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From YouTube: Welcome, Neighbor: The Lawals
Description
The first episode of our Pittsburgh/Welcoming Pittsburgh Welcome, Neighbor series is a conversation with the Lawals. They are local-business owners in Squirrel Hill! Watch and listen to them talk about their journey to entrepreneurship in Pittsburgh.
A
Just
before
I
dive
in
just
to
introduce
myself
guys
so
my
name
is
facial
acatola,
a
manager,
welcome
to
pittsburgh
initiative,
and
I
work
with
incredible
incredible
ladies
allah,
muhammad
and
and
wade
mccarthy
who
are
behind
the
scenes
and
we're
starting
a
new
program,
a
new
live
stream
program.
Where
you
we
get
to
introduce
you
guys
to
your
neighbors
right
neighbors.
A
Do
you
typically
don't
know
you
don't
see,
but
you
might
have
heard
of
them
right,
which
we're
calling
welcome,
neighbor,
a
speaker
series
that
features
stories
from
neighbors
that
make
pittsburgh
vibrant
and
today
we're
hearing
from
the
loans.
The
walls
are
the
ones
who
recently
launched
african
cuisine,
which
is
an
incredible
restaurant,
just
to
get
started.
Maybe
uncle
nancy.
Can
you
introduce
yourself
to
the
team
for
folks
that
might
not
know
you
might
not
have
read
about
you.
Tell
us
a
little
bit
about
yourselves.
A
B
All
right
we're
both
from
nigeria.
We
migrated
from
nigeria
into
19
97
and
we've
been
in
the
u.s
since
then,
prior
to
us,
coming
down
to
united
states,
my
husband
was
a
banker
in
nigeria
and
I
was
an
accountant
working
with.
I
worked
with
african
petroleum
for
like
10
years
before
we
migrated
down
here
to
united
states,
and
we.
C
B
Here
on
a
visa
lottery,
the
initiative
by
the
government,
the
us
government
looking
for
professionals
to
migrate
down
to
the
united
states,
so
that
was
how
we
got
here
I'm
getting
here.
I
decided
to
do
a
change
of
career,
incidentally,
because
I
had
to
help
a
friend
of
mine,
you
know
studying
at
the
hospital
with
the
mom.
So
eventually
I
love
the
rapport
I
had
with
the
nurses
and
doctors
there.
So
that
really
made
me
had
a
change
of
career.
I
went
back
to
school
became
a
registered
nurse.
B
First,
I
became
an
lpn
and
I
was
still
in
school.
I
got
my
irene
went
black
for
my
bachelors
and
I
now
concluding
my
doctorate
and
my
husband
has
been
very
solidly
behind
me
and
whatever
I
put
my
hands
on
or
all
our
endeavors
up,
we
always
dive
in
together
he's
a
professional
nurse
as
well,
and
we
decided
to
do
this
because
we
were,
I
was
kind
of.
B
B
Having
said
all
that
I've
been,
I
don't
know
the
nukes
and
corners
of
you
know
running
a
restaurant,
so
I
decided
I've
always
had
the
passion
to
you,
know
cook
and
entertain
people,
despite
all
the
things
I've
done.
I
still
have
that
at
behind
behind
my
mind,
so
just
make
sure
I
do
that
to
please
humanity
and
please
myself
too,
so
how
african
cuisine
came
about.
B
So
he
said,
maybe,
since
you
have
passion
about
cooking,
why
don't
you
put
one
in?
Because
some
of
our
friends
would
come
up
from
other
states?
They
couldn't
find
any
african
restaurant
or
nigerian
restaurant
to
go
to.
So
that
was
how
we
started
like
I've
been
nurturing
the
you
know
that
idea,
and
fortunately
the
opportunity
came
up
and
I
believe
success.
They
said.
B
C
B
A
B
A
B
B
C
C
B
Sorry
goes
a
long
way
with
us
and
we
were
like
wow.
This
community
is
kind
of
friendly
everywhere
you
go
in
pittsburgh.
People
were
like
they
will
welcome
you
warmly,
so
that
was
how
we
decided
to
move
down
here
on
getting
here
going
to
school
working
and
all
that
has
been
tremendous
tremendously.
