Albanian American Success Stories

01/05/2024

“The casual scribbles of schoolchildren done on their desks in moments of boredom or distraction reveal the fantasies and dreams of their minds." Petrit Halilaj’s “Abetare” is now on view at Met for The 2024 Roof Garden Commission. Halilaj's sprawling work explores the intersection of reality and fantasy—inspired by doodles, drawings, and scribblings found on desks at the school he attended Kosova as well as schools in Albania. These furtive drawings from children’s desks have been enlarged into three-dimensional metal sculptures, that bring to public view the collective memory and imaginative power of generations of students whose lives were marked by traumatic conflicts and territorial divisions.

Exhibition now on view at The Met

15/04/2024

Pop Star Dua Lipa makes the cover of Time Magazine and talks about her new album, her childhood in Kosova and the power of manifestation ti.me/4418V9T

29/03/2024

“Dancing with the Stars”International Ballroom Dancer and National Dance Director of Fred Astaire Studios Tony Dovolani will star in the upcoming musical Kiss of the Spider Woman with recording artist and film star, Jennifer Lopez.

23/02/2024

Congratulations to Suzanna Shkreli, Nominee of Albanian American Success Stories, on her appointment as Commissioner of the Michigan Lottery by Governor Gretchen Whitmer.

09/02/2024

Proudly unstoppable, Dua Lipa shares Albanian colloquialisms at her best in Jimmy Kimmel Live.

01/02/2024

The Washington Post highlights Dhermi, Albania as one of it’s featured destinations to travel in 2024.

31/01/2024

Congratulations to acclaimed Soprano Ermonela Jaho, an early nominee in our project, for being awarded as the Best foreign artist of the Asoc. de Teatros/Temporadas de Opera, for the interpretation of Suor Angelica, at the Gran Teatre Liceu de Barcelona.

29/01/2024

Great news from the automobile industry as “Illyrian TSX” is the first car produced by Arrera Automobili-an Albanian car company owned by founder and architect Qendrim Thaqi. The new Illyrian Super Sport Car is the first car build by an Albanian that meets international standards and will rival Lamborghini and Ferrari.

28/01/2024

North Macedonia's parliament elected Talat Xhaferi Prime Minister, the first time an Albanian has held the position, and the third ethic Albanian prime minister in the Western Balkans.

25/01/2024

Rest in Pearce Ronald Nasson, a Korean War Veteran, the chair of the Albanian American Veterans Association and one of the earliest nominees of the Albanian American Success Stories in 2014.

24/01/2024

Hollywood Actress Eliza Dushku wrote the Foreword to the Albanian American Success Stories print edition and also co-produced “Dear Albania” a documentary traveling through Albania in search of her heritage.

18/01/2024

Meet our nominee Alberti Popaj a TV Personality and Host at QVC. He is most known for his expertise in prestige cosmetics and launched the world’s first beauty dedicated channel BeautyIQ. Alberti Popaj QVC

17/01/2024

“Albanians everywhere,” Dua says with a shrug as she enjoys desert at a popular, Venice Beach restaurant - Gjelina, an Albanian owned restaurant, while discussing kicking off a new era, her dreams, her anxieties, and what she wants to stand for. https://www.rollingstone.com/music/music-features/dua-lipa-third-album-influences-dating-life-acting-1234945422/amp/

16/01/2024

One European city, Tirana is on track to bring the revolutionary "school streets" model to every child who lives within it borders — and it's throwing down the gauntlet to U.S. communities that have been slow to embrace the game-changing concept. Last week, the Albanian capital announced that it would make a nearly 1 million euro investment to convert 20 streets near neighborhood schools into permanent "school streets," which either banish or significantly limit car traffic from roads near learning centers and redesign them around children's needs instead.

Streets near schools should be for kids — not cars. And this Albanian city is set to reimagine roads in front of all its learning centers.

16/01/2024

Albanian American Success Stories nominee Rose Dosti’s life spans between a Los Angeles Times columnist to teaching journalism in her native Albania and founding the Albanian Human Rights Project, a non profit to film, and preserve testimonies of former Albanian political prisoners.

