I met Ignal at RISSE, the refugee and immigrant support center in Albany. She is an immigrant, new to the United States from the Sudan. I am publishing a series of portraits of male and female refugees studying english and literacy at RISSE.

I am mesmerized by the distinctive faces and stories i hear from these quite brave and determined people. They are very American, at least to me, in their love of freedom and pursuit of a better life for them and their children. She belongs here. Please consider supporting RISSE. You can do so here.

I will be writing more about Ignal and the other people I have met there, one at a time.