Ohio Is My Second Country

"Ohio is my second country." That is what Birane Wane, a Columbus father, said after he was deported to Mauritania. He was talking about how it is possible to love and be "from" more than one place.

Migration is a basic act of being human. People have always moved for safety and opportunity, since the beginning of time. And they always will. Ohio is home to people born in many different countries. They bring with them courage, commitment to family, and the desire to help their communities. It takes tremendous strength to start over in a new country. Ohio benefits from new residents who are helping our state succeed.  

Ohio Immigrant Alliance and Shema Asifiwe created this book by asking immigrants to tell us about their native places. Contrary to stereotypes, they are not constantly bleak or war-torn landscapes. There is vibrancy, beauty, and many happy memories, even in countries experiencing conflict. 

The decision to leave is not made easily, or without pain. Many migrants carry with them the feeling of being from two places for the rest of their lives, and love both. In addition to making a positive impact in Ohio, immigrants often support and give back to their families and communities in their first countries. Taking care of each other, building up the places we live and the places we left, is how we improve our world for future generations.   

Who Is This Book For?

This book is for everyone. Children and adults. Schools, libraries, and community groups. Individuals. It contains nineteen drawings, depicting scenes from sixteen countries and teaching words in fifteen languages. The final image is one of Shema and his friends - young people born all over the world, who now live in the same home, Cincinnati. The illustrations were drawn with varying detail, so that people with different motor skills can enjoy coloring. 

Manuel Chinchilla, PhD, a language expert and the owner of Hexagon Books, researched languages spoken in these countries and identified the words to teach. Each illustration is accompanied by a text for learning. Lynn Tramonte, Executive Director of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance, edited the book and wrote the sections surrounding the artwork.

How to Use this Book 

We created Teaching Tools, which can be downloaded from our ohioimmigrant.org/second-country, to assist educators, group leaders, librarians, and anyone else who wants to host group experiences using the book. Of course, the book works perfectly well as a solitary activity to wind down your day. We hope you enjoy "Ohio Is My Second Country" as much as we did putting it together. Share it and help spread the message that migration is human and Ohio is home. 

My name is Shema Asifiwe, also known as Asifiwe Shema. I am a student at Aiken New Tech High School and a young author, artist, and advocate based in Cincinnati, Ohio. I was born in Burundi, East Africa. In July 2019, my family and I moved to the United States. The United States is full of many opportunities and I never take that for granted. As time progresses, I continue to grow as a writer, artist, and future leader through my education and creative work.From a young age, I have worked toward making a positive impact in my community, even through small acts of service that matter. To others, picking up a piece of trash may seem small. But to me, that's a whole impact. I am the writer and illustrator of Unexpected Change/ Mabadiliko Yasiyotarajiwa, a bilingual memoir published by the nonprofit Maketank Inc., which shares my journey from Burundi to the United States. In 2024, my artwork "Friend Code" was selected as one of five global winners of the UNHCR Youth with Refugees Art Contest, and later featured on UNIQLO t-shirts sold internationally. I also collaborate with the Ohio Immigrant Alliance by creating original artwork for their merchandise and reports, to help share the human side of immigration. I have always wanted to be a djeli, a storyteller. Growing up, I treasured a fire circle game that we played often, where each person would take turns sharing a story. These stories were not just for fun, but carried life lessons and sometimes felt like mysteries waiting to be understood. Those moments taught me the power of storytelling and how stories can bring people together, teach lessons, and spark curiosity.That early love for storytelling continues to shape who I am today. One of the most meaningful ways I connect with my community is through hosting storytimes, where I read my books and share my experiences with younger audiences. Through public speaking, poetry, community storytimes, and partnerships, I continue to share my voice with wider audiences. I believe art is a powerful tool for education, healing, and connection, and I use my creative work to encourage understanding and compassion within my community and beyond.

My name is Shema Asifiwe, also known as Asifiwe Shema. I am a student at Aiken New Tech High School and a young author, artist, and advocate based in Cincinnati, Ohio. I was born in Burundi, East Africa. In July 2019, my family and I moved to the United States. The United States is full of many opportunities and I never take that for granted. As time progresses, I continue to grow as a writer, artist, and future leader through my education and creative work.From a young age, I have worked toward making a positive impact in my community, even through small acts of service that matter. To others, picking up a piece of trash may seem small. But to me, that's a whole impact. I am the writer and illustrator of Unexpected Change/ Mabadiliko Yasiyotarajiwa, a bilingual memoir published by the nonprofit Maketank Inc., which shares my journey from Burundi to the United States. In 2024, my artwork "Friend Code" was selected as one of five global winners of the UNHCR Youth with Refugees Art Contest, and later featured on UNIQLO t-shirts sold internationally. I also collaborate with the Ohio Immigrant Alliance by creating original artwork for their merchandise and reports, to help share the human side of immigration. I have always wanted to be a djeli, a storyteller. Growing up, I treasured a fire circle game that we played often, where each person would take turns sharing a story. These stories were not just for fun, but carried life lessons and sometimes felt like mysteries waiting to be understood. Those moments taught me the power of storytelling and how stories can bring people together, teach lessons, and spark curiosity.That early love for storytelling continues to shape who I am today. One of the most meaningful ways I connect with my community is through hosting storytimes, where I read my books and share my experiences with younger audiences. Through public speaking, poetry, community storytimes, and partnerships, I continue to share my voice with wider audiences. I believe art is a powerful tool for education, healing, and connection, and I use my creative work to encourage understanding and compassion within my community and beyond.

Born and raised in Ohio, Lynn Tramonte has three decades of experience in writing, advocacy, media relations, and strategic communications. She has written and published everything from hashtags to books, and coached others writing memoirs and other nonfiction genres. Lynn wrote her first book, Necterrific: Vibrant Juice Recipes for a Vibrant Life, with her sister Mary, as she was battling cancer. Lynn edited and published two volumes of the Ohio Migration Anthology, Far From Their Eyes and (Everything Is) Cells and Bodies. She also co-wrote, edited, and published Broken Hope: Deportation and the Road Home, with Suma Setty of the Center for Law and Social Policy, and research by Maryam Sy. The three immigration books are available for purchase on Bookshop.org, and the e-books are available for free on the Ohio Immigrant Alliance website.Lynn is the Founder and Executive Director of the Ohio Immigrant Alliance. Learn more about OIA at ohioimmigrant.org, OhioIsHome.org, and reunite.us. She also runs the communications firm Anacaona, serves on the Board of the Justice Action Center, and is a 2018 Marshall Memorial Fellow with the German Marshall Fund.

Manuel Chinchilla was born and raised in Honduras. He moved to the United States to study languages and literature at Louisiana State University. After finishing his undergraduate degree, he obtained a PhD in Romance Languages from the University of Michigan. He has taught Spanish and Italian languages and cultures at Sewanee: The University of the South, and published articles on Mexican and Italian culture related to 20th century social movements. After twelve years in academia, Manuel moved to Cleveland Heights to teach Spanish at University School. He is currently the owner of Hexagon Books, a bookstore specializing in literature by foreign and minority authors that also houses a language academy teaching Spanish, Italian, French, and Japanese.