Land of Opportunity: The Immigrant Experience in San Mateo County

Carmen Blair will speak on, "Land of Opportunity: The Immigrant Experience in San Mateo County".

In 1880 and 2020, about one third of the population of San Mateo County was born in another country. In Land of Opportunity, Carmen Blair will feature some of the largest immigrant groups that have made this county their home in the years since the Gold Rush. She will discuss some of the problems that pushed immigrants out of their home countries as well as the opportunities that pulled them to California. Once they arrived, the work immigrants found reflected skills learned at home or assistance provided by other immigrants. Finally, Blair will highlight the ways immigrants and their descendants have maintained their traditions and shared them with other local residents.

Carmen Blair joined the staff of the San Mateo County Historical Associationin 1998 and has been the Deputy Director since 2007.  Among her responsibilities, she is involved with school programs, public programs for adults and children, exhibit design and publications. She received her B.A. in History from GustavusAdolphus College and her M.A. in Museum Studies from San Francisco State University.