As the president of the United States vilifies immigrants as taking American jobs, eating their pets, and “poisoning the blood of our country,” a Connecticut organization is instead celebrating the contributions of immigrants.
The United States is, after all, a nation of immigrants — from the Europeans who colonized New England to people from all nations arriving today.
Connecticut’s National Immigrant Heritage Center celebrates the contributions of immigrants to Connecticut, honoring a few each year with induction into the Immigrant Heritage Hall of Fame.
The list this year includes Connecticut residents who have made outstanding contributions to the state and also those who have labored to help others to access the American dream: the founder and co-president of the Islamic Association of Greater Hartford, the chief adult learning officer at Hartford Public Library, an award-winning immigration attorney and former deputy speaker of the state House of Representatives.
“We are delighted to honor this exceptional group of individuals who exemplify perseverance, commitment to excellence, and remarkable achievement,” said Asha Lassen, president of the National Immigrant Heritage Center in a statement. “The Immigrant Heritage Hall of Fame Induction Gala celebrates our diverse and multicultural nation and the significant contributions that our inductees and those of immigrant heritage make to our state, nation, and the world.”
The IHHF “celebrates the diverse ethnic heritage of our state and country by honoring individuals and institutions who exemplify the best of their immigrant heritage and who have made outstanding contributions to the cultural, economic, and civic development of the United States,” according to the NIHC.
Dana Bucin, an award-winning immigration attorney and partner at Harris Beach Murtha in Hartford is one of the honorees. Bucin represents immigrants and refugees including 70 Afghan nationals applying for Humanitarian Parole and assisting more than 2,000 Ukrainian refugees following Russia’s full-scale invasion, according to the NIHC. She is also honorary consul of Romania to Connecticut and the CT Law Tribune named her attorney of the year.
“It comes as a deep surprise and deep honor being inducted into the Immigrant Heritage Hall of Fame,” Bucin said in an interview with the Courant. “I am more than happy to be the voice of the immigrants who are now in difficult situations. The ones who are taking the legal immigrant route and the ones who are struggling to legalize. I am going to be their voice to talk about the need for immigration reform and for fair treatment of immigrants who have so much to contribute to our society.”
Another inductee includes Ali Antar, emeritus professor and adjunct professor of physics at Central Connecticut State University. An educator for six decades, Antar is founder and co-president of the Islamic Association of Greater Hartford, co-founder of the Muslim Coalition of Connecticut and past president of the Islamic Council of New England, according to the Center. Antar is also a special advisor to the president of Hartford International University and a founding member of We Refuse to Be Enemies in coalition with Muslims, Jews and Christians, the NIHC said.
Demetrios Giannaros, another inductee, served 16 years in the state legislature and was the first foreign born individual to serve as deputy speaker, according to the Center. At the Capitol, Giannaros was chair of the Education and Energy and Technology committees, according to information from the center. The Center noted that he was also director of the U.S. Consortium for Management Education in Central and Eastern Europe.
“It’s an example for future generations that you, too, can make significant contributions to your community, country and the world,” Giannaros said in a statement. “You can reap great satisfaction in helping others and making a lasting mark, while creating a positive legacy for yourself.”
Homa Naficy, another inductee, is a native of France became a naturalized citizen in 2000 and joined the Hartford Public Library where she developed The American Place, “a highly regarded cornerstone of support for immigrant and refugee communities.”
Former President Barack Obama appointed Naficy to serve on the National Museum and Library Services Board, which she served until 2023. She received the Carnegie Corporation Great Immigrants, Great American award. Other distinctions include Champion of Change from Obama’s administration, Hartford Changemaker from Hartford Mayor Luke Bronin, according to the NIHC.
Bucin spoke about the need for immigration reform.
“We certainly had a lot of laws from the ‘80s and ‘90s,” she said. “Because they were not reformed for 30 plus years it definitely gives the authority of someone to use them in an aggressive fashion.”
Currently Bucin said there is a focus on enforcement of broken immigration laws as opposed to building a legalized path to citizenship.
“We should fix the system for everyone’s sake including American employees and American workers,” she said, explaining that an enforcement only mentality will affect the labor employers need.
“It is wrong to be kicking them out now and we should focus on how to keep them here legally, orderly and without violations of law,” she added.
And Bucin shared a plea.
“There should be an orderly and fair process available for those who qualify,” she said. “We shouldn’t stand for politicians who demonize immigrants and try to cut the legal path toward citizenship.”
The 2025 induction gala will be held on Sept. 25 at the Aqua Turf Club in Plantsville.
Vanessa de la Torre, chief content officer at Connecticut Public and executive editor of New England News Collaborative will deliver the keynote address.
In addition to a formal dinner and keynote speaker, brief video presentations about each of the inductees, and an array of cultural presentations reflecting each inductee’s background and providing evocative entertainment throughout the evening, according to the NIHC.
Tickets for the 2025 Immigrant Heritage Hall of Fame gala are available at immigrantheritage.org.
