Amma Gatty, founder of Cultural Encounters, didn’t experience a culture shock when she moved from Ghana, West Africa, to Richmond — it was more of a “people shock.”

Americans teased her about her accent, and she was taken aback by the stark contrast between the transactional nature of U.S. culture and the communal values she grew up with in Ghana. She felt an unspoken pressure from others to abandon her own culture and assimilate into theirs.

“Because Ghana was a British colony, I learned British English,” Gatty said. “I was teased, and it made me self-conscious.”

Gatty came to the U.S. after completing her undergraduate degree in Ghana. She was surprised to learn how little many Americans knew about other cultures.

The Manhattan Institute, a conservative think tank, asserts that assimilation is essential for immigrants to succeed in the U.S. In a 2023 study, they found that “by taking in or being absorbed into the cultural tradition of the native population, newcomers are better able to communicate and integrate into society and workplaces, as well as make better use of public services.”

However, according to Healthy Places by Design — a nonprofit promoting community-led action and place-based strategies for health and well-being — the psychological effects of assimilation and the loss of cultural identity warrant careful consideration.

Gatty advocates for integration over assimilation, emphasizing the importance of blending one’s culture with that of a new society to build a diverse and connected community. To advance this vision, she founded Cultural Encounters, an organization that creates opportunities for Richmonders to engage with immigrants and people from diverse backgrounds. Through these interactions, Gatty aims to promote understanding and foster a more welcoming, inclusive region.

After 23 years of living in Richmond, Gatty has an un-detectable accent. She and her husband, whom she met as a teenager in Ghana, have lived most of their adult lives here.

She acknowledges that growing up in Ghana’s conservative culture was restrictive and appreciates many aspects of American culture. However, she still finds certain elements of American culture peculiar.

“When I first arrived at the airport from Ghana, I didn’t know which box to check,” Gatty said, referring to the section of the immigration paperwork that requires racial identification.

“I wasn’t African American. In Ghana, there were no racial boxes to check.”

Gatty wants to share these distinctions to create a greater understanding of people of different cultures. Meet the Ghanaian immigrant working to promote unity in diversity and this week’s Personality, Amma Gatty:

Occupation: Executive director and founder of Cultural Encounters.

Date and place of birth: June 2 in Accra, Ghana.

Where I live now: Varina.

Education: Bachelor’s in renewable natural resources management, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Ghana; MBA, Strayer University; graduate certificate in family life education and coaching, North Carolina State University.

Family: Husband, Fred; daughter, Aseye; son, Freddy.

Culture Encounters is: A nonprofit bridging the cultural divides in Richmond and surrounding communities. We center immigrant voices by offering immersive cultural experiences to people of all ages and backgrounds to make our region a more welcoming place.

Mission: We exist to ignite cultural curiosity, knowledge and appreciation in the Richmond area through the transformative power of the arts, shared experiences and open dialogue while serving as a model for global harmony.

I founded Culture Encounters because: As an immigrant, I understand the challenges newcomers face when arriving in this country. There is an unspoken pressure to assimilate, to become “Americanized,” which can lead immigrants to withdraw and form cultural silos.

Location: We meet and host events at various locations.

Funding: Events, donations, grants and business sponsorships.

Partners: Several Cultural performing groups in Richmond, The Children’s Museum of Richmond and Next Up.

Who can benefit from Culture Encounters: Those who may feel curious about other cultures or are hesitant to engage with people from different backgrounds.

Top goal or project for 2025: Our biggest project in 2025 is the 2nd Annual Richmond International Dance Festival, celebrating cultural diversity by connecting with several cultures through the universal language of dance. Participants can take free dance classes from different cultural dance groups, culminating in a dance show that evening. The inaugural festival was a huge success, and we are excited about this second event.

Strategy for success: Plans are well underway for the festival this year. We are actively seeking a location, securing funding, dance groups and partner organizations.

Biggest challenge: Securing an affordable venue that is suitable for this type of event due to limited funding.

How Culture Encounters has made a difference in Richmond: I’ve seen a significant increase in event participation in recent years. Attendance jumped from just over 430 people in 2023 to about 1,523 in 2024, demonstrating a heightened community interest. It also shows a deeper curiosity and willingness among residents to engage with and learn about diverse cultures.

How to get involved: Volunteer, serve on our board, be a contributor to our blog, attend our events, donate a cultural artifact or make a financial contribution.

Experiences we offer: We have a bi-monthly culinary and cultural experience at immigrant-owned restaurants called Eat.Talk.Connect. Cul- tureFest Fridays in partnership with The Children’s Museum of Richmond; Youth Summer Food Tours; quarterly panel discussions, a podcast, after- school programs, camps, and special curated cultural events for groups and organizations.

Communities where we operate: Richmond area.

Upcoming events: Our next Eat.Talk.Connect. is on Feb. 28 at The former Blue Sky Fund Building, at 2900 Q St. It will be a Ghanaian culinary experience. Also, CultureFest Fridays at the Children’s Museum of Richmond are every first Friday at the Downtown location and every third Friday at the Chesterfield location.

How I start the day: My day starts at 5 a.m. I focus on beginning with gratitude and intention, spending my first moments in prayer.

The three words that best describe me: Nurturer, creative and disciplined.

Dream dinner party guest: Oprah Winfrey because I admire her longevity and relevance.

Top three on my playlist: I don’t have a top three, but I typically listen to Chandler Moore and Maverick City. I loudly listen to afrobeats on road trips.

Something I love to do that most people don’t know: People-watching, especially at a restaurant in Carytown.

A quote that inspires me: “Be anxious for nothing.” — Philippians 4:6-7.

Most influential person: My mother, who also founded a nonprofit organization.

Most influential book: “The 5 Second Rule,” by Mel Robbins, it helped me realize that the only thing that stands in my way of accomplishing anything is myself!

My current read: “The Grieving Brain” by Mary-Frances O’Connor. My biggest takeaway from this book is that grieving is not a neatly packaged experience. It doesn’t follow a specific sequence, and we all experience it and express it in unique ways.

Next goal: Start a Culture Encounters chapter on campus at one of our area universities.