led me to my current position as Executive Director of Global Neighbors. A usual week for me as the Executive Director, besides 18 | IHBM

administrative and marketing responsibilities, could include many diverse tasks, such as helping to connect someone local to an immigrant through our mentoring program, helping a family find safety or housing, helping a student get connected with our local schools or ELL (English Language Learner) programs, listening to someone who is dealing with abuse, while helping them find a safe place of security and counseling, translating several important forms and applications for immigrants, bringing baby supplies to a single mom in need, helping an immigrant start a business, planning cultural celebrations, advocating for immigrant needs, hosting educational talks or seminars on the importances of cultural diversity, and so much more! Needless to say, I am challenged every day in my role with Global Neighbors, and I absolutely love everything about my position. Every moment I spend interacting with diverse individuals in our community is so vital and so important. I truly believe our passion is for ourselves, but our purpose is for others. If we are not serving others, we are not fulfilling our purpose in life.

While I may be a busy individual, I make sure to allow adequate time for all of the roles I represent in life. The most rewarding role that I represent is as a mom. After suffering many miscarriages, our greatest joy in life has been the birth of our son, Alec. He is our answer to many prayers and the greatest treasure in our lives. Since he started Kindergarten, I have more time and opportunities to do more in my community, and I can't think of a more fitting organization to do that with than Bismarck Global Neighbors. I am so honored to be a part of this amazing organization and team!

Many times, my family plays a role in helping others in the community through various activities, and I'm grateful to be able to teach this valuable lesson to our son. I truly believe that if we make time for our family, while also continuing to help those in need, we will continually feel blessed in life no matter what we're doing.

It's important for me to show love to others from all nations, as I find that those individuals always give so much back to the community and the people. They understand what it means to be truly grateful; a lesson we can all remember from time to time. I don't know what God has in store for us next, but I hope I'm able to continue sharing my North Dakota heritage with people from all around the world, while encouraging them to share their heritage and rich cultures with our community for years to come. #IHBM

RUO-CI RACHEL MILLER Immigration Lawyer and Mom of Three

The Importance of Law and Education

By Julie Ramos Lagos, Bismarck Global Neighbors Submitted Photo

Rachel Miller is an immigration lawyer and mom of three. Originally from Taiwan, she's now passionate about helping others who struggle with immigration processes when they arrive in the United States. In 2006, before making the trip to the states, she studied at a program university languages school, as her father taught her to believe that English was the most important degree of study. During that time, she also applied for the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam; a standardized test to measure the English language ability of non-native speakers wishing to enroll in Englishspeaking universities. After receiving her undergrad law degree in Taiwan, she came to the states in 2008 and enrolled at Indiana University in Bloomington. During that time, she also took a one year masters degree in law.

Rachel married her husband in 2008. Both of them had one semester remaining of schooling and graduated the following year. Before moving to North Dakota after Rachel passed the Bar in 2012, they lived in Connecticut, New Jersey, and Vermont. Their faith originally led them to North Dakota, as they are both members of the Church of Latter-Day Saints and found a temple here that they both felt drawn to. After finding good jobs, they settled in the Bismarck area and found it to be a nice place for their family.

Their initial plan was to stay in North Dakota for two years. They didn't have the intention to stay long-term due to the harsh, cold weather, but they fell in love with Bismarck and have made it their home for more than 8 years. Rachel admits that she loves the small city and community feel of the Bismarck area. It's easy to navigate and the majority of people are generally friendly. She says it reminds her of the time she spent studying in Taiwan and Indiana and feels a lot like home.

As a mom of three kids, she spent the first few years of their life tending to their needs. Although she passed the Bar in 2012, she didn't start practicing law until 2015, as her family and children were her main priority. To this day, Rachel believes her biggest accomplishment in life was passing the Bar exam, especially since she was an International student who spoke English as a second language. In order to pass the Bar, you have to answer 200 questions, including several essay questions. The essay questions are always difficult for those who are still trying to understand the English, but Rachel was determined to pass. As a new mom to a six-month-old, she would often study while her son was napping. She took the test multiple times, and finally passed it on her third attempt.

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Different Type of Education Rachel's parents were educated individuals. Her father worked for the government in a role that is similar to the FBI here in the United States, and her mother ran an active school tutoring business. Education was very important to her family. Growing up, Rachel recalls students coming to their home to learn math, English, and Chinese from her mom. She spent a lot of time with them and admits that she loved being surrounded by a lot of kids on a regular basis, as she learned a lot about responsibility by watching them.

