FWM: Please introduce yourself and your purpose.
Greetings, my name is Sattie Persaud and I am a daughter, sister, aunt, writer and a Senior Manager in Foreign Exchange/Treasury at Otis. In every other waken moment, I run a nonprofit organization and charitable foundation that is going to change the way you think about Culture. Our mission is to change society in a way where people can contribute to what matters most, which is Humanity.
How? We have created a platform since 2009, a common ground, where any culture in the world can come and celebrate their way of life through the Arts & Food, while making a positive impact through knowledge & charity. The hope is that when people learn about different cultural customs and values, respect will follow.
FWM: What makes you formidable?
I never give up, no job is too small or big, I have no time for drama, but get right to the heart of everything I do. When I believe in something, I give it my all and have faith that the Universe has got my back as good energy is rewarded. Yes we may not always get exactly what we want, but whatever blessings are gifted to us, we have the power to make that into what we want. We are stronger than we may think sometimes.
Family members were a bit embarrassed to visit us as it wasn’t the best looking house, but it was our castle.
FWM: Share some of your struggles and how you overcame it.
To answer that question, I need to tell you where I came from and how it shaped me. Everyone has a story to tell
I come from a world of poverty and one that lacked education. I am of Indian (India) descent, eight generation, born in Guyana, brought up in Suriname (South America). All women before me, including my older sister, got married at a very early age of twelve or thirteen. All women, except my sister, became grandmothers by the age of twenty six. No one ever made it pass second or third grade, due to economic factors of having to help families and put food on the table. My parents moved to Suriname from Guyana when I was about 2 years old. My oldest memories were of my parents finding a place that used to be a very small barn like looking structure with only one door. We had a twin spring bed with no mattress in an empty room, my parents slept sitting up while I wondered how they would sleep as they held myself and my older sister in their arms.
When I was 9, I discovered a book with no covers, I remembered exactly, it started at page 7. I read that women went to school, got jobs, and didn’t have to get married at 13.
That little wooden structure became a two bedroom home within a year or two as my father learned carpentry. Family members were a bit embarrassed to visit us as it wasn’t the best looking house, but it was our castle. We may not have had money, but our home was always filled with love, which didn’t start at the front door and end at the back door. At age 7, second grade, I began selling candy and cigarettes, in front of our home to give my mom a break when I got home from school. Fortunately I didn’t have to drop out of school to help out and there I met people from all walks of life, good and bad.
There I met a Jehovah Witness, as she called herself. She would come and sit with me and teach me to read English from the book of bible stories, as we were taught Dutch in school. My mother didn’t mind, since we were Hindu and she believed all religions lead to the same goal, God. Because of this beautiful stranger I was able to pick up every book I found and was able to read it, whether it was English or Dutch. When I was 9, I discovered a book with no covers, I remembered exactly, it started at page 7. I read that women went to school, got jobs, and didn’t have to get married at 13. This was a true inspiration, nothing like anyone I had ever met. Thank you Nora Roberts, which I later found out was the author!
My childhood was on that yellow bucket, 7 days a week, until I was 12 years old. After that my marriage was arranged to one of my aunt’s step-child in America against my wishes. I only asked for one thing, that I would be able to go to college, which they promised. Long story short, when I arrived to the US I wasn’t allowed to go to school, rather needed a get a job to help “the family.” I was being mentally broken by the constant fights with my mother’s sister, the aunt, who would force me to consummate my marriage, but I didn’t want to. This person I was married to for life, should be honest and respect what he promised me, but he refused to talk to me and kept complaining to my aunt who would storm in the house usually around 3 am and curse me out because I was sleeping on the couch.
Going to school, was the only thing that kept me sane and focused, the only thing that reminded me of who I was and not become what they wanted me to be out of desperation. I finally got a job at a taco bell and saved up enough money to sign up, from an ad I saw on TV, for an accounting workshop. I only had money for the bus, no cab funds. It was February in Minnesota, snow banks taller than myself, single digit weather.
I was determined, I put my jeans, open toe shoes (for I rather go to the class than buy myself shoes or a coat), and sweat shirt on and walked to the mall, crossing a highway in the dark and climbed a hill to the parking lot to the mall. Don’t ask me how I survived this! By the time I got there I couldn’t feel my body, my toes and fingers were frozen, my nose was bleeding, but all I could think of is that I made it to my bus on time. On my way back, around 9 pm and I was the last one left in the bus, I went up to the bus driver, an African American gentleman, and asked how to get to the mall next to my house. He answered saying there were no more bus running that route so late. I then asked, “how will I get home then?” He looked at me briefly and started scolding me for the way I was dressed.
