I was so focused on the things I did not have, always waiting for a future when I would be documented or fit in, instead of enjoying the beauty of    

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John,

My name is Chi Adanna. I’m a SEED entrepreneur and an Immigrants Rising featured storyteller ([link removed]) . Back in Nigeria, I grew up mostly playing by myself on my mom’s fish farm. I was happy in a world of my own invention while the adults around me worked. But when I immigrated to the U.S. I got bullied for being a loner.

I felt really isolated and out of fear of ICE, I avoided traveling by myself or being in the spotlight. At some point I shut off completely, unaware of the people trying to help me. Fashion was my escape from everything. Whenever I visited the fabric shop I’d run my hand through all the fabrics and my mind would start to dream up possibilities. I taught myself to sew and eventually started my own fashion business.
Chi Adanna (center) poses with models wearing her original designs.
For years I thought my business was all I had to succeed without documentation, so I spent countless nights setting the foundation without allowing myself to have fun. I was so focused on the things I did not have, always waiting for a future when I would be documented or fit in, instead of enjoying the beauty of the present. But now that I’ve grown, I realize there was so much opportunity and support for undocumented people like me all along. I was never really alone.

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Today, with the support of Immigrants Rising and the rest of my community, I am following my creative impulses and embracing what makes me different. It’s not always easy, but I’m doing my best to focus on the here and now and feeling so grateful to be me!

With love,
Chi Adanna
Chi Adanna Ilori
SEED Grantee & Featured Storyteller
Immigrants Rising

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