You
know
helpful,
like
in
terms
of
the
community
that
we
belong
to
and
our
neighbors.
They
are
very
welcoming
as
well.
B
You
know
all
our
neighbors
around
our
vicinity
where
we
live,
they
they
approach
us
and
they
say
hi
or
I
see
you
guys,
I'm
from
other
states.
Where
did
you
come
from?
It
really
goes
a
long
way,
and
sometimes
when
we're
not
even
home
our
neighbors,
we
watch
over
our
home,
which
we're
not
even
aware
of
if
something
is
going
wrong.
That's
when
you
know
they
give.
B
And
be
like
so,
and
so
is
that
your
door
or
somebody
drops
this
on
so
many
things
at
your
door
and
it's
not
in
the
yeah.
Do
you
want
us
to
move
it
for
you,
they're,
very
friendly,
and
you
know
I
I
would
recommend
for
anybody
to
move
to
pittsburgh
and
live
in
this.
You
know
in
the
city
of
pittsburgh.
A
C
A
That
that's
forthcoming.
I
want
to
go
back
to
something
that
you
said
earlier
right
again
before
moving
to
america,
you
guys
came
on
a
diversity
lottery
and
that's.
A
My
story,
my
family,
did
as
well,
and
I
can't
imagine
because
it
was
really
challenging
coming
to
this
country.
So
for
you
all,
I'm
curious
to
hear
the
fact
that
you
that
you
were
making
working
in
petroleum.
You
were
making
some
good
money.
A
Both
of
you
who
are
professionals,
what
made
you
want
to
take
that
leap
and
any
and
talking
about
that
story,
did
you
have
any
regrets
right?
I'm
asking
this
because
I
know
there
are
other
immigrants
that
have
moved
and
they're
refugees
that,
of
course,
due
to
circumstances
beyond
their
their
their
reach
there.
They
have
to
move
right
for
their
safety,
and
here.
C
A
I
wonder
sometimes
you
know
we
look
back
in
and
we
say
gosh
like
why.
Why
did
I
move,
especially
given
the
fact
that
your
professional
degrees
in
nigeria
are
not
relevant
here
right
and
you
literally
had
to
build
yourself
up
so
talk
a
little
bit
about
that?
Like
do
you
regret
at
one
point,
did
you
regret
moving
and
what
made
you
want
to
take
that
leap,
even
knowing
that
things
were
going
to
change
right
ultimately,.
B
We
were,
we
were
comfortable
back
home
like
we.
We
we've
been
married
for
like
36
years
now,
and
we
we
had
no
children
for
the
first
17
years
of
our
marriage
for
the
first
16
years
of
our
marriage.
So
we
moved
down
to
the
united
states
in
the
hope
of
you
know,
getting
better
treatment
and
getting
the
fertility
treatment
done.
That
was
one
of
the
major
also
to
seek
greener
posture
on
getting
here.
It
was
really
tough
for
us,
we'll
give
glory
to
god,
because
it
wasn't.
B
When
we're
saying
it's
tough,
it's
not
even
compared
to
other
people's
story.
We
will
give
glory
to
god.
We
stayed
with
a
couple
of
one
of
our
close
friends
and
that
accommodated
us
and
they
were
very
nice
people,
but
for
us
to
go
from
being
professionals
to
work
in
the
in
the
factory,
you
have
to
build
yourself
up.
They
said
america
is
a
leveler.
When
you
first
come
in
here,
you
have
to
walk
your
way
bottom
up.
C
B
Like
you
rightly
said
earlier,
certificates
doesn't
really
mean
anything
to
them
here.
You
have.
C
B
Go
do
like
you
know,
re-evaluate
your
credentials
and
all
that,
and
that
takes
a
lot
of
time.
Nobody
wants
to
wait
for
that,
so
we
have
to
like
build
ourselves
up
from
bottom
up
like
going
back
to
school,
changing
our
careers
and
things
like
that.
So
we
give
glory
to
god
and
in
terms
of
regrets,
we
have
no
regrets
at
all.
We
we
thank.
We
thank
god
that
we
were
able
to
make
this
journey.
