Latest Post’s

June is Immigrant Heritage Month. This is my story.

My world was totally upended when I was 10 and communism fell. I was born in what was then the Lithuanian Socialist Republic of the USSR, and my familiar world ended with tanks and bloodshed during a cold winter in 1991. My parents didn’t know what to expect, and it was the first time I remember realizing that the world was a big, uncertain place. From that point on, I watched as black marketeers and mafia took advantage of the economic uncertainty and social instability in my country. I pledged that when I was old enough I would travel somewhere where real opportunity was possible for anyone.

Armed only with legends about America and $200 in my pocket, I landed in New York in the late 1990s. I worked three jobs doing menial labor hauling, cleaning, and doing construction just to feed myself. Many people dismissed me because of my accent, my poor English, and my cultural differences, but a rare few saw themselves in me and made it a point to help me. Some actually went out of their way to train me on jobs, provide me a place to stay, and help me learn how to navigate the system so I could earn a little piece of the opportunity they had been born with. I will never forgot those first lessons about kindness and compassion; they taught me the most important lessons about what it means to be American.

When I met my wife, an American, I remember that she was so passionate about the value of democracy. Growing up in the Soviet Union, I used to challenge her optimism and belief in the political system, but I watched as she wrote letters to her representatives, voted, kept up with politics, and even worked in jobs that taught youth about civic activism. Over time, I came to understand the responsibility I had as an American citizen with an immigrant background. I realized that I had something to say and an accountability to the system I lived in to say it.

June is Immigrant Heritage Month. This is my story. Read More »

Foreign Policy Professionals for Hillary Event on Europe and Alliances

Please join me for DC’s first HFA reception on Europe and the transatlantic relationship. The event will include an off-the-record conversation on America’s continued investment in NATO, key European allies and partners, and the EU with Julie Smith, former advisor to Vice President Joe Biden, Robert Kagan, former Reagan Administration State Department official, and Amanda Sloat, former Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for Europe.

The reception and discussion will be immediately followed by a private watch party of the final day of the GOP convention.

RSVP: https://goo.gl/JqiR7o

7.21.16 Invite

Foreign Policy Professionals for Hillary Event on Europe and Alliances Read More »

My American Journey

June is Immigrant Heritage Month, and columnist Rokas Beresniovas, a Lithuanian American, reflects on his American Odyssey.

By Rokas Beresniovas

Rokas BeresniovasMy world was totally upended when I was 10 and communism fell. I was born in what was then the Lithuanian Socialist Republic of the USSR, and my familiar world ended with tanks and bloodshed during a cold winter in 1991.

My parents didn’t know what to expect, and it was the first time I remember realizing that the world was a big, uncertain place. From that point on, I watched as black marketeers and mafia took advantage of the economic uncertainty and social instability in my country. I pledged that when I was old enough I would travel somewhere where real opportunity was possible for anyone.

Armed only with legends about America and $200 in my pocket, I landed in New York in the late 1990s. I worked three jobs doing menial labor hauling, cleaning, and doing construction just to feed myself. Many people dismissed me because of my accent, my poor English, and my cultural differences, but a rare few saw themselves in me and made it a point to help me.

Some actually went out of their way to train me on jobs, provide me a place to stay, and help me learn how to navigate the system so I could earn a little piece of the opportunity they had been born with. I will never forgot those first lessons about kindness and compassion; they taught me the most important lessons about what it means to be American.

When I met my wife, an American, I remember that she was so passionate about the value of democracy. Growing up in the Soviet Union, I used to challenge her optimism and belief in the political system, but I watched as she wrote letters to her representatives, voted, kept up with politics, and even worked in jobs that taught youth about civic activism.

Over time, I came to understand the responsibility I had as an American citizen with an immigrant background. I realized that I had something to say and an accountability to the system I lived in to say it. Read more.

My American Journey Read More »

Featured Mentor: Rokas Beresniovas

copy-Naisa-logo-2015-495x201

Rokas Beresniovas is a leader in the D.C. business community. Presently, he works as a Vice President and head of expansion at the State Bank of India USA in Washington, DC. Currently, he is a founding board member of Pebbles of Hope and the Perisphere Theater, an active board member for Joy of Motion, and an honorary board member for The Embassy Series. He is also the founder of the Lithuanian nonprofit organization Global Lithuanian Leaders (GLL) and was recognized by the Lithuanian Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2015 for outstanding leadership in youth mentoring. Read more.

Featured Mentor: Rokas Beresniovas Read More »

My name is Rokas and this is my story.

FWD.US

Immigrant Heritage Month
My world was totally upended when I was 10 and communism fell. I was born in what was then the Lithuanian Socialist Republic of the USSR, and my familiar world ended with tanks and bloodshed during a cold winter in 1991. My parents didn’t know what to expect, and it was the first time I remember realizing that the world was a big, uncertain place.

From that point on, I watched as black marketeers and mafia took advantage of the economic uncertainty and social instability in my country. I pledged that when I was old enough I would travel somewhere where real opportunity was possible for anyone. Armed only with legends about America and $200 in my pocket, I landed in New York in the late 1990s. I worked three jobs doing menial labor hauling, cleaning, and doing construction just to feed myself. Many people dismissed me because of my accent, my poor English, and my cultural differences, but a rare few saw themselves in me and made it a point to help me. Some actually went out of their way to train me on jobs, provide me a place to stay, and help me learn how to navigate the system so I could earn a little piece of the opportunity they had been born with. I will never forgot those first lessons about kindness and compassion; they taught me the most important lessons about what it means to be American. When I met my wife, an American, I remember that she was so passionate about the value of democracy. Growing up in the Soviet Union, I used to challenge her optimism and belief in the political system, but I watched as she wrote letters to her representatives, voted, kept up with politics, and even worked in jobs that taught youth about civic activism. Over time, I came to understand the responsibility I had as an American citizen with an immigrant background. I realized that I had something to say and an accountability to the system I lived in to say it. Read more.