He told me to call someone or take a cab. I told him I didn’t have money for a cab or didn’t know anyone’s phone number. All I knew was my address. The look on my face and as I just kept saying “how will I get home,” I guess made him feel sorry for me. Finally he says, I will drive you home and I hope to God I don’t get fired for going off route and lose my pension. He literally saved my life that night.
With continued torment behind closed doors, a few weeks later, I walked out of work, which was in the same parking lot as the infamous mall in my story. I knew the mall very well at this point and subconsciously went to sit in front of a store called Things Remembered. I guess I was talking to myself, for I remember teenagers my age walking by looking at me and laughing. I sat there for almost 6 hours, without realizing it. My job called my aunt, they panicked and found me after looking at the mall. I had the worse headache and was taken to a doctor who told my aunt I needed a change of environment after I told him what my situation was.
I had $60 and was going to run away to Texas, warm weather. But fate had different plans for me. My mother’s cousin was living in Chicago and I was sent there to spend only two weeks and then had to go back home. Thank God, I had an opportunity to stay with my uncle and his family, babysit his 3 kids, clean their house, and I got to go to school! I never went back, he took care of my aunt and my divorce. Within a year I had my GED, started college, learned how to drive and had 2 part time jobs in addition to being a nanny. The Universe gave me a torch to find my way out of a very abusive, negative situation and I need to share that light and give back. I know some people go through far worse than what I have been through. I am very fortunate to be where I am.
The Universe gave me a torch to find my way out of a very abusive, negative situation and I need to share that light and give back.
Five years later, graduating Pace University in NY, my sister, her 3 kids and husband came to America. It was tough to help take care of all those people on just one salary, but we made it. Now my sister is not a grandmother at 26, one of my nieces is becoming a teacher and the other one a make up artist, now taking business classes to open her own studio.
It was eight years after I first stepped off a plane into this amazing place called America, and I could’ve never have dreamed that I would be where I was and able to start a nonprofit, World Heritage Cultural Center, that would build bridges with different cultures from around the globe. A lot of heart went into this and I wanted something that embraced everyone. America is a great colorful patchwork of cultures, never forgetting the beauty that was already here before any immigrant stepped foot in this country.
In 2009 we had our first World of Colors concerts with 23 countries on stage, promoting cultural awareness through music and dance. The event was broadcasted in 160 countries, including cultural media in the US. A couple of weeks later, the largest Travel Show in the US by John and Julie Golicz invited us to produce their Global Beats Stage at the Javitz Center in NYC. Right after we were invited by the Times Square Alliance to produce the largest cultural show of its kind in the Taste of Times Square, it was a great success when you see people climbing on trees and fire escape ladders to watch our performances.
We continued with the Travel Shows and 12 years later, we work with over 800 plus cultural groups annually and have completed 245 of the largest cultural concerts across the US in fifteen states. All groups donate their time on our platform to be part of our noble mission of making a positive impact through knowledge and charity. There are no large grants or donations that we have channeled into the network we have built so far. I wanted something tangible, so that people know where their funds are going if they donated, like opening our first World Heritage Cultural Center in NY. We were going to launch our capital campaign in Spring of 2020, but we due to the pandemic, we pushed everything to 2022. I believe everything happens on its own time.
FWM: What drives you—What is your why?
My connection to the divine, the universe. My love for Humanity. Humans are complex yet extraordinary, destructive and nurturing at the same time, and no matter what the day brings us, we always dare to hope. If it wasn’t for complete strangers to help me in my time of need, I probably would not be here. I am blessed to have so much to pay forward.
FWM: What advice can you offer women (and men alike) struggling with today’s political climate?
On a political level, I say, be aware, but don’t let politics define who you are. Stay above emotions, stay focus and be the change you want to see. If we all do this, collectively, we will make a positive impact. People sometimes forget the “power of the people.”
We are all equal, no matter the religion or address we were born to, we all come to earth the same way and leave the same way. Start by seeing through the barriers of society and let your voice be heard through using the tools we have like voting or be a leader for the people to elect.
FWM: How can FWM our audience connect with you?
Sattie Persaud
Founder of World Heritage Cultural Center – (501(c)(3)
Global Goodwill Ambassador (GGA) building bridges in 200 countries & territories and growing.
845.282.2379
sattie@mywhcc.org
www.mywhcc.org
You are an amazing woman. I knew you were when I met you and now even more that I know your story. God continue to bless you.