We
migrated
the
united
states,
but
when
you
first
come
to
the
united
states
number
one
is
the
weather.
C
B
Summer
and
the
slightest
school
we
have
is
not
nothing
near
to
the
atom
they
have
here.
So
that
was
the
only
thing
that
we
had
to
like.
You
know
struggle
to
adjust
with
what
the
weather,
but
since
then,
we've
been
we've
been
doing
well
and,
like
you
said,
I
mean,
as
you
know,
like
america,
is
the
land
of
opportunity
and
they're
welcoming
to
to.
B
So
we
thank
god
for
all
the
privileges
we
have
enjoyed
so
far.
That
will
continue
to
enjoy
coming
to
this
country
and
by
the
grace
of
god.
We
are
legalized
citizens
of
this
country,
so
this
is
because
our
country
now
so
we're
gonna
call.
A
Right
right
uncle,
would
you
want
to
add
anything.
C
Yeah,
I'm
sure
I
said
it
all.
At
least
I'm
talking
about
regret
and
like
at
the
onset
when
we
came
in
first
because
I
was
thinking
when
I
was
coming
because
of
the
interview
we
had
and
all
the
regardless
at
the
embassy
and
the
length
of
time
and
the
question
we
have
regarding
our
profession.
So
I
taught
him
I
was
going
to
work
in
wall
street
because
I
used
to
be
a
registered
back
in
nigeria.
So,
but
when
I
came,
it
was
a
different
scenario
like
she
said.
We.
C
At
first,
but
to
god,
be
the
glory
we
find
our
way
through,
because
the
country
itself
is
encouraging
and
we
we
find.
We
find
our
way
out
and
we
made
what
we
want
and
choose
the
right
choice
and.
C
C
C
At
least
it's
an
advantage,
you
know
so
we're
happy
about
that.
It's
it's
a
city
that
encouraged
education
and
then.
A
Also
you
mentioned
about
your
children,
your
children,
that
you
had
here
right
and
I
know,
and
speaking
with
other
immigrants
and
refugees.
Refugees
primarily
a
concern
that
tends
to
happen
is,
is
that
they
don't
want
their
children
to
forget
their
culture
right
like,
of
course,
you're.
An
american
you're,
stimulating
you're
born
in
america,
such
as
your
kids
and
others,
who
might
have
come
here
when
they
are
younger.
A
But
over
time
I
mean
you
get
engrossed
by
american
culture,
and
it
seems,
like
you
might
not
know
the
language
of
of
of
of
where
your
parents
came
from
and
and
all
of
those
different
things.
So
I'm
curious
for
your
children
who
are
now
grown
and
are
college
age
in
what
ways,
if
you
have
have
you
tried
to
maintain
the
heritage
of
being
nigerian
to
your
children.
B
The
first
thing
is
for
for
them
to
allow
their
children
to
mingle
with
you
know,
with
africans,
or
mainly
nigerians
if
they
can
to
belong
to
the
nigerian
community
and
also
to
enforce
their
like.
You
know,
encourage
them
to
speak
our
language,
because
some
people
are
not.
I,
I
don't
want
to
judge
anybody,
but
some
people
are
not.
I
wouldn't
say
they
are
proud
of
speaking
europa
language.
The.
C
B
They
they
are
very
fluent
in
their
language
and
no
matter
where
they
live.
Their
children
understand
their
language,
but
what
this
the
ebola
language
is
that
speak,
but
in
the
east,
likewise,
the
others
for
the
europas
they
are
like.
They
don't
want
their
kids
to
have
a
nigerian
accent,
so
they
don't
speak
your
back
to
them.
So
I
will.
B
Them
for
them
to
teach
them
and
allow
them
to
speak
it
fluently
at
home,
it's
important,
they
have
to.
They
understand
the
english.
English
is
a
major
language
in
nigeria.
However,
we
still
have
different
tons
of
dialects.
You
know,
but
we
should
encourage
our
children
so
that
we
don't
we
don't
let
our
culture
just
wash
away
like
that.
We
have
to
continue
with
the
heritage
by
teaching
our
kids,
the
culture,
the
behaviors
our
languages.
