PROSPER®

LIVE & PLAY --- QUALITY OF LIFE
The
American Dream
in Oakland County
HELPING INTERNATIONAL NEWCOMERS
MAKE THEMSELVES AT HOME
By Sydnee Thompson
For an example of the melting pot
that is Oakland County, look no
further than Ryoko Yokoyama.
Born in Japan, Yokoyama lived in Mexico
for 13 years with her Mexican husband
before they moved to the United States four
years ago. They now reside in Oakland
County’s Farmington. She is fluent in
Japanese, English and Spanish.
To Yokoyama and other members of
the Birmingham Bloomfield Newcomers
Club — an organization that helps expatriate
women adjust to life here — such diversity
of experience isn’t unusual. “All this mixture
is normal,” says Yokoyama.
A SEAMLESS TRANSITION
The American Community Survey
estimates that more than 130,000 foreignborn
people were living in Oakland County
Birmingham Bloomfield Newcomers Club outings bring women together.
from 2009-2013. With that, Oakland County
has become host to countless organizations
that help new residents from international locations seamlessly foods. It’s not only about attracting business talent to the county, she
transition into life here.
says, but also about making sure business people and their families
Irene Spanos, director of economic development and community enjoy their time here.
affairs for Oakland County, says the process often begins at the county Feedback has been overwhelmingly positive. Spanos says she
level — particularly for foreign nationals here on temporary work often fields requests from foreign nationals who want to stay once
visas, or those trying to set up U.S. locations for their companies. their original contracts end. “Our quality of life, our diverse business
“We have really become conduits to all the resources that are makeup, are things that they enjoy,” she says. “And a lot of our
available to them here in the county and throughout the community,” business leads come from individuals that we’ve helped before.”
Spanos says. “For example, we will be the ones that will help them
find housing, working with our professional network here.”
ORGANIZATIONS PROVIDE SUPPORT
Spanos says her team can help with car rentals, to connect The Birmingham Bloomfield Newcomers Club has been supporting
residents to legal counsel and recommend local stores that stock ethnic women from all walks of life since 1947. Boasting more than 250
16 OAKLANDCOUNTYPROSPER.COM 2016