History of Bengali Immigration to Michigan

Meet our research team


Nasreen Meah
Founder & President


Siyu Zhao (Roxy)

School of Social Work Intern


Abbas Hussain

UROP Research Scholar

Preserving Our Heritage. Documenting Our Journey. Connecting Generations.

Jotno Foundation is partnering with the University of Michigan’s Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program (UROP) Scholars Program to document, preserve, and share the history of Bengali immigration to Michigan. This collaborative initiative seeks to capture an important yet underdocumented chapter of Michigan’s multicultural history by exploring the journeys, experiences, accomplishments, and contributions of Bengali immigrants and their families. Through historical research, oral history interviews, personal narratives, family photographs, archival materials, and community engagement, the project will trace the evolution of Bengali immigration and the development of vibrant Bengali communities throughout Michigan.