Uniting NC envisions a state and a nation in which all people, including immigrants, have the opportunity to reach their greatest potential, engage with their community, and fully contribute their talents – expanding prosperity & wellbeing for all.
Since 2009, we have brought together over 5,000 longtime residents and new immigrants to get to know one another, learn from each other and give back to our communities. With your support, we will continue to:
- Work with communities across North Carolina to better support and integrate new immigrants.
- Help immigrant families hit the ground running in terms of skills and education, so that they can achieve their American dream and give back to their communities.
- Expand opportunities for longtime residents and recent immigrants to learn from one another, highlight our diverse contributions and see all that we can accomplish together.
STAFF
Jocelyn Casanova, Outreach Coordinator Jocelyn was born in Veracruz, Mexico but has lived in the great state of North Carolina since the age of 3. As part of her busy schedule, Jocelyn is working toward a degree in Business Administration while minoring in computer programing. She enjoys meeting people from all over the world and has an amazing ability to remember names. She is also an artist. Basically, Jocelyn does it all, and we are glad to have her.
Daisy Magnus-Aryitey, Director, Code the Dream Daisy moved to the U.S. from Ghana at the age of 4. She lived in New Mexico, Connecticut, New Jersey and New York before settling in North Carolina in 2009. She wrote her first line of code in a Code the Dream class, and within a year was working as a full-time software developer at Duke University. Daisy is excited to be back with Code the Dream, helping students fall in love with programming and opening doors to opportunities that will change their lives and their community.
Ramiro Rodriguez, CTD Lead Instructor and Co-Founder Ramiro knows about the American Dream and he knows about coding. Originally from Mexico, Ramiro moved to the United States as a child and excelled in school. He majored in Computer Science and Electrical Engineering at Cornell and later returned for a Masters in Computer Science. Ramiro is the brains behind Uniting NC’s Code the Dream program.
D
an Rearick, Executive Director Dan grew up in the Carolinas and graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill and Harvard Law School. While North Carolina always felt like home, Dan also spent time studying or working in France, Bolivia, Puerto Rico and Tanzania. After a number of years in both public and private sector legal work, he returned to North Carolina in 2008, where he saw how, more and more, it was possible now to meet people from all around the world right here at home. Having met so many people from around the world, Dan is well aware of how hard they worked and continue to work to make a better life for their families, and how proud they are to call North Carolina home. He is happy to have the opportunity to work with North Carolinians, old and new, to learn from one another and to make North Carolina an even greater place to live. In 2013, Dan was honored at the White House as a Champion of Change in recognition of his work at Uniting NC.
Reid Russom, Programs Associate Reid grew up in Memphis, Tennessee and graduated with a B.A. in English Literature and Political Science from the University of Memphis. As the 2019-2020 Johnson Service Corps member for Code the Dream, Reid does a little bit of everything, but his primary roles are in communication and ensuring that Code the Dream students receive individualized support in reaching their education and career goals. Reid is passionate about education, and in his free time he can be found going out for a run, reading a book, or trying one of the many amazing local restaurants in the Triangle area.
