Immigrants Integration Station

08/10/2026

There is an important difference between age and experience.

Growing older certainly brings valuable life experience, perspective, and lessons that deserve respect. At the same time, age alone does not necessarily make someone experienced in every field. Experience is developed through learning, practice, responsibility, challenges, and actually doing the work.

Think about cricket. It is easy to sit comfortably in front of a television and analyze a professional player’s footwork, technique, or shot selection. But step onto the pitch and try facing a ball traveling at 140 kilometers per hour. At that moment, you begin to appreciate the difference between observing something and actually experiencing it.

That is why age and experience should not always be treated as the same thing.

And this is something both younger and older generations can appreciate.

Younger generations often bring fresh ideas, creativity, innovation, energy, and the courage to approach problems differently. Older generations, meanwhile, bring years of life experience, lessons learned through successes and failures, patience, and valuable perspective.

We need both.

My advice to younger people is this: respect your elders. Listen to their experiences and acknowledge the lessons they have gained over the years. You do not have to agree with everything they say in order to value what they have experienced.

And to the older generation: respect young people as well. Recognize their determination, hard work, creativity, new ideas, and desire to accomplish something meaningful. Give them room to learn, contribute, and sometimes even teach us something new.

Neither generation should dismiss the other.

The strongest communities are created when the experience of one generation meets the energy and innovation of the next.

Age deserves respect. Experience deserves respect. And fresh ideas deserve respect too.

Because wisdom is not the exclusive property of any particular age it grows wherever people are willing to learn, experience, listen, and grow.

08/10/2026

You don’t have to argue about everything.

If someone tells you, “Elephants can fly,” sometimes the best response is simply to smile and say, “Absolutely! In fact, one flew by this morning and sat right outside my window.”

The point is simple: you don’t have to correct everyone.

If you make it your responsibility to challenge every opinion you disagree with, you will eventually exhaust yourself. From a mental-health perspective, one of the most important things you can learn is to choose your battles carefully.

If someone is genuinely willing to listen, understand, and have a respectful conversation, then a discussion can be worthwhile. But if the other person has already decided that they are not going to listen, you can present all the facts and logic in the world and still get nowhere. Their opinion may not change, but your peace of mind may certainly be affected.

Remember, you are not responsible for changing everyone’s political views, social beliefs, or religious opinions. People will see the world differently, and that is part of life. You do not have to turn every disagreement into a debate.

Sometimes the healthiest response is a little humor. Make a light-hearted joke, smile, and move on.

This is especially important with friends and family. Every difference of opinion does not need to become an argument. You may win the debate but damage the relationship in the process—and sometimes that victory simply isn’t worth the price.

So protect your energy. Protect your relationships. Set healthy boundaries and learn to recognize which conversations deserve your attention and which ones you should simply let go.

You can disagree with someone without disrespecting them, and you can walk away from an argument without losing anything.

Sometimes protecting your peace is more important than proving your point.

07/27/2026

If you believe that working just eight hours a day will make you truly wealthy, think again.
Extraordinary dreams demand extraordinary effort.

Look into the eyes of anyone who has achieved remarkable success, and ask them if they reached the top by doing only the minimum. Most will tell you that they sacrificed comfort, worked longer than others, and stayed committed when everyone else gave up.

Successful people don't chase comfort—they chase purpose. There comes a point where the mission becomes bigger than sleep, bigger than entertainment, and bigger than temporary pleasures.

If you were born into poverty, that is not your fault. But if you spend your entire life accepting it without striving to change your circumstances, you have surrendered to your potential.

There is no shame in a childhood of hardship. There is no shame in struggling through your youth. But let your story not end there. Let your hard work rewrite your family's future.

The greatest success is not buying expensive things for yourself.
It is reaching the day when your parents no longer have to check the price tag before buying something they need. It is hearing the salesperson ask a question and confidently saying:

"Pack it. It's for my father."

Work hard. Stay disciplined. Keep learning. Let your sacrifices today become your family's pride tomorrow. Your background does not define your future your determination does

07/17/2026

Important Event Update
Dear Community Members and Partners,
Due to expected severe and unhealthy weather conditions, we have made the difficult decision to cancel tomorrow's Health & Wellness Gathering.
The safety of our participants, volunteers, and partners is our highest priority. We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience and appreciate your understanding and continued support.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Immigrants Integration Station (IIS)

07/17/2026

07/17/2026

Health and Wellness comes with gathering all together ❤️

07/09/2026

🌍 You're Invited! Join Us for the Community Health & Wellness Gathering! ❤️
A healthier community starts when we come together.

