Our Highway. Our Stories.

Liliana Cucuiet and Anthony Kay moved to Atlanta from Miami in 2018. Not long after, they started 11 Studio Prints, a custom apparel and promotional print company just off Buford Highway. Having grown up in Warner Robbins, Anthony remembers his dad bringing him to the area when he was a child to visit a Latin music store. Years later, he knew it would be a great spot to launch a business. “People still feel safe [on Buford Highway] if they’re from a different heritage, a different county, even if they don’t speak the language, they feel safe to come to this area and start something, be accepted,” Liliana agreed. Liliana credits her Romanian roots for giving her the grit and determination needed to succeed as an entrepreneur “At the end of the day, I’m very proud to say I’m an immigrant, I’m Romanian, and I’m working for myself,” Liliana shared.

Sergio Monzalvo’s Story

Sergio Monzalvo grew up along Buford Highway, spending time at his father’s collision repair shop. In 2010, he started CARSTAR Universal Body Shop to carry on the legacy of his family's business.

Tim Lam’s Story

Tim Lam's Empire Realty Group is headquartered in Asian Square, the same complex where his family's travel agency operated beginning in the early 1990s.

Oscar Barrera’s Story

Oscar Barrera's parents immigrated to the United States with Barrera and his older sister when he was only nine months old. His father often tells the story of spending his last $100 dollars on a trip to Disneyland, to show his family the magic of their new home. Within a few months the family moved to Atlanta, Georgia where they settled in the Cumberland Court Apartments off of Buford Highway. Visit the We Love BuHi website to read Oscar's full story. La historia de Oscar Barrera Los padres de Oscar Barrera emigraron a los Estados Unidos con Barrera y su hermana mayor cuando él tenía solo nueve meses. Su padre a menudo cuenta la historia de cómo gastó sus últimos $100 dólares en un viaje a Disneylandia, para mostrarle a su familia la magia de su nuevo hogar. A los pocos meses, la familia se mudó a Atlanta, Georgia, donde se establecieron en los apartamentos Cumberland Court, cerca de Buford Highway. Visita el sitio web de We Love BuHi para leer la historia completa de Oscar. Oscar (left) Photo courtesy of the narrator. The family now owns and operates two businesses on Buford Highway in the Powers Plaza. They opened the first, Tortas Bakery, in 2006, when Barrera was still in high school. In 2017 they opened their sister restaurant, Tortas Factory del D.F., in the same shopping plaza as the bakery. Courtesy of the narrator 🎧 Listen to Oscar’s interview here:

Susie Corbett’s Story

Susie Corbett vividly recalls growing up as one of the first Asians in Doraville in 1960. She says it was a lonely experience — yet, uplifted by the grace she exhibited in the face of ignorance and racism. Corbett’s Japanese-American parents, who were born in California, had been interned, along with Corbett’s older brother, at the Gila River Relocation Center in Arizona during World War II. Corbett’s father, Tom Shintaku, got a job working at carbon paper manufacturing company in Chicago, where Corbett and her sisters were born. Later, the company transferred him to Doraville. “To get Chinese food, we had to go downtown to Atlanta,” she remembers. “There was not all the shops and everything that there are now and no diversity in the residents or the businesses." Visit the We Love BuHi website to read Corbett's full story. Corbett believes the diversity of Buford Highway is a beacon of hope. “People are finding out about it and what the area has to offer, and I think it will continue to get better and better. I hope that it continues to attract people from all over,” she says. La historia de Susie Corbett Susie Corbett recuerda vívidamente haber crecido como una de las primeras asiáticas en Doraville en 1960. Dice que fue una experiencia solitaria, pero que fue fortalecida por la gracia que mostró frente a la ignorancia y el racismo. Los padres de Corbett, Japoneses-Estadounidenses nacidos en California, fueron internados, junto con el hermano mayor de Corbett, en el Centro de Reubicación de Gila River en Arizona durante la Segunda Guerra Mundial. El padre de Corbett, Tom Shintaku, consiguió un trabajo en una empresa de fabricación de papel carbón en Chicago, donde nacieron Corbett y sus hermanas. Más tarde, la compañía lo transfirió a Doraville. “Para conseguir comida china, teníamos que ir al centro de Atlanta,” recuerda. “No había todas las tiendas y todo lo que hay ahora, no había diversidad entre los residentes o los negocios.” Visita el sitio web de We Love BuHi para leer la historia completa de Corbett. Corbett cree que la diversidad de Buford Highway es un faro de esperanza. “La gente está descubriendo el área y lo que tiene para ofrecer, y creo que seguirá mejorando cada vez más. Espero que continúe atrayendo a personas de todas partes,” dice. 🎧 Listen to the story: [embed]https://youtu.be/q0DmJtXKmR0?si=58wTsxxr7OvyiUal[/embed]

Orchestra Project

The Buford Highway Orchestra Project is We Love BuHi's first direct service program that connects music around the educational and social needs of Buford Highway’s youth. As advocates of the power of art, culture, and social impact, WLBH believes this initiative speaks to the importance of public-humanities programming in our communities. The program is offered to students between third to fifth grades of Dekalb County Public School’s District I which is an area comprised primarily of Title I schools, a federal designation where 40% of the area’s students are qualified for free and reduced meals. Each member of the Buford Highway Orchestra receives an instrument donated by local strings instrument company, William Harris Lee & Co, as well as a music stand and a book. Visit the website the Buford Highway Orchestra Project web page to learn more.

Feeding Families

When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in early 2020, schools closed and children stopped receiving meals. With businesses struggling, breadwinners lost their jobs. Food-relief programs often marginalized families who did not have a mode of transportation, who were not fluent English speakers, and who did not provide ID for registration. Many of our Buford Highway residents, which spans Fulton, Gwinnett and DeKalb counties, were deemed essential workers while at the same time they faced increasing barriers to food access. During the early days of the pandemic, April through July, We Love BuHi and a collective of non-profit organizations fed 52,000 people. In November of 2020, the nonprofit launched the Feeding Families of Buford Highway Project. The program continues today, prioritizing culturally-centric foods, convenience, and access to other resources. Learn more about the initiative by visiting the We Love Buford Highway website. [embed]https://youtu.be/WMfEsf0SL7A[/embed]

James Han’s Story

🎧 PODCAST: In this episode, Executive Director Lily Pabian sits down with James Han, a rapper and songwriter from Atlanta, GA. The son of Korean immigrants, Uzuhan raps about cultural identity, faith, and self-acceptance. Raised on Hip-Hop, Disco, and Korean folk music, Uzuhan explores his identity through his music. In this episode, James and Lily talk about AAPI identity, the importance of Buford Highway for music and culture, and what it means to grow up as a first generation American in the United States. La historia de James Han: 🎧 PODCAST: En este episodio, la Directora Ejecutiva Lily Pabian se sienta con James Han, un rapero y compositor de Atlanta, GA. Hijo de inmigrantes coreanos, Uzuhan rapea sobre la identidad cultural, la fe y la autoaceptación. Criado con Hip-Hop, Disco y música folclórica coreana, Uzuhan explora su identidad a través de su música. En este episodio, James y Lily hablan sobre la identidad AAPI, la importancia de Buford Highway para la música y la cultura, y lo que significa crecer como un Estadounidense de primera generación en los Estados Unidos.