Celebrating Successes of Individuals in the Book

The individuals featured in Green Card Stories are representative of immigrants’ desire to contribute to U.S. society and to continue to improve their life. Many of the individuals have been recognized on local and national levels for the work that they have done.

Yi Kai’s work will be on exhibit at the Museum of Art and History in Lancaster, CA from March 29 – June 8, 2014. There will be an opening reception on March 29 from 4-6 pm. Yi Kai is an individual in the Green Card Stories book who was able to freely express his art when he came to the U.S. after marching on Tiananmen Square.

Green Card Stories individuals have had guest roles on top television shows. Farah Bala appeared on Comedy Central’s newest hit sitcom Broad City on March 19, 2014 and Mary Apick was on Showtime’s Emmy-winning Homeland on November 3, 2013.

Farah Bala and Charles Nyaga were featured in an article in the Australian magazine, The Daily Telegraph. The article, “The Red Light Flashing for Famous Green Card” published on July 21, 2013 looks at the future of the Green Card Lottery as proposed legislative changes may eradicate the program. Read the PDF.

Yi Kai’s artwork was displayed at Main Street Gallery in Pomona, CA in February and March 2013. His artwork was also included in the Los Angeles International Art Expo in January 2013. Yi Kai is an individual in the Green Card Stories book who was able to freely express his art when he came to the U.S. after marching on Tiananmen Square.

I Am Neda, a film starring Mary Apick, was selected as a finalist at the Cannes Film Festival. I Am Neda also won the Best Picture Award at the World Music and Independent Film Festival in Washington, DC and was nominated for 3 awards, including Best Supporting Actress for Mary Apick. The film tells the true story of Neda Agha-Soltan who was killed by a sniper in the 2009 Iranian street protests. The film is also featured on the Huffington Post.

Hugo Ortega, a finalist for the James Beard award and individual included in Green Card Stories, has published a new cookbook Street Food of Mexico that was released on September 17. He is also featured in the August 1 issue of Saveur dedicated to Mexico. Saveur deems the book as one of the “essential Mexican cookbooks” placing Hugo alongside Rick Bayless and Patricia Quintana. Hugo contributed a full-page article on the central role of salsa in the Mexican cuisine.

Farah Bala was part of a volunteer team headed to Tanzania, Africa in June 2012 to work with children and teachers through the International Theater and Literacy Project. The students created an original performance piece and stage it for their community. In addition, Farah and the other volunteers designed and gave Personal Development workshops to the teachers in these schools so that they would be able to continue working with the children at the end of the project.

Mary Apick’s mother, Apick Youssefian, was honored by Iranian and Armenian celebrities at An Evening of Stars: A Tribute to Apick Youssefian in Glendale, CA May 20, 2012. Mary would not be where she is today without the guidance and support of her mother.

Three Iranian films starring Mary Apick were featured at the UCLA Celebration of Iranian Cinema from April 13-29, 2012:
     Ferestadeh (The Mission)
     Dead End (Bon Bast)
     Checkpoint

On April 20, 2012, La Voz Hispana de Connecticut ran a full story on Randolph Sealey’s life as an undocumented immigrant and now as an orthopedic surgeon.

César Domico was featured doing his magic tricks on Univision’s Despierta America on April 20, 2012.

Mary Apick was in the Persian Parade in New York City on April 15, 2012! She was dressed as a fairy on a float passing through 12 blocks of Madison Avenue with the NYC Police band. She promoted her children’s DVDs, A Fairy Tale in the Forest and Jewel of The Night. Check her out in last year’s parade.

Kirill Gerstein returned to his alma mater and to jazz on March 30, 2012. After focusing his career on classical piano, his return to Berklee College of Music also marked his reconnection with performing jazz music. The program included the world premiere of new works by Chick Corea and Brad Mehldau that Gerstein commissioned as part of his 2010 Gilmore Artist Award, a lucrative and prestigious honor granted every four years for “extraordinary piano artistry.’’ Read more about the concert and Gerstein’s background in the Boston Globe and in interview on DownBeat. The concert was also streamed on Concert Window.

Cleto Chazares won the Hillsborough Counselor Association High School Principal of the Year 2012!! He was also featured on Univision on February 22, 2012.

Yi Kai’s artwork was displayed at the San Francisco Arts of Pacific Asia Show Feb 2-5, 2012. Yi Kai is an individual in the Green Card Stories book who was able to freely express his art when he came to the U.S. after marching on Tiananmen Square.

Mary Apick was quoted on CNN.com regarding the Iranian actress, Golshifteh Farahani, who posed nude for a photo and video, causing an upset in the Iranian film industry. Mary stated, “It was impossible to be an actress in Iran when I was there, and it’s not gotten easier. It’s become harder. There is no honest art, so there is no art. The regime has no interest in women, (especially not) strong women characters in movies.”

Farah Bala was nominated for a Barrymore Award for her performance in ‘Around the World in 80 Days.’ Check the Outstanding Leading Actress in a Play category here.

On April 20, 2012,