Resilient Series 

Resiliency (n): an ability to recover from or adjust easily to adversity or change 

Throughout history, immigrant women, regardless of their documentation status, have served as pillars within their own communities and households, even though the challenges they face day-in and day-out are painstakingly difficult. With the weight of deportation and providing a better life for their families carried on their shoulders, immigrant women within the US continue to excel within the country’s most illustrious industries including healthcare, social assistance and educational services.  

The Resilient Series is a two-part documentary that does a deep dive into the lives of two Chattanooga immigrants to show how they’ve risen above adversity, racial inequality and regulations that limit undocumented citizens to get to where they are today. 

Originally from Mexico, Alondra immigrated to the US when she was just four years old. Finding peace through ballet in an otherwise stressful situation as her under documentation threatened her future, Alondra made it her life’s mission to persevere. Starting with becoming the first-ever Hispanic Sugarplum Fairy in Ballet Tennessee’s rendition of the Nutcracker at just 14 years old to becoming inspired to enter the medical field after suffering the loss of her greatest friend and mentor, Alondra strives to turn her tumultuous past into a positive by helping others all around the world.   

After four years of living as a single mother under the thumb of Cuba’s communist government, Rachel and her young daughter embarked on their immigration journey in 1985 to reunite their family. Using her hardships like migrating to the US, getting detained by immigration authorities and her marriage falling apart as motivation, Rachel turned her life around after receiving her college degree, moving to Chattanooga and pursuing her career as a Spanish interpreter and counselor for the school district. Now, she joins the one-third (33.6 percent) of immigrant mothers, according to American Progress, that are the primary breadwinners for their families. 

If you’re looking to help minority women of underserved communities or have a story of your own to share, be sure to reach out to Pablo at pablo@resilientstory.org