Rokas says:Please share my story with Congress.

 

My name is Rokas and this is my story. Read More »

DNC’s Immigrant Heritage Month Celebration on June 14

AB Wire

DNC Heritage Council

CEO Amy K. Dacey and Obama aide David Simas to headline the event.

On June 14 the Democratic National Committee Heritage Council will host an Immigrant Heritage Month Celebration in order to laud diversity in the United States and raise funds for the Democratic National Committee.

Hosted on the rooftop of multinational law firm Hogan Lovells in the heart of Washington, D.C., the event is slated to feature special guests David Simas, who serves as Assistant to the President and Director of the Office of Political Strategy and Outreach, and Amy K. Dacey, the Chief Executive Officer of the DNC.

The month of June marks the first ever Immigrant Heritage Month, which is being implemented by Welcome.us,  a new non-profit organization dedicated to celebrating a United States that is fueled by immigrants from around the world.

“The goal of the month – which will bring together a dynamic coalition of individuals and organizations from Congressmen to celebrities – is to encourage every American to tell the story of how they first felt welcomed to the American experience,” according to Welcome.us media outreach.

Along with the DNC Heritage Council, the event  is co-hosted by Rokas Beresniovas (Vice President at the State Bank of India U.S.A.), Robert Blancato (President of Matz, Blancato, & Associates), Alexandra Chalupa (Political & Communications Consultant at ?Chalupa & Associates), Ali Cinar (Executive Vice President of the Turkish Heritage Organization and Partner-Chief Marketing Officer at Team of America Consulting Group), Murat Guzel (CEO of Nimeks organic/Natural Food Source Inc.), Stella Kokolis (President of the Federation of Greek American Educators), Terry Lierman (Founder of Summit Global Ventures, President of Energy On, Executive Officer at Health Ventures, LLC), John McCarthy (Executive Member of the National Democratic Ethnic Coordinating Council), Sylvester Okere (Director of the Continental African Leadership Council), Danica Oparnica (Vice Chair of the National Democratic Ethnic Coordinating Council), Maureen Pikarski (Co-Chair of the Democratic Ethnic Coordinating Council), James Rosapepe (Maryland State Senator), Harpreet Sandhu (former President of the Sikh Center of San Francisco Bay Area), and James Zogby (President of the Arab American Institute). Read more.

DNC’s Immigrant Heritage Month Celebration on June 14 Read More »

Please join me in a celebration of Immigrant Heritage Month with the Democratic National Committee Heritage Council

Dear Friends,

As you know, I immigrated to this country 17 years ago and have since made it my home.

The country was good to me and now, as a proud American, I want to give back and celebrate all that makes this country great.

Please join me in a celebration of Immigrant Heritage Month with the Democratic National Committee Heritage Council on Tuesday, June 14th.

The event will be held on the rooftop of the Hogan Lovells building, which has both excellent hospitality and views of DC.

We will also have great guests joining us: Davis Simas, Political Director of the White House, and Amy Dacey, CEO of the Democratic National Committee.

I hope to see you next Tuesday, but the event is limited to 200 people, so register fast:

https://finance.democrats.org/page/contribute/HeritageMonthCelebrationJune14?custom1=100862252Heritage Council Reception

PDF Invitation: Heritage Council Reception Invite

Please join me in a celebration of Immigrant Heritage Month with the Democratic National Committee Heritage Council Read More »

Rokas Beresniovas Recognized With Washington’s SmartCEO 2016 Executive Management Award

WASHINGTON – Washington SmartCEO last night recognized Rokas Beresniovas, Vice President at the State Bank of India, with its 2016 Executive Management Award. The Executive Management Awards recognize the leadership and accomplishments of Washington’s private sector executives; awardees are chosen by an independent committee of Washington’s business leaders.

10

 

 

 

7

 

Rokas Beresniovas Recognized With Washington’s SmartCEO 2016 Executive Management Award Read More »

The Washington Center honors SBI-Califronia’s Beresniovas

(AB Wire)

The Washington Center for Internships and Academic Seminars, a nonprofit organization that places college students from the United States and other countries in internships, has recognized Rokas Beresniovas, a vice president for business development, at the State Bank of India (California), with an Internship Supervisor Award.

The award was presented at the spring 2016 Internship Supervisor Award Reception in Washington, DC, on April 20.

Beresniovas, a columnist for The American Bazaar, is one of the Washington Center’s more than 500 internship supervisors.

“We have been working with The Washington Center for a couple of years now and they always match us with the most professional interns from all over the world who are eager to learn and get business experience with us,” he said. “What we focus is on is providing our interns with experiences that befit their time living in the capital city of the United States and the seat of a major world power.”

Beresniovas added:“In addition to hands on experience working with a number of projects related to their interests, we also encourage them to attend professional development opportunities at think tanks, international organizations, major corporations, and on Capitol Hill because we are fortunate to have such resources all consolidated in this amazing city. We want our interns to grow as professionals, not simply come to the bank to serve as an extra set of hands.”

According to the Washington Center, Beresniovas was nominated by interns: Calvin Pratama from Earlham College, Zixiao Nie from Tsinghua University and Jasmeet Kaur Sandhu from Mount Royal University.

With 70 full-time staff and more than 50,000 alumni, the Center is the largest program of its kind, says it website. Read more.

The Washington Center honors SBI-Califronia’s Beresniovas Read More »