{"@context":"http://iiif.io/api/presentation/3/context.json","id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/iiif/736m04081w/manifest","type":"Manifest","label":{"en":["Dave, Mina"]},"logo":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/252/original/HPL_ArchiveBannerCDM2.jpg?1738348845","metadata":[{"label":{"en":["Publisher"]},"value":{"en":["Foundation for Indian Studies"]}},{"label":{"en":["Rights Statement"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://rightsstatements.org/page/CNE/1.0/?language=en\"\u003eCopyright Not Evaluated \u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003ePermission to publish or reproduce must be obtained from the Foundation for India Studies, Houston, Texas.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},{"label":{"en":["Source"]},"value":{"en":["Houston Public Library Special Collections"]}},{"label":{"en":["Agent"]},"value":{"en":["Dave, Mina (interviewee)","Fernandes, Parul (interviewer)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Date"]},"value":{"en":["2015-08-07 (created)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Language"]},"value":{"en":["eng (primary)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Description"]},"value":{"en":["Mina Dave was born in Bharuch, Gujarat, India, and educated Baroda, where she received a bachelor degree and masters degree from the University of Baroda. Dave's father was a criminal lawyer and his work inspired an early interest in working with and helping children. Dave arrived in New York in the early 1970's, a couple of years after completing her masters degree, and she worked at several hospitals, including Flushing Hospital. Dave moved to Houston, in 1978, with her family when her husband started a new job. Dave recalls her experiences working with the Travelers Aid Society, as a state social worker, and at a rehabilitation clinic. Dave reflects on her children and grandchildren, as well as her involvement with the Houston Art League and American Heart Association."]}},{"label":{"en":["Format"]},"value":{"en":["digital recording, sound"]}},{"label":{"en":["Subject"]},"value":{"en":["Social workers (topical term)","Flushing Hospital Medical Center (New York, N.Y.) (corporate name)","Artists (topical term)","Travelers Aid Society of Houston (corporate name)","Houston Art League (corporate name)","American Heart Association (corporate name)","Houston (Tex.) (geographic term)","Oral histories (topical term)"]}},{"label":{"en":["Keyword"]},"value":{"en":["indoamerican"]}},{"label":{"en":["Type"]},"value":{"en":["Moving Image"]}}],"summary":{"en":["Mina Dave was born in Bharuch, Gujarat, India, and educated Baroda, where she received a bachelor degree and masters degree from the University of Baroda. Dave's father was a criminal lawyer and his work inspired an early interest in working with and helping children. Dave arrived in New York in the early 1970's, a couple of years after completing her masters degree, and she worked at several hospitals, including Flushing Hospital. Dave moved to Houston, in 1978, with her family when her husband started a new job. Dave recalls her experiences working with the Travelers Aid Society, as a state social worker, and at a rehabilitation clinic. Dave reflects on her children and grandchildren, as well as her involvement with the Houston Art League and American Heart Association."]},"requiredStatement":{"label":{"en":["Attribution"]},"value":{"en":["\u003cp\u003e\u003ca href=\"https://rightsstatements.org/page/CNE/1.0/?language=en\"\u003eCopyright Not Evaluated \u003c/a\u003e\u003c/p\u003e\r\n\u003cp\u003ePermission to publish or reproduce must be obtained from the Foundation for India Studies, Houston, Texas.\u003c/p\u003e"]}},"provider":[{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/aboutus","type":"Agent","label":{"en":["Houston Public Library"]},"homepage":[{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/","type":"Text","label":{"en":["Houston Public Library"]},"format":"text/html"}],"logo":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/organizations/logo_images/000/000/252/original/HPL_ArchiveBannerCDM2.jpg?1738348845","type":"Image"}]}],"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/210/366/small/open-uri20231027-1243258-p2wb3g_1698433393.jpg?1698418993","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366","type":"Canvas","label":{"en":["Media File 1 of 1 - FIS-OH0043.mp4"]},"duration":3056.28657,"width":640,"height":360,"thumbnail":[{"id":"https://d9jk7wjtjpu5g.cloudfront.net/collection_resource_files/thumbnails/000/210/366/small/open-uri20231027-1243258-p2wb3g_1698433393.jpg?1698418993","type":"Image","format":"image/jpeg"}],"items":[{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366/content/1","type":"AnnotationPage","items":[{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366/content/1/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"painting","body":{"id":"https://aviary-p-houstonlibrary.s3.wasabisys.com/collection_resource_files/resource_files/000/210/366/original/FIS-OH0043.mp4?1698418989","type":"Video","format":"video/mp4","duration":3056.28657,"width":640,"height":360},"target":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366","metadata":[]}]}],"annotations":[{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366/transcript/60440","type":"AnnotationPage","label":{"en":["Transcript [Transcript]"]},"items":[{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366/transcript/60440/annotation/1","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":")\n\nMD: What happened, I always wanted to come to America after I graduated, because some of my colleagues in school, they came to further study and I didn’t have opportunity, but my brother-in-law came to America for one year to do some project here, and he found out that USA needs social worker, professional social worker. \nSo I talked to my parents and they said you cannot go alone at this age. And I said I will try and see. I was about 23, 24. So I said okay, but I applied anyway. I applied, filed the paperwork and everything, and I got the visa, and I was very happy, but my family was not happy. They said get married and then go. \nBut it didn’t happen. I tried, but it didn’t happen. Finally I was able to convince my parents through other people. One of my guru and my brothers, they were older, both of them. So finally they gave me the permission and I got the visa and I came here with $8 and one bag, and that’s it, New York City, the new land for me. And I had a few friends so they had told me that we know you, we will help you a little bit, and then you are on your own. I said okay, I will make it. So then I came here. I was very happy.\n\nPF: And you found work here right away? \n\nMD: I found -- what happened, I went for the interview within a week or so and I took my thesis, medical social work, so they were impressed by the thesis, what was happening in India, social worker, what they do and wanted to know more about it, so that was all about it. \nSo they hired me right away and told me that you have to get the license. I have to go through my legal evaluation, which was equal to the United States, so I don’t have to study, but I have to get a license. \n\nSo I started the job, I worked on license, and I got the license. What happened is my experience with the first job, there were some frustration, and then the other thing was the climate. New York City and Baroda is totally reverse, and I didn’t have stable place, so I was living somewhere else temporarily. So I was -- and the supervisor I had I think I felt like her understanding of immigrant, new person coming in this country was not adequate at all, the way she was handling me, but I have to face with that, and I did. \n\nEventually I found another job, which was much better, smaller hospital; this was a large hospital, City Hospital. And the other thing happened, my first job, and no family, nobody, no place to stay, they did not pay me for three months because they hired me by mistake. They didn’t have an approval for money. So I had a hard time. I had to try to find out something here and there. I moved one place to another place, but finally I made it. So it was a struggle in the beginning. \nAnd then I found a very nice job, which is in Flushing Hospital, which I found totally different. It’s in the Queens area and the people were like so supportive that I felt like my family, eventually. They were supportive with everything; at work, even in my other situation, financial, and I stayed on that job for seven years, and I liked it. It was kind of, I am getting back my family or something like that. \n\n(","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366#t=298.0,602.0"},{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366/transcript/60440/annotation/2","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":")\n\nPF: So when did you start your own family?\n\nMD: Then I met somebody and I got married, and I was still working there. Then I had one child, the daughter, and then I had another child, and after 7 years I worked there, we moved to Houston, because that time my husband was an engineer, so that time -- and for an engineer it was booming, but not for social worker. It was very primitive here. They didn’t have even home health aid -- home health services where I worked in New York, home health, traveling everywhere. \nSo anyway, we moved here and I was looking for a job, and meanwhile, I also started doing some painting class, because from childhood I like to paint. So after three, four months I found a job with the Travelers Aid Society, which is helping the people who are stranded when they were traveling. So they come with clothes and themselves, they have no means or nothing, so I was doing crisis casework, crisis caseworker, so I have to settle them and see -- I have to work with them and set up some goals and see how they follow the goals. \n\nSo I provide housing and other thing they need. I also give them a list of the job and they have to go and find it and come back and report me. If they don’t follow, then I have to just -- sometimes, some people come here with odd situation, like the boyfriend brought here and the boyfriend left that person and that person ended up in the hospital.