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Immigrant Heritage Month: Celebrating Strength by Smriti Rupaketi, MIRA’s People and Administration Specialist

Immigrant Heritage Month: Celebrating Strength by Smriti Rupaketi MIRA's Paople and Administration Specialist Honoring Immigrant Heritage Month

Immigrant heritage month gives me a chance to look back on my journey and think about everything it took to get here. Behind every move to a new country is someone who has left behind families, friends and culture in hopes of finding new opportunities, stability and a better future.

I was born and raised in Kathmandu, Nepal which is a beautiful country in Southeast Asia. In 2020, me, my husband and child made the decision to leave our home country and move to the United States when my husband received an opportunity here. It was one of the biggest decisions that we had ever made. It was not an easy choice. Leaving behind the people and places we loved was difficult, but we were looking for new opportunities and a chance to build a different future for our family.

Before moving to the U.S., I worked as an HR Officer in Nepal. I have always enjoyed working with people, helping others and creating a supportive work environment. That is something that has stayed with me throughout my career. Today I work as a People and Administration Specialist at MIRA. And I feel very grateful that I am able to continue doing work that I am passionate about. Being able to support people and make a positive impact in the workplace is what I enjoy most about my work.

For me, Immigrant Heritage Month is about recognizing the experiences and contributions of immigrants and celebrating the strength it takes to start over. Every journey is different, but many of us share similar experiences, such as adjusting to a new place, missing home, building connections and finding our place in a new community. If there is one thing I want people to know, it is that immigrants bring more than just experience or skills. We bring stories, culture, perspectives and experiences that can help our communities become stronger. In future, I hope to continue doing meaningful work and supporting those around me, and helping creating communities where people feel welcomed and valued. I am proud of my journey, grateful for the opportunities I have found, and hopeful for what lies ahead.

Smriti Rupaketi joined MIRA in 2025 as the People and Administration Coordinator and is currently our People and Administration Specialist. In this role, she supports HR processes, manages office administration and contributes to the smooth operation of the organization. More about Smriti