The Fourth of July holds special meaning for me. The day on which we celebrate our country’s birth calls to my mind the day I was “born” as an American. Five years ago, in 2019, I became a US citizen.
It often surprises people when I tell them I’m only recently naturalized. I know I don’t fit the many of the ways immigrants are often portrayed. I speak fluent American English. I’m white. I am fortunate to have livable employment—and doubly fortunate in my working life, because my employer supported me in my citizenship application with the flexibility of time to devote to the process, which is an arduous one. Still, I know my journey to becoming an American was much easier than what so many others have to go through.
I recognize that I am treated with an unusual sort of unconscious bias (one of the key touchpoints of the Paradigm for Parity 5-Point Action Plan). Most people don’t see me for the immigrant I really am, and for a long time, I didn’t reveal this facet of my identity. My mother is German and my father is Dutch. They met in England, where both were working, and that’s where I was born. When I was young, our family relocated to Canada through my father’s employer, and then to Minnesota, again due to his work.
At the time, I was in high school, where I often felt like I didn’t fit in. My family spoke both German and English at home. My mother’s English had a strong accent. I was caught between two worlds. To feel more “American,” I would do things like ask for Kraft Mac & Cheese instead of the homemade version my mother cooked. I was uncomfortable with my immigrant roots and usually concealed them.
As I got older, it was easier for me to feel like I fit in. I worked. I was—and still am—an active part of the fabric of my community, and I married into a deeply patriotic American family. My husband is a first responder and a military child, the proud son of an air force veteran. I have a profound appreciation and respect for the sacrifices he and his family have made to secure our freedom through their service.
Part of my goal in pursuing naturalization was to fulfill my own desire to serve my country. Getting my citizenship meant I could vote and serve on juries in the communities where I have lived and worked. It meant I could be a full part of the conversation. Now today, as CEO of Paradigm for Parity I am able to take conversations to new heights by working with over 150 companies and advocating for equality and belonging for all women. I am proud to help elevate all our diverse voices and identities to ensure that each and every one of us fully occupies our seat at the table.
On the day I received my citizenship, I posted a photo of the ceremony on my social media. I wanted everyone to see me for who I was and who I had just become. I wanted my experience to be able to spur conversation about immigration—especially because immigration has become such a complicated, often polarizing, and sometimes even risky topic over the last few years. I wanted to make a safe space to talk about it by sharing my images and my story. To be clear, that’s not because I’m trying to make my story anyone else’s story. On the contrary, what makes me proudest about being an American citizen is that everyone’s story is unique. Diversity is in our DNA. I want to continue to help create room for diverse stories to thrive—that’s part of why I wanted to serve as CEO of Paradigm for Parity.
On the Fourth of July, we often hear about the American Dream. That’s not a phrase I use very often, because I know from my own immigrant experience that the Dream is different for everyone. Sometimes I talk instead about the American Face. The faces of everyone we encounter on our daily rounds, and in our life journey here in America should be able to see a limitless future for themselves.
On this important day on the national calendar, I salute our extraordinary and diverse Paradigm for Parity community. Together let’s continue having conversations and creating a world where we all feel our full power, our ability to thrive, and where we share a safe space to be our truest and best selves. It takes all of us to be the best of us. Our greatest wealth is our diversity, so elegantly expressed on our currency since the birth of our nation in the 18th century: E pluribus unum. And our greatest strength is our equality—the equality so eloquently guaranteed in the very first sentence of our Constitution. All of us are created equal. I’m so proud to be an American, and I’m so honored to have the opportunity to pursue our country’s vision of equality as CEO of Paradigm for Parity.
by Nadine Bullock-Pottinga, CEO, Paradigm for Parity. Our CEO shares her immigrant story.The Fourth of July holds special meaning for me. The day on which we celebrate our country’s birth calls to my mind the day I was “born” as an American. Five years ago, in 2019, I became a US citizen. It often surprises people when I tell them I’m only recently naturalized. I know I don’t fit the many of the ways immigrants are often portrayed. I speak fluent American English. I’m white. A Vision of Equality on the 4th of July. I am fortunate to have livable employment—and doubly fortunate in my working life, because my employer supported me in my citizenship application with the flexibility of time to devote to the process, which is an arduous one. A Vision of Equality on the 4th of July.. Still, I know my journey to becoming an American was much easier than what so many others have to go through. I recognize that I am treated with an unusual sort of unconscious bias (one of the key touchpoints of the Paradigm for Parity 5-Point Action Plan). Most people don’t see me for the immigrant I really am, and for a long time, I didn’t reveal this facet of my identity. My mother is German and my father is Dutch. They met in England, where both were working, and that’s where I was born. When I was young, our family relocated to Canada through my father’s employer, and then to Minnesota, again due to his work. At the time, I was in high school, where I often felt like I didn’t fit in. My family spoke both German and English at home. My mother’s English had a strong accent. I was caught between two worlds. To feel more “American,” I would do things like ask for Kraft Mac & Cheese instead of the homemade version my mother cooked. I was uncomfortable with my immigrant roots and usually concealed them. As I got older, it was easier for me to feel like I fit in. I worked. I was—and still am—an active part of the fabric of my community, and I married into a deeply patriotic American family. My husband is a first responder and a military child, the proud son of an air force veteran. I have a profound appreciation and respect for the sacrifices he and his family have made to secure our freedom through their service. Part of my goal in pursuing naturalization was to fulfill my own desire to serve my country. Getting my citizenship meant I could vote and serve on juries in the communities where I have lived and worked. It meant I could be a full part of the conversation. Now today, as CEO of Paradigm for Parity I am able to take conversations to new heights by working with over 150 companies and advocating for equality and belonging for all women. I am proud to help elevate all our diverse voices and identities to ensure that each and every one of us fully occupies our seat at the table.