\n\nSo the hospital sends me that person and I have to find out all about her, her family, and plan to send her home, or if she wants to stay here, how we can help in  settling down in Houston, so that was really tough job. \nI did that job for three years. I was also looking for medical social worker, because I like that field also, but the salary was very, very low in that area. So then I started working with the state and I was doing with the investigation for the child abuse. So I was going and investigate. I don’t tell them that I am coming, because we get the report that the child was threatened or he was neglected by the parents, and so I have to look into that, but I don’t tell them that I am coming so I go and visit surprise, and find out and then talk to them. \nI have taken some custodian. I set with them the plan of services and see what they can do, what I can do to help them be good parents, or if they don’t have a job, how can I help them? And sometime I have to take the custody, so I have to go to the court and stuff like that also. \nAnd then I found social work, medical social work job and I started -- I left the state, because I was trying for supervisor, but there are some -- I thought I better, because I have three children. And when I was working here I had a personal problem with my husband and all of a sudden my life changed and I was divorced, and I had three kids; 4, 7, and 10. So after the divorce I have to find something, which I was working one-and-a-half job and I was able to find a rehab setting, rehabilitation and I enjoyed that job very much, work with the -- you want me to go ahead?\n(","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366#t=602.0,904.0"},{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366/transcript/60440/annotation/3","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":")\n\nPF: Yeah, go ahead, if you want to talk about what you did. \n\nMD: Yeah, work with the stroke patient, brain injury, Parkinson’s, those kind of. It was a big outpatient, there were neurological issues, and I worked there as a professional social worker and also I became a certified case manager. So I have to work in the team, because in rehab there are -- all kind of disciplines work together, and the social worker leads the team conferences, also does the psychosocial assessment, also talk to the patient one-on-one, and work with the family, and arrange the family conferences, help them, educate them, tell them how to advocate for their rights. \n\nAlso run the team conference and plan for that. Get the pre-certification from the insurance company so that patient can stay longer in rehab, so they improve, because their life changes totally; brain injury, that person who is young and is a breadwinner, and so everything is -- the family, relationship, problems. So I was handling all that also. \n\nAnd I worked there for about five, six years at one place, at the TIRR Outpatient Services, and also started support group there. And I worked -- I was doing support group from eight years. The location of support group was in the outpatient, but what I was doing is letting all the community and hospital know that there is a stroke support group and brain injury support group and anybody is welcome. \n\nSo I will have the support group once a month and I use different technique to run my support group. And then I will have -- sometime I will have a family coming in, because sometimes the patient won’t say anything, some of the issues they have with the family so I have to separate them. \n\nAnd I work with them, with the support group using different technique and variety; I will use the artwork, the pictures to help them to see the picture, pick one picture, and then they can verbalize why they have made that, because usually they don’t want to verbalize; they are depressed, upset, life change, dependency, all this leads to bunch of issues. And then we will talk about it and we have every -- the patient, it was their group so they decide what topics they want to go through that, and we will analyze everything, what happened, this group, what we are going to do next group. So I have like 20, 25 people, sometimes 30 people, and I was doing that kind of work. \nAlso on the side I was doing some work in the nursing homes with -- they are living there, they have nowhere to go. So I was working with music therapy, so when they have a music therapy session I will be there, because music therapy has to have social worker in order to get paid. And I was also with the patient and helping them out, explaining them. So I will do that on the side also. \nAnd from rehab I went to, let’s see, I was working with the renal patient. \n\nPF: Dialysis. \n\nMD: Dialysis patient, heart patient, dialysis patient, and inpatient dialysis patient. And I had with them different kind of support group, because their issues are different. \n(","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366#t=904.0,1202.0"},{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366/transcript/60440/annotation/4","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":")\n\nAnd we also had a lot of contact with the ESRD Network, state section of ESRD, means End-Stage Renal Disease. And we have worked with patient rights with them, patient right policies, and recommended some changes because of their life and what they need. So I worked there quite a bit also, off and on, about three, four years.  \n\nPF: So your whole life you have dedicated to social work and all that, but on a personal front, you have also gone through a divorce and you have brought up your three beautiful children. So how would you say that -- I know that your children are very successful today, but could you tell more about your children; what they do now and how your grandchildren and the interracial marriage, do you believe in it and how it has happened and things like that? \n\nMD: Yeah. My children, I always taught them that when you work hard you can achieve anything you want. And I have worked hard after divorce to make sure that their life doesn’t change much because of one parent. \nThey also learn from me the importance of education. Everybody should have education and why, they knew that at the early age. \nAlso, faith is another thing in life everybody needs, and I always taught them and they have seen, my daughters were old a little bit so they knew what happened, but it was hard. It was not easy. But I have devoted myself to get children normal. I knew if something I notice I can keep them in psychotherapy or whatever. \nAnd that’s why my -- and also, I was very open when they became teenagers, they went to college, I have always -- I had discipline, certain discipline, they have to tell me, but I also was very flexible with them. \nAs far as marriage, what religion they follow, I was very open. I said, marriage, you should find a good person, educated person, good family, know that person, and then make the decision. You cannot -- I have no restriction that you cannot go here or there, there are rules, but not restriction that way. So I think they grew up really very good. \n\nPF: So tell us your first daughter is?\n\nMD: So my first daughter is a lawyer, but she has her private business, event planning; she goes to big events, small events, any kind of. \nMy younger daughter, she is a professor in University of Houston. She is teaching classes in School of Social Work. She is also a social worker, but it’s a different field. \nAnd then my son is working for Verizon Wireless and he is a solution engineer there and if there are any issues with the phone, he resolves that issues. And they would never give me any trouble or anything. \n\nPF: And they are married? \n\nMD: Yeah, two are married and one has two children, one has no children. My daughter is still single. So they are happy, they are in Houston -- one in Katy and two in Houston. \n\nPF: But have they married Indians or they have married Americans?\n\nMD: No, they married African-Americans. They are very happy. They are well-educated. They chose. They told us. \n\nPF: And how many grandchildren do you have? \n\nMD: I have two grandchildren; one is 6 years old and one is 3 years old, Raja and Raj. So I am proud of them, very much. \n\n(","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366#t=1202.0,1499.0"},{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366/transcript/60440/annotation/5","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":")\n\nPF: So you have a nice integrated Indo-American family?\n\nMD: Yes. Indo-American family. \n\nPF: That’s nice. \n\nMD: I didn’t mind at all. You know, I am happy. \n\nPF: So that’s wonderful that you have no inter-racial discrimination and things like that that happened. Are you involved in any political or social organizations right now or have you been involved and what is that contribution that you have made?\n\nMD: With social organization I have been member of some Indian and some other organizations like my social work organizations where I have resolved their problem and issues and changed some of thing in that organization, like ESRD with dialysis patient, stroke support group. I was well known. I have helped other people to start the support group that is my contribution in Houston and so many families I help.\n\nThe Indian organization is there, when they started I given them free services and never charged them and still anybody knows me and if something, they say if some problems then call Mina and I wouldn’t mind, you know. I may not be able to spend lot of time, but I will guide them, I will tell them what they should do, what they should not do and things like that. So that is my contribution. And I am in music and meditation. My music – I am a member of the Houston Classical Music Society and I go there and involve in that organization. And the meditation, I go to Meditation Group here in Houston it’s called Self-Realization Fellowship and the main guru who is there is Paramahansa Yogananda who is from India, Ranchi and he is a Bengali. So we have lot of activity. I hardly have time to lot of yoga, lot of --\n\nPF: Tell me Mina if how you integrate your musical talent, your painting -- you said painting and I know that you’ve contributed a lot of your painting to Heart Associations and things like that. How do you mix and match them with your personal life?\n\nMD: Yeah. With my painting I have -- I am a member of some Private Organization Painting and also the like a League, Art League and all that and I go there and meet other painters, but I have given some of the organization, like American Heart Association and others, donated my painting skill. So the Heart Association -- American Heart requested me to paint a big heart which is this big, very big heart. They gave me the form and so what they do, those people who donate the money, they choose the painting. So I did that volunteer work, plus I did another heart for the auction so that American Heart Association have that money for heart patients.