They
need
to
understand
and
speak.
It
well.
A
Uncle
you,
you
manage
a
program
here
right,
you
you,
you
have
a
community
group
that
you
organize
right,
the
yoruba
group.
Can
you
tell
us
a
little
bit?
What
is
that
called
and,
and
why
again,
why
did
you
choose?
Why
was
it
important
that
you
bring
members
of
the
community
together.
C
Every
morning,
because
community
they
are
strengthening
community
and
when
you
bring
people
together,
at
least
that
enhanced
and
gives
you
the
ability
to
understand
one
another.
And
if
you
look
at
pittsburgh
itself,
the
the
diversity
in
the
city.
That
is
what
is
mainly
the
uniqueness
of
the
city,
the
the
diversification
people
from
different
backgrounds.
C
You
have
the
utopian
different,
the
african
community,
you
have
the
irish
for
which
they
have
their
own
events,
and
if
you
see
at
any
point
in
time
when
these
events
are
taking
place,
you
see
that
that
that
shows
the
glamour
of
the
city
so
bringing
a
nigerian
community.
I
was
not
the
one
that
actually
initiated
it,
but
I
was
a
fortune
to
be
the
president
of
that
community,
which
I
would
say,
I'm
very
pleased
and
happy
the
opportunity
to
be
the
president
of
the
community.
C
B
B
B
C
A
A
A
C
A
A
B
C
B
Fish,
we
have
three
types
of
fish:
we
have
tilapia,
croque
and
catfish.
So.
C
A
B
And
apart
from
that,
there's
the
guillermo
and
we
do
amala-
is
the
meal
meal.
The
yam
has
been
processed
into
powder.
B
We
making
into
a
solid
carb
that
we
can
swallow
with
some
nice
delicious
sauce,
like
vanguard,
stew,
a
goosey,
and
we
do
beglie,
and
we
do
you
know
just
to
mention
but
few
and
we
have
fulfilled
as
well,
which
is
trending
right
now,
if
you,
if
you
don't
know
about
fufu,
you
need
to
go
on
tick,
tock
and
look
for
the
fufu
challenge
on
tick
tock
and
you
will
see
a
across
sauce
there's
so
many
and
also
we
accommodate
the
vegans
and
the
vegetarians
in
our
restaurants
and
also
the
gluten-free
people
too,
can
enjoy
with
us,
because
we
eat
less
of
gluten.
B
In
nigeria
we
don't
eat
so
much.
We
eat
natural
food,
which
is
made
from
cassava
nyam
category
and
also
fresh
vegetables,
and
we
have
different
kinds
of
meat,
goat
meat.
We
have
goat
meat,
we
have
beef
and
what
else
we
have
snake
chicken
fried
chicken
and,
like
I
said
earlier,
various
types
of
fish
and
you
can
wait
for
you
guys
to
join
us.
So
you
can.
You
know
explore.
B
A
C
B
A
That
sounds
so
good.
I'm
sure
people
will
when
they
watch
this.
We
want
to
run
down
immediately,
but
one
like
one
last
question
for
you
all
again.
I
know
that
you
all
are
working.
I
will
need
to
to
get
back.
What
is
the
future
for
african
cuisine?
I
mean
you
guys
just
started.
What
would
you
like
to
see
in
five
years
and
I'm
gonna
ask
you
in
two
pronged
right
for
african
cuisine.
B
A
B
B
Like
event
center
that
all
the
like
some
types
of
african
museum
in
pittsburgh
that
people
can
come
and
visit
out,
you
know
culture
and
learn
about
our
culture
and
what
else?
For
us,
I'm
I'm
approaching
retirement
age,
but
with
my
doctorate
degree
that
I'm
posting
right
now,
I
would
love
to
see
myself
practice
my
psychiatry,
not
nothing
so.
A
A
Again,
thank
you
guys
so
much
for
giving
us
part
of
your
time.
Thank
you
for
all
the
great
work
you're
doing
we're
so
happy
to
see
african
cuisine
live
and
look
forward
to
seeing
you
all
expand.
Thank
you
so
much
for
having
us,
of
course,.