Immigrants of Reno, From Being Named Official City Artist to Fearing Deportation

A yearly series we do with our sister channel the Reynolds Sandbox.

In collaboration with our student reporting sister channel the Reynolds Sandbox which covers a wider range of topics, we’ve recently profiled different notable “Immigrants of Reno.”

We view the word immigrant with a positive hue. They are people, natives of other countries, who for different reasons end up in Reno, bringing with them rich culture, work ethic and dedication. Above, in picture by Maryam Goli, herself a student immigrant from Iran, is Sogand Tabatabaei, who has broken free from Iranian oppression as an mesmerizing artist in the Biggest Little City.

Above a photo from a feature on the Sandbox on Shama Chaudry a fitness model from India.

On our own channels, we featured Salvadore*, not his real name, fearing deportation at all times, not being able to go on cross-border vacations, being careful with his every move.

“In my situation, all I want to do is work and have a home and live, you know? I feel like I'm not a bad person, and I just want to be able to live a normal life, but I can’t, not really,” he said. He was brought to the United States from Mexico when he was three.

“I think a lot of immigrants, including myself, have this real feeling of separation,” said Rossitza Todorova, another one of our featured local immigrants, “like you’ve lived two lives.” She explained there’s a feeling of being on a forked path, and that one version of herself could still be in Bulgaria, doing all the things she is supposed to do there. “It’s actually really painful, that feeling like you’re supposed to be somewhere else, or that you’re two people.”

She arrived in Reno from Bulgaria in 1991 when she was 10, and a little over three decades later was named Reno’s official City Artist.

More Reporting Highlights This Week

As part of our #keeprenogreen reporting, we featured Tanner Petrilla who hosts Tuesday composting parties, helping with initiatives to produce healthy food for those in need.

Our What’s that Construction Project? series gave an update on the Park at McCarran converting former UNR farmland into industrial buildings near the airport.

Our #keeprenorad series went behind the barn doors at the Andelin Family Farm which has become much more than just a popular pumpkin patch.

Our Ideas for Progress series looked at what advocates and the unhoused in other cities are doing to get truly affordable housing, and gave updates on local community land trust initiatives, motel conversions and proposals for what is known as land banking in a wide ranging solutions oriented article.

Biggest Little Streets @OurTownReno

Nevada Indian Commission seeking more people to testify February 28 for bill which would allow Native American cultural items at high school graduation ceremonies. Details in our Instagram post

A social media only post which got some attention is a call for more people to testify in Carson City next Tuesday to allow Native American cultural items during local high school graduation ceremonies. Follow us on the Our Town Reno Twitter here.