\n\nSo the lady, she has chosen me as a painter. So I asked her what do you want me to paint. So she said my one son plays the violin and the other son plays the piano, so I want that and I live in Houston and she is some CEO of some big company, so she said I love Houston, this Skyline of Houston. So I know this guy love Houston. So on the big heart I put the violin and that and then I put the Houston Skyline. I painted and I gave it to them. So she bought that painting and gave American Heart Association $10,000.\n\n(","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366#t=1499.0,1806.0"},{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366/transcript/60440/annotation/6","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":")\n\nMD: So also other organizations I give my painting because I feel that these organizers are doing more social services or some purpose for meaningful thing for the clinical ill patients who has no way to back to work and they need some help, so I do that too.\n\nPF: And at this stage you also you play the tabla, you started learning how to play the tabla?\n\nMD: Yeah. Right now currently I’m learning tabla, I know seven taal and I can play with anything, I can pick it up and play.\n\nPF: And she has carpal tunnel.\n\nMD: I have carpal tunnel, but I just wear the gloves, I have arthritis and I play, because that’s what I want to do, that’s what makes me happy, peaceful and takes me near the God. Like I feel like, you know, all the kirtan and music, all this, you know, feel kind of spiritual. You know connections; that is my thing, yeah. So I am very much in that and I teach my both the grandson, one is learning tabla from me, he is three years old and the other one is six, and he is doing art.\n\nPF: Painting.\n\nMD: Painting. And he told his teacher, his teacher said, no, I don’t want you to do this, the shape. He said, no, I’m doing abstract painting. So I know what I am doing, because I have taught him there are different kind of painting techniques and he sees me doing this, so he was like -- teacher was like oh my God!.\n\nPF: So it’s been a long journey, but a very fulfilling journey, right, for you?\n\nMD: Yeah, yeah.\n\nPF: And so anything else you feel that you want to tell us that the society might find helpful from your point of view?\n\nMD: Yeah, the other thing I also want to tell you, I forgot to do that is about this support group. I said I use different techniques, I use meditation, guided meditation, so I guide them and they go through them, they do what I say, and then start support group. Then I used to do drawing sometime. Then I also do the laughter therapy because laughing is so much good for them physically, mentally, happiness, joy, love creates the love. They are always in group, some members come and they are like a family member, and become family member. And I bring the toys and I say some jokes and I tell them bring some jokes, so we laugh and some toys, you know, and then we talk about what are the benefit of -- how do you feel? Even after meditation, 10 minutes mediation, how they feel, they can verbalize on that. And then I also have a family session different and they can tell that how much different it makes in the life because they are depressed, upset, disable, not able to eat, change the lifestyle, upside down, so that I enjoyed that really so much, yeah.\n\nPF: And you think it’s very necessary that everybody should?\n\nMD: Everybody should consider those things in life, you know, part of their life, you know. Also the other thing I want to mention is some of the job I had throughout in dialysis and other, sometime I have -- when I came from India the language was very difficult, even though I spoke English and I was in medium English college, you know, but the accent was a big problem and people don’t understand and sometimes they criticize you, they talk about, you know, different things.\n\n(","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366#t=1806.0,2111.0"},{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366/transcript/60440/annotation/7","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":")\n\nMD: So I felt that is my one of the frustration, big frustration about that. and in the beginning my accent was also different. \n\nPF: You had a Gujarati accent. \n\nMD: Yeah, and they were all Spanish speaking people and they speak different English and my supervisor wouldn’t understand either. She had no idea how person comes alone at young age and no stable place to stay, no payment, paycheck, she wouldn’t understand that. That’s my really experience with that. \n\nThe other experience is I think the color and culture and whatever. I was working at the Rehab Hospital and I applied for the Director. I was the Senior Social Worker, when Director is not there; I am the in-charge. So the Director left and they were hiring the Director again, so I applied for it and everybody in the hospital they like me, my work was excellent, my interview was good and then I heard news that I didn’t