🌺 Kindness from Strangers: The McLain Connection
- Lis Hdez
- Sep 22, 2025
- 2 min read
Strong redhead gene and even stronger hearts. Gracias for being the kind of vecinos that remind us what community is all about. ¡Los queremos mucho! 💕
It’s that time again—Fiesta 2025 is about to ramp up the Hispanic vibe around Birmingham. Next Saturday, September 27th, there’s only one place to be: our Cuban Booth, La Casa de Celia.
But before looking ahead, I want to share a story from Fiesta 2024—a story that speaks to what this whole platform is about: how newcomers can find purpose, belonging, and community in the most unexpected ways.
That year, while hosting our Cuban stand, I met Molly—the first step in what became the McLain connection. She was at Fiesta representing TOI (The Overseas Initiative), a nonprofit supporting the Cuban people. Naturally, the subject caught my attention right away… and it turned out to be just the tip of the iceberg.
From emotional support, to food and medicine, to programs of micro-loans and mentorship for Cuban entrepreneurs, TOI’s work is deeply transformative. And at that moment, TOI was focused on Santa Clara—my hometown. What are the odds? Sometimes destiny meets you in the most unexpected places.
Through Molly, I met Rick and Elaine, her parents. Then came others—each one with an open heart and generous spirit. What began as a random encounter grew into something even deeper: family dinners, Sunday gatherings, concerts and conversations that opened doors to new circles of love and connection.
For me, growing up in Cuba meant that religion and many spiritual expressions weren’t part of daily life—they were censored and cut short for my generation. But here in Birmingham, through the McLains, I experienced something bigger: a reminder that what really matters are the core values that unite us.
👉 Kindness.
👉 Compassion.
👉 Openness.
Beyond politics, beyond religion, beyond nationality—we are all part of the same brotherhood and sisterhood of humankind. These values are the key to turning strangers into family, and to finding your place in a new community.
✨ And that’s exactly what I love most as a connector and bilingual REALTOR®: helping newcomers not only find the right house, but also discover their circles of belonging—their own “McLain connection.”
Find what resonates with you. For me, it was Cuba, generosity, and kindness.
So here’s the invitation: be willing to connect, step outside your comfort zone, and let compassion guide you. For me, the McLain family was the reminder that kindness can rewrite stories. For you, it may be a neighbor, a co-worker, or someone you meet at Fiesta this year. Whoever it is—be open. You never know when a stranger might become family.
More about The Overseas Initiative here: https://es.theoverseasinitiative.org/
Comments