Syrian family achieving the American dream in Memphis
Almasalmas plant new roots after escaping chaos of civil war at home
Walaa Labash makes coffee on Aug. 14, 2019, at the Lakeland apartment where she lives with her family. Walaa and her husband Mohammad Almasalma left Syria at the start of that country's civil war, and over the course of a decade have lived in three different countries, with a child born in each. (Jim Weber/Daily Memphian)
The Almasalmas are a family of Syrian refugees building a life in the Memphis area. An example of the American dream, they'd pushed through incredible hardship and loss by the time they arrived in Memphis. Here, they’ve been befriended by a support group of various locals.
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Syria World ReliefA J Quinlen
Addie Jo Quinlen is a native Memphian and student at the University of Richmond, class of 2021.
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