The Incline: Data aims to show impact of immigrants on Pittsburgh region

Gisele Fetterman described the first time she was called for jury duty as a dream come true.

That’s not sarcasm.

“I felt that’s when I would really be American,” said Fetterman, who was born in Brazil.

When she showed up, Fetterman said she “was the only person excited to be there in a room full of Americans.”

“So I say that often I’m even more American than most Americans,” she said with a laugh, “because I was so proud and excited to go to jury duty.”

Fetterman came to this country as a child from Brazil and was undocumented for more than a decade. She’s “very open” about her immigration story, as she believes that people support immigration once you put a human face on the issue.

“We’re simply here, and we want to contribute,” Fetterman, co-founder of 412 Food Rescue and Braddock’s Free Store, said. “We want to be a part of this story.”

Tonight, Fetterman and her husband, Braddock Mayor John Fetterman, will host an event at their home to release new data on the economic benefits of immigration from the Partnership for a New American Economy.

Read the full article at The Incline: “Data aims to show impact of immigrants on Pittsburgh region”
Visit MapTheImpact.org