Joe

Joseph was born in 1945 in Enugu, Nigeria and grew up in a big Igbo family with seven siblings. Joe still carries a lot of pride in his culture and where he comes from. He speaks Igbo and even calls his children by their traditional names, making sure his roots stay strong in his family. In 1972, he moved to the United States for college and later became an engineer. He helped design parts of Houston’s highway system, which connects thousands of people every day.. Joe is married and has four children and nine grandchildren and he says his greatest achievement is the unity of his family. On special occasions, he wears his traditional agbada, and he loves telling Nigerian stories to visitors. Every Sunday (when he can), he eats rice and stew as a reminder of home. When asked what it means to be human, Joe says, “it is to belong to others, to your ancestors and to God.” His life, from Nigeria to the highways of Houston to his community at Belmont, reflects that idea of connection, culture and service