NOVA’s diversity continues to blend cultures

Photo: Erin Williams

By: Laura Alcocer

The birth place of some of our country’s founding fathers is quickly transforming into one of the nation’s most diverse regions. In the past 20 years, Northern Virginia, commonly known as NOVA, has become the place of choice for many immigrants to work and raise their families.The Washington Post reports that in 2010, non-Hispanic whites made up less than two two-thirds of the state’s population, a significant drop from 1970 when non-Hispanic whites made up 77 percent of the population. Conversely, the Post also added that the Hispanic population has doubled to 632,000 in the last 10 years and now makes up 8 percent of Virginia’s population. A study conducted by the University of Virginia showed that 77 percent of immigrants (or roughly 3 out of 4) that make NOVA their home are from Latin American countries or from Asia. The same study indicates that European immigration has declined; only 10 percent of Virginia’s immigrant population are from European countries.

Fairfax, Arlington, and Prince William counties are home to the largest numbers of immigrants, making them some of the more culturally diverse counties in the country. Today, it is not rare that kids attending schools in these districts have friends of various races and backgrounds. According to recent reports from the Migration Policy Institute, Arlington, Virginia has one of the largest Salvadoran population in the country.

Juan Lopez, who was born in El Salvador and is now an Arlington resident, migrated to the United States in 1991 at the age of six. “Coming to the United States at such a young age was such a shocking change, especially because at that time I did not know the language, the culture was different and I had left all my friends and family behind in my native country of El Salvador.” Lopez also disclosed that going to elementary school in what was then a strange country presented one of his biggest challenges, given that back in the 1990’s the schools in Arlington County were not as diverse as they are today. This made it hard for kids from other countries who had little to no English proficiency to make friends or let alone communicate with ease.

Lopez also explained that one surprising thing that made immigrating to NOVA much easier was the access he had to traditional Salvadoran food. “I was very surprised and happy to see that Salvadoran food—‘pupusas,’ ‘sopas,’ and ‘tamales’—was everywhere! We lived in South Arlington, which had many Salvadoran restaurants as well as Mexican restaurants. To me, that was great because it meant one less thing that I had to adjust to.” Lopez’s experience is illustrative of how many immigrants in NOVA have become small business owners over the last decade and are creating jobs through their entrepreneurship, through restaurant businesses, grocery stores, automotive shops, and the like. According to a blog by Fyler on the National Immigration Forum website, from 2000 and 2010, immigrants were responsible for 40 percent of the growth in entrepreneurship in Virginia, and approximately 17 percent of the state’s entrepreneurs during that same period were immigrants. In fact, Lopez stated that his parents have both been independent business owners during this period.

Patricia Salinas, a Bolivian mother of two who lives in Fairfax, VA, stated that the move to the United States was facilitated by the large Bolivian community that resides in Northern Virginia as well as the many Bolivian restaurants located in the area. “My children were really shell shocked when they first arrived, but it made it easier on them to have other relatives and friends from Bolivia living so close. And leaving Bolivia did not mean that they had to say goodbye to the traditional Bolivian food that we all loved. We had that all around us.”

The cultural variety in the schools of Northern Virginia is not the only place that highlights its diversity. NOVA also offers a vast of multicultural festivals and events that highlight the cultural diversity of its residents. One of the biggest cultural festivals in NOVA is the Bolivian festival that takes place during the summer in Arlington, VA. The Bolivian Festival is hosted by ProBolivia, a Bolivian association whose mission is to educate and promote the Bolivian culture while also preserving Bolivian roots and culture for future generations. One of the festival’s biggest attractions is a performance featuring “Caporales,” a Bolivian dance that features elaborate and colorful costumes and folkloric music. In addition, the large variety of Bolivian food options at this festival, such as “Salteñas,” bring together food-enthusiasts from all cultures and backgrounds. Patricia also added that having local events that highlight Bolivian culture allowed her children to continue to learn about and experience the traditions from their native country.

Northern Virginia also is home to various Vietnamese and Korean cultural centers. For instance, the well-known Eden Center, a predominantly Vietnamese shopping and restaurant center, is housed in Falls Church, VA. This popular cultural hub is home to many award-winning Vietnamese restaurants serving “Pho” (the popular Vietnamese soup) and “boba tea,” in addition to small supermarkets and retail stores that sell traditional Vietnamese ingredients and products. Likewise, Annandale, VA is home to dozens of Korean restaurants.

Institutions of higher education in Northern Virginia also reflect the multiculturalism that exists in the surrounding area. Particularly, at Marymount University, international students represent about nine percent of the University’s student body, according to the school’s International Student webpage. International student Alsa Diab, a senior at Marymount University, is a native of Gambia and currently lives in Alexandria, VA. She explained that her decision to move to Northern Virginia was not only influenced by the fact that she had family in the area and in nearby states such as Maryland, but also by her desire to further her education after graduating from high school. “I chose Marymount University because it was accessible—I have a relatively short commute from where I live—and because it provided me with the flexibility to pursue a communications degree.” After immigrating to Northern Virginia, Diab completed her associate’s degree at Northern Virginia Community College before deciding to transfer to Marymount to complete her bachelor’s degree. “I looked at a variety of schools including George Mason University, but what really caught my attention about Marymount was the large international student population and the diversity of cultural and student programs that the school offers.”

Marymount University provides international students, as well as its student body as a whole, with the opportunity to participate in various student-led clubs that demonstrate the school’s diversity. These include the Latino Student Association, the Muslim Student Association, the African Caribbean Student Association, the Saudi Student Association, and the International Dance Club. Diab, the founder and President of the International Dance Club, confessed that her first semester at Marymount she realized that the school lacked a club that gave students the opportunity to experience different cultures through dance. “Seeing that there was no club for this type of interest, I wanted to fill that void and offer students a space to learn and emerge themselves in a culture other than their own through a fun activity such as dance. Although the International Dance Club is still a growing and a work-in progress, many students have already joined and are very excited for all the activities we have planned for the year.”

Molly Coppinger, a 26-year-old Milwaukee, Wisconsin native, moved to NOVA at the age of ten. Growing up in a military family, Molly lived in many different cities and countries and had the opportunity to experience a variety of cultures throughout the world. Despite her extended travels, Coppinger stated that Northern Virginia is the most diverse place she has ever experienced. “I love NOVA. I love all the different cultures and being a foodie. I especially like that you can find all types of food in the area. There is really something for everybody and that’s not something you can say about a lot of places in the United States.” Coppinger grew up in Fairfax County and attended Woodson High School, where she met people from several ethnicities. “Although Woodson High School isn’t the most diverse school in our county, I still feel like we had a diverse student body. In fact, most of my best friends are from immigrant backgrounds, such as Bolivia, Ecuador and Dominican Republic. I attend all types of cultural events with them and always love to learn about their cultures.”

Everywhere one looks, there are signs of Northern Virginia’s diversity. From the cultural hubs like the Eden Center in Falls Church, to the Bolivian festival in Arlington, immigrants in this area can be seen carrying forward their cultural identities through food, music, and dance. All this shows that immigrants from all over the world have a place to call home in Northern Virginia. Northern Virginia has some of the wealthiest counties in the Nation and immigrants are a big part of this growth. They view NOVA as a place where they can come to thrive and offer their families a better future, while also maintaining their culture and having friends with similar backgrounds nearby.