CLEVELAND — Vincent Owiti first set foot on U.S. soil in 2017, traveling from Kenya to northeast Ohio for a choir concert, and he made a special friend.

“We engaged and married my wife, so I would technically say that I came to marriage,” he said.

What You Need To Know

  • More than 60 immigrants from across the globe became citizens through Global Cleveland's naturalization ceremony at Saint Martin de Porres High School.

  • The ceremony is part of a series of events that are being put on for this year's Welcoming Week, which aims to bring diverse groups together to build connections.

  • The event was co-hosted by Dan Polster, a U.S. federal judge, who said its important more than ever to embrace citizenship and diversity as anti-immigrant rhetoric is on the rise.

Owiti was one of 65 Americans taking part in a naturalization ceremony hosted by Global Cleveland at Saint Martin de Porres High School. The nonprofit is dedicated to connecting people around the world and boosting inclusivity. It’s a busy time for the organization as they’re hosting five days of events for their annual Welcoming Week, which aims to bring diverse groups together, recognizing their roots. Tomorrow, Global Cleveland will host the International Job and Resource Fair at the Cuyahoga Public Library, followed by volunteer Day at the May Dugon Center on Friday.

Today, Owiti and his wife are celebrating his new legal status and the obstacles he overcame along the way.

“The major one, I would say [is] cultural change. Leaving family and friends,” Owiti said. “I would say that it’s a little challenging when you come as an adult.”

The ceremony was co-hosted by Dan Polster, the U.S. District Judge of the Northern Ohio District of Ohio. He said he comes from a long line of immigrants.

“They came right to Cleveland from Russia, Hungary, Lithuania to seek economic and political freedom from them for themselves and ideally, their descendants,” Polster said.

With anti-immigrant sentiment on the rise, Polster said it’s important that all Americans know the history of their heritage.

“There are a number of people in our country who seem to have forgotten that their relatives came here on a boat from somewhere and had to struggle, just like these newcomers,” he said. “So I think it’s important for all of us to be welcoming.”

Polster said he wants the newly inducted citizens and their family and friends to keep in mind one lesson.

“To embrace their own citizenship, never take it for granted and to appreciate that our country is built by people [who] come from everywhere,” Owiti said. “And that being an American means embracing people who are different from you because together we build something that none of us could do ourselves.”

While crossing the stage, Owiti said he felt like a weight was lifted off of his shoulders, stepping into a brighter future.

“Being a free citizen without having to worry about me being judged as an immigrant,” he said. “So that is why I said I was walking towards freedom.”

Going forward, Owiti said he’s excited to live a life without limits.

“My wife and I love traveling,” Owiti said. “As a matter of fact, we just finished our 50th state about two weeks ago and now we are planning to start going to other countries.”