New Women New Yorkers

Tagged: immigrant woman

Portraits & interviews

NWNY Graduate Spotlight: Diana Cespedes, a civil engineer from Costa Rica

Diana Céspedes’ story begins in Costa Rica, where she worked as a civil engineer for 18 years, developing a solid expertise in construction design. She poured her passion into large-scale projects, primarily in the residential and hospitality sectors. However, Diana decided to seek new horizons and chase her dreams in one of the most dynamic cities in the world—New York City. The move to NYC came with its own set of challenges. Diana quickly realized that her new environment tested...

Memoir piece

Cute kittens in New York City

Elena Olazabal hails from Peru where she worked as a teacher. Now residing in Queens, she is an avid reader with a penchant for novels and the poetry of Gustavo Adolfo Becker. Elena also pens heartfelt poetry, often drawing inspiration from the love-filled landscape of her soul. Central to her world are her cherished pets: her dog, Kenyi, and her cats, Trueno (meaning “Thunder”) and Luna (meaning “Moon”). They illuminate her life and inspire her writings. She expressed her gratitude...

Memoir piece

Echoes of Saudade: A Letter Across Time

Born in Brazil in 1982, during the tentative transition from military dictatorship to democracy, Clarissa is the youngest of four sisters. She grew up surrounded by transformative art, spirituality, and political activism, influences that shaped her into the graphic designer and illustrator she is today. For nearly a decade, Clarissa has called New York home, though she frequently returns to her childhood house in a quaint town in Rio de Janeiro. There, she continues her quest for ripe mangoes and...

Memoir piece

Babushka (means grandmother in Russian)

Born in Saint Petersburg, Russia, Maria Pyaterneva immigrated to New York with her family in 2017. She holds a degree in Journalism and studied Film and Photography in Italy. Maria is passionate about telling stories. In her spare time, she also enjoys practicing – and teaching – yoga. This story is supposed to be about me coming to America. I am sorry. I rarely follow the plot or instructions. I don’t know why this happens to me all the time. Ask...