get the job. So after a week or so, I decided I am going to go and talk to the administrator and find out what made him not hire m, because I want to know what are my -- should I improve myself, what happened because I was sure that I am getting the job. \n\nSo I went there, I took the appointment and went there and he didn’t say anything, oh well, I was over qualified, her qualification was lower than mine. Mine was way high experience and I had no problem working with a doctor, my patient population, my coworker, everybody likes me. So I wanted to know. So you know, he cannot say anything but he hired the same person and he said, I think I like her style, that’s it. So I feel that sometime they how they treat the immigrant, you know, even though they are capable and he was a male. \n\nPF: So do you think there was discrimination? \n\nMD: They have discrimination, definitely. I had experience with the other job also, because when I was working part time and doing my consulting job privately in the assistant living place, but I was on my own. I was working with -- so I was working there part time and I wanted to go to India so I requested and they approved for four weeks. Meanwhile the other company took over this company, so I asked them whether I can continue working when I come back and you will approve my vacation. So they said yes. So when I went back to India, when I came back I heard that they are looking for full time and going to get rid of me, because I am older, that time I was older, this is about two years ago. And so definitely your speed is little bit less in doing work and they were doing everything back of me, they didn’t tell me anything. I came there, I went for the new company training, they didn’t pay me and I had hard time. Then I hear from the staff because they like me. They said I think Mina, they are going to hire somebody else, you need to talk to the supervisor, I ran there, I talked to her. She said you call my supervisor, I said no; I have to go through the proper channel and find out everything. I want to know what is going on. Then finally she said, yeah. \n\n(","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366#t=2111.0,2402.0"},{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366/transcript/60440/annotation/8","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":")\n\nMD: After a week when I went back, they hired full time because they needed full time, but I said, they promised me that they will continue me as a part time that’s why I decided to go, and I had done paperwork for that company and everything was approved. \n\nSo it's too bad that then she -- my supervisor told me that her supervisor told her that they will let me go after one week and you have to train that social worker who was young social worker, they can pay the same part time salary for full time, so all this -- but they were playing a game like I don’t know; I am a older person, I don’t know anything, that’s how they look sometimes Some of the people look at that way to us, but we have to be very strong and confront them sometime and I did, and then I applied for the unemployment. I trained that person, I left and they were not giving me unemployment and I had to fight with them legally through the state, unemployment agency, and I won, so they had to pay me.\n\nSo those kinds of experience you know. Some jobs I had which the supervisor was really, really nice, supervisor or the director, when I went through the divorce they were very, very supporting but there is a discrimination that is the way I feel, my experience in my life. \n\nPF: So system does need a little bit of changing a lot comparatively yeah. \n\nMD: Definitely.\n\nPF: So that’s a matter of concern to you that yeah, this thing is not right. \n\nMD: Very concerned and I think all the Indians or any foreigner, any immigrant should speak up and --\n\nPF: Be able to change the system.\n\nMD: They want to change the system.\n\nPF: But you don’t have any regrets coming to America? Do you? \n\nMD: No, no. I wanted to come so badly and I have three beautiful children and I am very happy. \n\nPF: And what you -- so your future is now next generation is set with your grandchildren, you are enjoying painting, music and --\n\nMD: I am keeping myself very busy. I spend time with my grandchildren. Also I am going to different galleries; I have lot of exhibition for my painting. So lately I am not because of my health and knee surgery, but I am going to start again. I just enjoy that part of my life because that’s what I wanted to do for a long time but I could not with my situation. So now I am doing it. \n\nPF: So now you are living the American dream of retirement? \n\nMD: Retirement. I live by myself and I enjoy and I have a lot of friends. When I divorced I was also involved with some kind of single group and I have a lot of friends.\n\nPF: Single group, yeah, you are part of the single group. \n\nMD: Yeah and I was thinking to start because I have started so much and then somebody told me that it's there, so that’s how I met Parul and it’s really, really very enjoyable experience. And I had a hard time, no money and then what happened I lost lot of weight. So in the first job, so somebody saw me and wrote my parents so they sent me the ticket to come back. I said I am not coming back, I will handle that, it’s just lot of things I am facing right now, but I can make it. So don’t worry. But they came, then I called every member of my family, my cousins I sponsored, I sponsored almost 15-20 people and helped them in settling in United States. So few years ago we had -- in New Jersey there is an organization it’s a Brahmin, I am Brahmin.