By 
Mahamadou Toure
By Mahamadou S. Toure
- Reflections on immigrant achievement, community recognition, and the hopes of a new generation
When I left the 10th anniversary celebration of The New Americans Magazine, I carried with me more than memories of speeches, photographs, and conversations. I left with a renewed sense of pride, confidence, and hope for the future of our immigrant communities. What I witnessed was not simply the celebration of a magazine’s success. It was the recognition of ten years of commitment, perseverance, and contributions to the community. For me, this achievement belongs not only to The New Americans Magazine and its founder, Deba Uwadiae. It is also a moment of pride for the wider diaspora. The magazine was being celebrated, but we all felt uplifted.
When Recognition Becomes Encouragement
One of the most memorable moments of the celebration came during the remarks of Columbus Mayor Andrew J. Ginther.
Speaking about the development of Columbus and the growing contributions of entrepreneurs and business owners, the mayor acknowledged the important role played by Deba Uwadiae and The New Americans Magazine.
What struck me was the strength of that acknowledgment.
I had expected to hear that the magazine had contributed to the city’s progress. Instead, I heard the mayor emphasize how significant its work had been to that progress. I continued reflecting on those remarks long after the event ended.
There is something powerful about hearing such recognition expressed publicly, in the presence of community members, professionals, and civic leaders.
Compliments can be offered in private conversations or written on social media. But hearing the achievements of an immigrant-led institution acknowledged at a public celebration carries a different meaning.
For an immigrant who is considering starting a business, establishing an organization, or developing a community initiative, such a moment can offer encouragement.
It does not mean that success comes easily. It does not mean that every obstacle has disappeared.
But it reminds us that the doors to opportunity are not necessarily closed.
Our ideas can grow. Our contributions can become visible. And the institutions we build can earn a meaningful place in the communities we call home.
Great Achievements Can Begin Modestly
Another lesson I learned from the celebration was the importance of modest beginnings. The New Americans Magazine did not begin as the institution we recognize today. Its journey began with a smaller publication and a commitment to giving immigrant communities a voice. Over time, that commitment developed into something larger. This is an important lesson for emerging entrepreneurs, writers, publishers, and community leaders. We sometimes look at established organizations and admire what they have become without considering the years of uncertainty, effort, and persistence behind their development. The tenth anniversary reminded us that an institution’s beginnings do not necessarily determine the limits of its future. What matters is the willingness to begin, to learn, build relationships, and continue serving a meaningful purpose.
The Community Remembered the Journey
Perhaps one of the most moving aspects of the anniversary was listening to community leaders share their memories of the magazine’s early years. Dr. Seleshi Asfaw, Executive Director of ETSS Social Services, recalled the days when the magazine consisted of only about four pages. Others remembered seeing Deba distribute copies himself and witnessing the financial difficulties and high costs that challenged the publication as it developed. They spoke not only about what the magazine had become, but also about what it had taken to keep it going.
Some remembered how Deba approached them during the magazine’s early development. They described offering their support because they recognized his courage, dedication, and determination not to give up.
These testimonies gave the anniversary a deeply human meaning.
Behind the celebration was a story of persistence. Behind the recognition were years of effort that others had witnessed.
I was also struck by those who reminded the audience that the magazine could not have reached its tenth anniversary without community support and donations.
They encouraged attendees to contribute so that the publication could continue its work for another ten years. That appeal carried an important message: celebrating an institution is meaningful, but helping sustain it is equally important. Community achievements are rarely the work of one person alone. They grow when individuals take initiative and others recognize the value of that initiative enough to support it. The founder’s resilience matters. So does the community’s willingness to stand beside him.
A Celebration Beyond One Magazine
As I looked around the room, I saw people from different communities and professional backgrounds sharing in the excitement of the occasion. They were proud of what someone from the immigrant community had accomplished. But I found myself reflecting on something more personal.
As someone still developing my own work in publishing, entrepreneurship, and community leadership, I began thinking about what this achievement meant for those of us who are trying to contribute to the society we now call home.
I saw in Deba’s journey an example of how determination, service, and community relationships can help build something meaningful. His resilience had contributed to the very community environment in which other immigrant entrepreneurs and leaders, including myself, are seeking to participate and make a difference. That realization gave the celebration a special meaning for me. I was not only proud of what had been achieved. I was encouraged to think more deeply about what I, too, could contribute.
And I believe that feeling was part of what made the anniversary significant beyond the magazine itself. When one immigrant-led institution succeeds in serving the community, its example can encourage others to begin, persist, and contribute in their own ways.
What the Next Generation Can Learn
For young people growing up in immigrant families, the story of The New Americans Magazine offers a lesson worth preserving. They can see that community leadership is not limited to holding public offices or leading a large organization. Leadership can begin with identifying a need and making a commitment to address it. A publication can become a platform for voices. A small initiative can bring people together. A consistent effort can develop into an institution that others recognize and support. But the anniversary also teaches another lesson: institutions need communities that believe in them.
The people who supported Deba during difficult years helped make it possible for the magazine to reach this milestone. The next generation should understand both sides of that achievement—the courage to begin and the responsibility to support initiatives that serve the public good. Their task is not simply to admire what has already been accomplished. It is to learn from those achievements and find new ways to contribute.
A Legacy That Encourages Others
When I think about the celebration, I return to the feeling I carried when I left. Pride in what had been accomplished. Appreciation for those who made it possible. And confidence that meaningful contributions can begin with ordinary people who decide to act. To Deba Uwadiae and everyone who has contributed to The New Americans Magazine over the past decade, congratulations.
Your achievement is a reminder that the success of one community institution can encourage many others. Ten years ago, one person believed in an idea. Today, that idea gives others the confidence to believe in theirs.
Support the New Americans magazine to continue to serve our community with precise news that affect the new American, immigrant and refugee community. https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=8LHFS78NRNJJY&source=url
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