13/01/2024

Meet Fjolla Sheholli the innovative and creative owner and host of Honey Badger, one of the best wild to table restaurants in Brooklyn, where fine ding is an art and a healthy option.

10/01/2024

Straight from The New York Times, Albanian Alps, Theth and Valbona make the 52 Places to Go in 2024 List.

10/01/2024

Congratulations to the Westchester County Board of Legislators for being officially sworn in and Albanian Americans proudly represented by Chair Vedat Gashi and Emiljana Ulaj.

09/01/2024

Bledar and Nikolin Kola left Italy and England after 20 years to start a nonprofit, aimed at defining and reviving Albania’s cultural food heritage and opening their own restaurants. Albanian cuisine’s Mediterranean roots reach all the way back to the Illyrians, the Iron Age society with influences from empires that have come across Albanian lands for over a millennium.

After decades of decline under communist rule, food enthusiasts—including brother chef and baker Bledar and Nikolin Kola—are pioneering the return

09/01/2024

NYPD Lieutenant Commander Kreshnik Bakraqi of the 52 Precinct Squad, originally from Peja, currently carries one of the most prestigious ranks in the NYPD, proudly representing his heritage and our community.

04/01/2024

Congratulations to former member of the Fairview City Council, Albanian-American Violetta Berisha, who has made history being sworn in as the first female mayor in 129 years to lead the municipality of Fairview, New Jersey.

04/01/2024

Launched in October 2020, Makeup by Mario was founded by Mario Dedivanovic, an Albanian American Success Stories nominee and makeup artist who is sought after for his pioneering makeup techniques. With a client roster including celebrities, dignitaries, royalty and world leaders, Mario has worked with some of the most iconic faces of the last two decades and he is a a trusted leader in artistry education, sharing his trade secrets through his education platform The Masterclass.

28/12/2023

According to The Spectator, the story of the next Albanian ambassador to London Uran Ferizi, is a remarkable one. He was 17 years old when he arrived in London illegally in 1998. After many hurdles he persevered and graduated Oxford University. Dr Ferizi completed a PhD in the micro-structural modelling of the brain at UCL. He then worked at the medical schools of NYU and Stanford University. His research contributes to advances in the early diagnosis of illnesses such as multiple sclerosis and Parkinson’s, benefiting people not only in this country but around the world.
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/uran-ferizi-knows-more-about-illegal-immigration-than-most/

27/12/2023

The New Yorker Magazine takes a look at how Albanian-British political philosopher Lea Ypi defines freedom and insists that democracy is a “demanding ideal.”

The Albanian-British political philosopher insists that democracy is a “demanding ideal.”

26/12/2023

Meet Valentina Juncaj, creator of a Vajzë, a jewelry company founded in 2016 to embody the multifaceted nature of a woman at any stage of her life. Her inspiration and pieces also describe the women who surrounded Valentina as she grew up. These were women who worked hard, took care of their families, and treated every social or family gathering as an occasion to celebrate each other’s lives.

23/12/2023

Congratulations to Drita Ziri of Albania, the first Albanian Miss Earth winner and the first to win a major pageant. As the new ambassador of the Miss Earth, she will represent the organization, which has the distinct advocacy for environmental protection.

12/12/2023

Did you know that Kukës, Albania was the first city ever nominated for a Nobel Prize. During the Kosovo War, 450,000 Albanians fled and stayed in the small town of Kukës, which led, in 2000, to the nomination for the Nobel Peace Prize, a great example showing the world that even in the darkest moments, humanity prevails.

At the height of the Kosovo war, this 16,000-person area welcomed more than 400,000 refugees. Now, Kukës is tapping into its unique history of conflict and compassion to lure visitors.

11/12/2023

Meet Arta Kallaba an Albanian theater, film director, and fashion designer, the founder of the iconic Arta Kallaba-New York fashion brand, known for its high quality modern handmade knitting, intertwining the cultural and craft traditions with the modern trends and simplicity.

11/12/2023

According to Inside Edition, Arbnora Fejza “folded” herself into the Guinness Book of World Records. She recently made a mosaic of the Albanian flag to celebrate the country’s Independence day. Now she’s also hoping Guinness will take note of her work and award her a World Record for a fold count of 1,200,000.