In the summer of 2020, my husband, my daughter, and I arrived in Tulsa, Oklahoma from Ecuador, bringing with us two suitcases full of dreams and the hope for a new beginning. My husband and I are professionals in Ecuador: I am Mayra Silva, a marketing engineer, and my husband, Oswaldo Peña, is an MBA and a lawyer.
The first few months in the United States were a real challenge. We felt frustrated by the language barrier, the culture, and working in low-profile jobs. However, we never stopped dreaming, and the word “give up” was never in our vocabulary. We began attending English classes and getting involved in the community, where we found support and friendship, particularly from the Hispanic Victory Church, New U, Avanzando Juntos, and Partner Tulsa. Gradually, our confidence grew, and God showed us that through our professional skills, we would be able to take every opportunity to grow economically in the city of Tulsa.
After years of preparation, at the end of May 2024, we decided to start our own business. SOMOS INSURANCE LLC is a trustworthy insurance agency specializing in auto, home, business, and life insurance. We are focused on providing personalized insurance solutions for the diverse needs of our community, leveraging technology, strong industry partnerships, and a commitment to customer service. The word “SOMOS” has great meaning for us because we believe that all people, regardless of race or color, were created with a purpose. Therefore: We ARE community, We ARE Hispanics, We ARE Insurance because “We ARE created with purpose.”
We want to give a well-deserved recognition and thanks to Avanzando Juntos, whose workshops have informed the Hispanic community about how to start a business. The commercial real estate class was the best experience and was extremely helpful for us when signing the lease contract for our office. Additionally, Partner Tulsa, in collaboration with Avanzando Juntos, provided us with a grant that allowed us to complete the payment for the development of our website: www.somosins.com
We are truly excited to know that this help can reach more entrepreneurs like us, and we hope that our story of perseverance and hope shows that with effort and determination, dreams can come true, even in distant lands.