56 W o r c e s t e r 3 0 0 : C i t y o f I n n o v a t o r s
W
hen Jose Zuniga came
to Worcester in the
late 1990s as a 14-year-
old from Mexico, he
remembers there not
being many Spanish
speakers or restaurants in Worcester. "I used to
have to go to Boston or Providence just for Mexican
food," he said. "ings have changed a lot."
Around the dawn of the new millennium, a new
generation of immigrant groups, arriving from
Asia, Africa and Latin America began to arrive in
the city of Worcester. Many were fleeing violence
Seasoning the melting pot
Today's new arrivals have
home-grown access to tactical
resources
or poverty, looking
for a better life in the
United States.
But in order
to participate in
Worcester's economic
development, they
have had to overcome
barriers such as
language, culture and
navigating how to
operate a business in
a new land.
Anh Vu Sawyer,
who leads the
Southeast Asian
Coalition of Central Massachusetts, helps many
new arrivals overcome these challenges and lead
successful lives in their new home city. Originally
1922-2021
A Swedish parade float travels down Main Street in front of City Hall in 1898.
PHOTO | WORCESTER HISTORICAL MUSEUM
Around the
dawn of the new
millennium, a
new generation
of immigrant
groups began
to arrive.
Anh Vu Sawyer, Southeast
Asian Coalition of Central
Mass.
