18 MONTEREY COUNTY WEEKLY JULY 3-9, 2025 www.montereycountynow.com Sometimes, all it takes is a little help for one person to transform lives. This artist used her own pain of exclusion as an immigrant to build a community for those Americans who are often the least visible in our society: people with disabilities. Born in the small town of Punjab in northern India, Ritika Kumar was part of a big business-oriented family where women didn’t work. Despite the conservative environment around her, she was allowed to pursue art, which she did for a while in Mumbai. She chose her own husband and early on in the marriage, he got a job in the United States, a country they heard so much about. She was 26 when they arrived in Dallas, Texas and the plan was to stay a few years and then return home. It was immediately clear to her that the U.S. offered women more rights, but the independence— living as a nuclear family as opposed to a big clan full of close-living cousins “so that you never have to set a play day or arrange for a sleepover,” Kumar, now a mother of a 16-year-old son, says—comes with a cost: a person has to do everything by themselves. The young couple moved to California in 2009 and Kumar was blown away—and still is—by the beauty of the state. But while in Texas, she had a large Indian community around her, whereas here, she was forced to make new friends. She noted that she experienced exclusion in Texas: “Some people are clear about how they feel about you,” she says. “You know, this whole ‘immigrants steal jobs’ rhetoric, despite that I barely worked, not having a work authorization.” A speaker of three languages (Punjabi, Hindi and English), Kumar suddenly found that she had problems communicating and making friends. It was hard to understand why she was not accepted because she always thought she was such a wonderful person, she says with laughter. The plan was to establish herself as an artist in the new country, but soon Kumar, now living in Pacific Grove, started to volunteer at her son’s school, loved it and ended up teaching art to children in various local schools and institutions. At one of them, she was asked to work with people with disabilities and the experience was a breakthrough in her life. “To see how someone grows because of you is magic,” she says. Still, the ratio of one teacher for 40 students was far from ideal. That’s the reason she eventually started her own nonprofit, Art Abilities, a space in Pacific Grove where she and other art teachers work with people with physical and mental challenges in small groups—one art teacher per three students. “Actually, the real reason was Paul,” she says, referring to her autistic student Paul Landman. Always Adapting A Pacific Grove teacher helps others thrive in life by sharing her artistic skills. By Agata Popęda A More Perfect Union The United States is a diverse nation, where cultures mix and, oftentimes, clash. There are countless opportunities to coexist with people from different countries, speak other languages and discover new traditions. We talk with each other, try the numerous varieties of cuisines and learn about cultures without ever having to leave our country. Immigrants are part of our country’s and our county’s foundation. They are the cornerstone across different fields—ag, tech, education and more—that contribute to move America forward, regardless of their immigration status. According to the U.S. Census, there are 46.2 million foreign-born citizens in this country—13.9 percent of the total population—and 22 percent of which make California their home. They are more than a number or a name on a list. They are people who have contributed to all facets of our communities. On the following pages, we share the stories of some people who have made, and continue to make, an impact on our community. Some are first-generation immigrants, while others are here thanks to the sacrifices of their ancestors. America is known as the land of the free, the land of opportunity and a melting pot. As we celebrate Independence Day, wear red, white and blue while enjoying burgers and hot dogs, we should take time to reflect and think about what truly makes America great. It’s not a slogan—it’s the people who have chosen to make this country their home, no matter where they are from. -Celia Jiménez, staff writer Ritika Kumar is the founder of the nonprofit Art Abilities, an organization that helps kids and adults with different abilities express themselves through art. DANIEL DREIFUSS
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