Mrs. Anairen Karola Pirela Morales was born in Venezuela, where she spent most of her life. When she left Venezuela, she spent 6 years in Colombia with her husband, Andry, and her two kids. She arrived in the United States in January 2025 full of hope for a better future for her family. I asked her what her main motivation was for coming to the United States, and without hesitation, she stated it was the promise of freedom and a chance for her children to get a quality education. Her daughter is 11, her son is 10, and they both attend Nathanael Greene Elementary School in Pawtucket, RI where they finally have the opportunity to get a top quality education with a bright future ahead of them. When I asked her why she left Venezuela, she looked at her husband, who was translating, and she uncomfortably said “harassment”. Anairen stated that it was common practice in her home country for women to be harassed in the workplace by their male co-workers, and it’s very hard to report it because all her bosses are men who will not take steps to stop it, and you rarely see women in supervisor positions. Furthermore, it is very difficult to live there comfortably. There is always a shortage of vital supplies and services, and her home country has been marked by hyperinflation, escalating starvation, disease, crime and mortality rates, resulting in massive resettling. There is constant political unrest, and Anairen and her husband realized that her children needed a better opportunity to succeed, and she couldn’t allow her children to grow up there. Since arriving in America, she has been amazed at the difference in quality of life and people willing to help. She highlighted the Refugee Dream Center specifically, stating that “It’s my home away from home”. Her family didn’t have the luxury of choosing what state they would end up in, they were told that they were going to Rhode Island, but Anairen said “I couldn’t be happier that I ended up here”. She isn’t a fan of the winters in Rhode Island and misses the warmth in her home country, but the summers are very pleasant for her. She enjoys the beaches of the Ocean State, and likes to bring her books to read under the sun. She appreciates living in America so much, she said that she would prefer to stay here, even when it is safe to return to Venezuela. This Mother’s Day, we honor the strength and resilience of Anairen in her journey for a better future for her family.