\n\n(","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366#t=2402.0,2700.0"},{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366/transcript/60440/annotation/9","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":") \n\nMD: So they had chosen five people who came here and brought so many people and they had children and they had grandchildren. So they had given us certificate and then I was -- I had a speech I spoke there and I said who knows all these Indian who are here maybe one of this child, maybe President of United States of America. Look at Obama, see? So we have to just get ready for it, you know. It was wonderful.\n\nPF: Yeah. That is good, I mean, I’m glad that you feel very content, satisfied and you have the zest for life and music and painting, and so, it’s been an interesting journey, right? Yeah, a very interesting journey and we thank you for coming with us and if you have anything else to contribute --\n\nMD: I have one thing I want to talk about, I also worked as a Private Professional Social Worker, I have that license with the consulting job. So I was going in the assistant living places nursing home and do the psychotherapy one on one, music, drawing all that. So because if I am living in the house then I live in the apartment, then I am going to someplace where there is supervision, then I am going to assisted living the age, age and illness that comes with it a little bit.\n\nI have helped so many like that and I am so proud of myself and I was able to help them. The staff at this facility, some staff is just for money, some staff really cares for the patients. So I had one patient who was blind, so the people come and she was in one room herself. The family was away, they all come and go and see her. They would bring her food and put it there and then go, say, here is your plate, here is the spoon. She doesn’t know, she cannot open, she can’t see, hardly see a little bit. So I made a point that I am going to go three days a week and see her at lunch time and I was feeding her that way. I talked to the head of the nursing department, I went to the administrator and I made the change in the facility, because they don’t realize when she eats, she said I don’t know Mina where it is and she was crying. \n\nAnd sometime they’re in the facility and the people are attached to the, you know, their pet and they come to the institution; something happened to the pet they get depressed, they get mad.\n\nPF: Yeah.\n\nMD: And I handle that situation doing the therapy with cat, her cat and cat pictures, she was able to relate to that and talk about what happened to the pet and the relationship improves. So these little things are so important and I love doing that.\n\nPF: That’s wonderful! I mean, you’ve given us a whole gourmet of life and you’ve told us how you traveled from India, where you came to now and it seems a very satisfying picture to me that you have gone through ups and down, of course, and then but you are proud to do -- proud to be what you are and proud of done whatever you have done and made, and you have made a change in society, you have made change in rules, you fought the system, you have helped people and you have done all these things --\n\nMD: And advocacy, advocacy for mankind.\n\nPF: Yeah, advocacy yeah. You have advocated for so many people. I think you have done a wonderful job and taken life in its stride, you know, and taken life in its stride and it’s wonderful to know that you are also part of DAYA and organizations in Houston because you have contributed to Houston. Since when have you been in Houston, since what year?\n\nMD: In Houston, I came in 1978.\n\n(","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366#t=2700.0,2998.0"},{"id":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366/transcript/60440/annotation/10","type":"Annotation","motivation":"transcribing","body":{"type":"TextualBody","value":")\n\nPF: Okay. So since 1978 you have contributed to Houston and this Indo-American Oral History Project is all about that, you know, of how people like you came way back in 70s, have lived through things here and have lived through years, settled here and contributed to the growth of the system, to the growth of the people in the community. So we will preserve this life study of yours and we are very, very grateful that you could make it today, and thank you so much for coming.\n\nMD: Thank you so much, thank you so much.\n\nPF: Mina Dave is one of our best social work stories that we can get from her and she has been an advocate for many people who have had –are less fortunate and who haven’t had much facilities in life. So we thank her very much for being with us. Thank you!\n\nMD: Thank you!","format":"text/plain"},"target":"https://houstonlibrary.aviaryplatform.com/collections/2436/collection_resources/108921/file/210366#t=2998.0,3056.28657"}]}]}]}