In Taiwan, the education system required students to be tested three times a semester. The testing determined who was the smartest student in each subject. Rachel believes this requirement and the testing process put kids under a great deal of pressure.

School in Taiwan ran each day from 7:30AM to 4:00PM. Rachel recalls the lunch break was 40-minutes, which gave her 30-minutes to take a nap. Students in Taiwan would usually stay in the same classroom from elementary through high school. Instead of the students changing rooms, Rachel shares that they would stay in the same room, while the teachers moved from room to room. There was always one teacher assigned to the class, but several special subject teachers who moved around. With an average of 50 students per classroom, it was often a lot for one teacher to handle, as they did not have teacher helpers.

Rachel shares that it's common for those who live in Taiwan to speak English. When she was younger, she says students learned English as early as middle school. Today, they start as early as first or second grade. She believes the reason for that is because there's a stronger emphasis on the speaking part of the language and not just the grammar portion, as it had been in the past.

In Taiwan, Rachel indicates that students don't always have to attend high school. They can chose to go to a vocational school instead, which is more common for top students. At Rachel’s school, if a student tested below a 90% on any exam, she says the teachers would actually hit the student with a stick. She struggled with this, as her English was very poor back then, which is why she was determined to learn English. Over time, she became more proficient in it through living in the states and speaking it on a regular basis. Due to her profession as a lawyer, she is always trying to take additional classes to become even more proficient in it than she already is.

22 | IHBM

Committed to Helping Others When she passed her Bar exam and moved to Bismarck, Rachel says she didn’t realize there were so many immigrants living in North Dakota. In fact, when she moved to Bismarck and started working, she was given so many referrals and was thrilled to help others in need in her new community. Although she was young in her career, and many of the cases were difficult and required congressional help, she was always up for a challenge. As a young immigration attorney, she admits that she often needed the advice of the Immigration Lawyer Association and some congressmen; many of whom were happy to assist her and would communicate with the U.S. embassy on her behalf.

Committed to helping others, Rachel has always tried to offer low-cost and reasonable services to her clients, but she also wants to charge for her services, as she wants her clients to see value in her work. Rachel shares that there's a lack of immigration attorneys in North Dakota and throughout the country in general. Because of that, Rachel says immigration attorneys often need to be selective with their clientele. As a solo practitioner, she only takes cases through referrals. One of the reasons for this is the importance of maintaining a healthy work/life balance, as it's important for her to spend time with her three kids.

Rachel chose immigration law because she understands what it's like to have to go through the process, as she too applied for a green card when she married her husband who is a U.S. citizen. Through her practice, she prefers to focus on families, as that's an area she can easily relate to.

Since she began working in North Dakota, Rachel admits that she's surprised by how many people represent the African culture. She says she has met more Africans here in North Dakota in the last couple of years than she has in her entire life. She loves hearing their stories, as she feels one can learn so much about a person and a culture just by spending time with people from diverse backgrounds and learning about their experiences. The most powerful stories for Rachel are the ones about persecution and struggle, as one can begin to really understand why a person would choose to leave their home and everything they know to move to an unfamiliar place. Her greatest passion is to continue helping those individuals and to serve those who need her services. #IHBM

In collaboration with NDWBC, IHBM is proud to introduce our new IHBM Advertising Grant Program; a FREE advertising platform for female-led small businesses, nonprofits, and community events in North Dakota!

Our brand-new Advertising Grant Program & new business model have launched!

The intentions of these grants are to 1) help establish a new small business or nonprofit, 2) help re-establish an existing small business or nonprofit that was impacted by the Covid-19 pandemic, and/or 3) help promote an upcoming community event.

APPLY TODAY Apply for an Advertising Grant today.

Recipients will receive up to $3,000 of IHBM digital advertising credit.

up

to

$3,000

Round 2 Applications due by February 15, 2022 For more information, visit www.ItsHerBrandMagazine.com/Grant

Average online reach of 12,000 20,000 readers per quarter

Celebrating 5 years in circulation

Average readers are college educated women ages 30 - 55

UNLIKE ANY OTHER PUBLICATION We no longer SELL ad space in our publication!

IHBM is now a 100% FREE advertising platform for female-led small businesses, nonprofits, and community events throughout North Dakota (and bordering cities). For full program details and information about our publication, visit www.ItsHerBrandMagazine.com.

Our signature Advertising Grant Program is made possible this quarter by the following Program Sponsors.