Adeline’s Dream

English | Español | 繁體中文 | 简体中文 | Tagalog | Tiếng Việt

In 2024, Adeline and her husband, Dessaine, arrived in Petaluma after a six-year journey from Haiti. They traveled through South America and crossed the dangerous Darién Gap. With violence, political turmoil, and few opportunities in Haiti, they hoped to earn enough money to support their family back home, including Adeline’s teenage daughter, whom she had not seen in six years.

Less than a year after they arrived, Dessaine died suddenly, leaving Adeline to raise Dana alone. Despite her grief and the challenges of being a single mother in a new country, she held firmly to her belief that education could lead to a better future.

Over time, Adeline and Dana became family to me. Dana began calling me “Grandma.” At first, I resisted the name. I had never had children of my own, and it made me feel old. Eventually, however, it became a name I cherished.

Although Adeline had begun building a community in Petaluma, she eventually moved to the Florida to be closer to relatives who could help care for Dana while she continued pursuing her dreams.

The binder she left behind reminds me of her determination: working before dawn, studying at night, raising her daughter, and continuing forward despite unimaginable loss.

Names have been changed to protect the family’s privacy.

Lina Lin Hoshino • 58 • Petaluma resident

Lina Lin Hoshino is a Petaluma-based filmmaker, healthcare interpreter, and curator of this exhibition. She co-founded Petaluma Pie Company with Angelo Sacerdote. She met Adeline in 2024 while volunteering with a local immigrant support organization.