By Okon Ekpenyong and Peaches Calhoun

Saturday, December 6, 2025, was a significant day for the immigrant community in Central Ohio. They stood together with the Somali Americans to condemn remarks made by the current US Administration, then packed the famous Boat House at the Conference Park to witness the first South Asian and Muslim Judge swearing-in-ceremony in the state of Ohio. 

Then, Columbus Councilwoman Lourdes Barroso De Padilla, who represents District 8, participated in the “Oh Snap! A Canvas 4 Change” initiative. This event aimed to raise funds for emergency food relief for families in the U.S., Sudan, and Palestine, highlighting the contributions of the first and second generations of immigrants. 

Additionally, Sunny Martin from Mahogany Media Group at the Ohio African Chamber of Commerce Business Meet & Learn. He emphasized that to achieve business growth, “sales and marketing” should be one of an entrepreneur’s top priorities. He also highlighted that ownership is a crucial way for individuals within the African and immigrant diaspora to build lasting wealth. 

And in most of the immigrant community, many individuals have established their own Limited Liability Companies (LLCs). According to the American Immigration Council, at least 46.2% of Fortune 500 companies were founded by immigrants or their children, totaling around 231 companies.

Like Judge Hoque, she ran her own law firm, making her a businesswoman. Newly elected Dublin Councilmember Dr. Greg Lam, a cardiologist, is also an entrepreneur. Many Somali-Americans in Central Minnesota, Maine, Seattle, and Denver are business owners. When different ethnic groups come together to learn, grow, and celebrate each other’s successes, that united force is unbreakable.

Kicking the day off at the Columbus City Hall, city and community leaders stood in solidarity with the Somali American community in response to remarks made by US President Donald Trump about Somalis living in Minnesota, the state with the largest Somali population in the country, and throughout the United States. 

The President made controversial remarks about Somalia and the Somali American community in Minnesota, calling them “garbage” and stating they don’t belong in the US. Minnesota Democratic Governor Tim Walz condemned these statements, suggesting the President is “unwell & physically fading.” This exchange or feud between the Governor and the President, seen by many, is a result of the 2024 presidential election, in which Walz was on the Democratic ticket as vice president alongside former vice president Kamala Harris. 

At the Oh Snap event, Art serves as a powerful medium for storytelling and a vital means of expressing freedom. Amid political disagreements, people often ask, “Is this really necessary?” Yet, Art captures those emotions — be it frustration, clarity, or the raw feelings of moments when one side believes, “This is exactly what we need,” while the other side wonders, “Can’t we find a better way to address this?”

The was truly about different African ethnic groups from Somalia, Liberia, Nigeria, Sudan, along with South Asians from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan coming together at various locations—10 am at City Hall, 12 pm at the Boat House, 5 pm at the Art of Republic, and 8 pm at Ave Space—to stand in soldarity, to learn, grow, and celebrate each other’s milestones.

Of course, one of those significant milestones was celebrating the swearing-in ceremony of Ajmeri Hoque, Ohio’s first Muslim Judge and first naturalized citizen to serve on the Franklin County Municipal Court. Hoque, who immigrated to the US from Bangladesh at a young age, made history with her unopposed victory in the 2025 election. 

DIn the immigrant community, enrolling in a STEM program is often viewed as a sacred path to success. For young men and women, not pursuing one of these recognized avenues—a sort of “written chapter” in their immigrant parents’ guidelines for success—can be seen as a problem. Many have gone on to achieve greatness in fields such as education, politics, medicine, and, now, even a judicial role. 

Saturday was a day to celebrate a significant milestone at the Art of Republican in Shore North, where attendees enjoyed the “Oh Snap! A Canvas 4 Change” event. This gathering highlighted how, while making our parents proud, we learned to advocate for our community and understand the importance of social impact. Ten artists collaborated to create works addressing global hunger and hardships faced by the immigrant community, each in just three minutes.

The proceeds from the evening art sales will support food assistance for families in the United States and provide emergency food relief to communities in Sudan and neighborhoods in Palestine affected by the Israel-Palestine conflict. 

Speakers at the events shared their immigrant journeys, highlighting the challenges and obstacles faced by the community and also condemning President Trump’s remarks not just on the Somali American community but also on the Afghan, Haitian, and other communities. 

Among the guest speakers at the Oh Snap event was a Sudanese American Neuroscience student at Ohio State and the President of the North and South Sudanese Association, whose poem “Sudan: the forgotten Crisis” wowed the crowd and received a standing ovation. 

Organizer Ann-Maria Teresa Temu, a recent graduate of the New American Leadership Academy in Columbus, energized the audience by rallying support for the artists present and standing in solidarity with the thousands of immigrants in Central Ohio and across the United States.

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