Immigrants Integration Station (IIS) is proud to invite you, your family, friends, neighbors, and community partners to our FREE Community Health & Wellness Gathering—an evening of connection, resources, culture, and community celebration!

📅 Saturday, July 18, 2026
🕓 4:00 PM – 8:00 PM
📍 1220 Bethel Road, Columbus, OH 43220
✨ Admission is FREE 🍽️ Enjoy FREE Afghan food for everyone!

This event brings together members of the Afghan, African, Arab, Asian, and Hispanic communities to build relationships, share resources, and create a stronger, healthier Central Ohio.

What to expect:
✅ Free health and wellness resources
✅ Mental health information and support
✅ Family-friendly activities and kids' entertainment
✅ Volleyball and recreational activities
✅ Meet nonprofits, healthcare providers, legal services, and community organizations
✅ Network with businesses, funders, and community leaders
✅ Celebrate our cultures through food, friendship, and unity
📣 Reserve a Community Resource Table!
Are you a:
Healthcare provider?
Nonprofit organization?
School or college?
Government agency?
Legal or financial service provider?
Business owner or entrepreneur?
This is an excellent opportunity to connect with 200+ community members, share your services, build partnerships, and make a lasting impact.
📞 Reserve your table today! ☎️ 614-537-5341 📧 [email protected] 🌐 www.theiisa.org⁠�
Together, we can build healthier families, stronger communities, and brighter futures.
Please LIKE, SHARE, and TAG your friends to help us reach more families. We look forward to welcoming you on July 18!

06/23/2026

Last Thursday, Immigrants Integration Station (IIS) had the privilege of participating in the Life Is Better With You Here (LIBWYH) Su***de Prevention Summit hosted by the Ohio Su***de Prevention Foundation (OSPF).
From 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, we joined community leaders, mental health professionals, educators, advocates, faith leaders, and nonprofit organizations from across Ohio to engage in meaningful conversations about su***de prevention, mental wellness, youth connectedness, and building stronger communities.
The summit featured powerful discussions on:
✅ Fostering school connectedness for su***de prevention in youth
✅ The role of faith and generational wisdom in mental wellness
✅ Building community through restorative practices, art, and healing
✅ Strengthening support systems for individuals and families
As a Community Partner and vendor participant, IIS was proud to share our work serving refugees, immigrants, and New American families throughout Central Ohio. We connected with many organizations, explored future partnerships, and highlighted the importance of culturally responsive mental health support within immigrant and refugee communities.
We are grateful to the Ohio Su***de Prevention Foundation for creating this important space for learning, collaboration, and hope.
Together, we can reduce isolation, strengthen community connections, and remind every person that their life matters.
***dePrevention

06/23/2026

I was honored to serve as a panelist for World Refugee Day at the event hosted by Ethiopian Tewahedo Social Services (ETSS).
As a former refugee and now the founder of Immigrants Integration Station, I had the opportunity to share my journey, connect with community leaders, and hear inspiring stories from others. It was especially meaningful to meet members of the Bhutanese community and discuss our shared goals for supporting newcomers.
Thank you to ETSS and all the organizations, faith communities, volunteers, and partners who continue to stand alongside refugees and immigrants. Refugees are not just rebuilding their lives—they are contributing their talents, strengthening communities, and becoming part of the American story.
Together, we are stronger.

06/23/2026

Building Stronger, Healthier Communities Together
Immigrants Integration Station (IIS) was honored to meet with Dr. Tamoor Rashid of Columbus Public Health for a productive discussion on strengthening community health initiatives and expanding access to vital resources for immigrant, refugee, and underserved families.
Our conversation focused on mental health awareness, upcoming health education sessions, healthcare navigation, free clinics, preventive care, and other community health resources available to Central Ohio residents. We also explored opportunities for collaboration to ensure that culturally and linguistically diverse communities receive the information and support they need to thrive.
We were especially pleased to connect Dr. Rashid with fellow community leaders, including representatives from the Pakistani community through CAPA, highlighting our shared commitment to community engagement, health equity, and collective impact.
Thank you, Dr. Rashid and Columbus Public Health, for your leadership and dedication to improving the health and well-being of all residents. We look forward to continuing this important partnership and working together to create healthier, stronger communities.