Following the tragic events of September 11, 2001, there has been much discussion on the subject of immigration to America, including the intersection of race, culture and identity. The devastating attack had an effect, not only on Americans but, also on citizens in other countries who hope to live or visit the United States. Public discourse has produced questions and concerns, but few from a personal standpoint. Lost & Found in America is the story of an immigrant from Africa, who, after the events of September 11, 2001, gets caught up circumstances that transforms his relationships, personal well-being, and perceptions about the United States. Lost & Found in America explores the multi-faceted circumstances that immigrants face, including how they deal with racism, expectations from home, the Barack Obama phenomenon, love and romance. As immigrants grapple to understand variations of American identities, Lost & Found In America provides a lens through which the folks from Africa see and analyze events in United States and tells the unique story of how new immigrants find a sense of belonging in the American culture. Reviews "Lost & Found in America is an outstanding first novel” – Dr Yvonne Seon, Founding Director Bolinga Black Cultural Resources Center, Wright State University The story in this book is real, fascinating and humorous" - Dayton Weekly News
Tokunbo (Tokz) Awoshakin is a writer and civic engagement specialist. Awoshakin has worked at the United Nations as a journalist and as pioneer Washington D.C. Bureau Chief for THISDAY Newspaper. He trained at the Poynter Institute of Media Studies with Roy Peter Clark and Christopher “Chip” Scalan. In 2003, he was awarded the Katharine W. Fanning Fellowship in Journalism and Democracy. Awoshakin is the Founding Director of Civic Life International, an organization that uses dialogue, deliberation and media strategies to uncover emerging issues facing people and communities and delivers programs to strengthen the competencies of citizens, institutions and governments to respond to these challenges. He also and works with the Charles F. Kettering Foundation’s research groups on Community Politics and Leadership. Awoshakin has successfully conducted public policy forums on youth violence and race-relations in the United States and he is a contributing writer for Dayton Daily News, a Cox Ohio publication. Awoshakin holds a B.A. in English and Education, and a Master’s degree in Int.l Development & Conflict Resolution. He is a doctoral cohort in Antioch University’s distinctive Ph.D. program in Leadership & Change with focus on Democracy, Culture and Public Policy.