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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 19 A U G U S T 1 0 , 2 0 2 0 A ngela Okafor traveled 5,000 miles to emigrate from Nigeria, where she was born, grew up and attended law school, to settle in Bangor 12 years ago with her husband and family. But these days, Okafor isn't travel- ing such vast distances. In fact, she runs her law practice and her two other businesses from a modest, one-story building, hidden behind a music store on Harlow Street in downtown Bangor. Her legal practice serves primarily local clients who need help with federal immigation law. Her side businesses also serve local customers with needs related to places far from Bangor. Tropical Tastes & Styles International Market carries food and other products from around the world. Okafor also operates a small salon that provides women's hair braiding and fashion accessories inspired by African cultures. "I learned to braid hair on my own head because I couldn't find that ser- vice around here," she says. "And I'm not a fashion designer, but I bought a machine and learned to sew. I love to be busy." Her family contributes to the whirlwind of activity. Okafor and her husband, Ben Okafor, are raising three children under age 11. Ben is a pharmacist who owns and operates two small, independent pharmacies, in Eastport and Machias. At Angela's office/shop/salon, the kids' toys and jump ropes are constantly underfoot. ey're an apt symbol of the way Okafor weaves together the dispa- rate personal and professional elements of her life, and of lives around her. Okafor's storefront has now become a center of Bangor's small but growing immigrant community. "ere's always something going on here," she says. And since last November, there's been something else going on. at's when Okafor was elected to the Bangor City Council. She's the first person of color and the first immigrant elected to the nine-person governing body. Okafor was one of four councilors chosen from a field of 11 candidates, and received the second-highest number of votes in the November election, after incumbent Councilor Dan Tremble. Among the votes was her own — the first she cast in the United States, after becoming a citizen just a month earlier. Easy commute Given her roles as a small business owner, an attorney and a busy mom, you might wonder how Okafor can take on another one. When she con- sidered running for the council, "my friends told me I was crazy," she says. Coming a long way to find a 'gold mine' in Maine B y W i l l i a m H a l l C O N T I N U E D O N F O L L OW I N G PA G E » Rebecca Greenfield Ann Robinson Margaret LePage Margaret Smith Andrea C. Maker Katherine Kayatta Katy Rand Sarah Tracy Jana Magnuson Katie Minervino Emily L. Cooke Margaret Minister Molly Liddell Barbara Wheaton MERRILL'S WHARF • COMMERCIAL STREET • PORTLAND, MAINE • PIERCEATWOOD.COM Investing in Maine's Future For over 125 years, Pierce Atwood has built a reputation in Maine as a firm that attracts and retains superb legal talent, delivering superior client satisfaction and exceptional value. Our attorneys have helped startups grow into vital Maine businesses, advised companies on succession planning and valuation, navigated financing and land use issues for major real estate developments, facilitated strategic acquisitions and mergers, protected ideas and new technologies, and assisted employers in recruiting and retaining skilled employees. How can we help take your business to the next level? Let us know. We're here to help. Pierce Atwood. There's a reason… I see Bangor as a welcoming place, but still, there are walls. Rules have been made sometimes without a lot of consideration for all those who are affected. There's always room for improvement. — Angela Okafor