When Kareem Mahdi moved to the United States from Iraq in 2014, multitudes of people were fleeing Iraq for safety reasons. One of his adult sons had been in the United States military for some time, and Kareem, his wife, and their young daughter had been waiting for five years to get approval to come to the U.S.

“In Iraq, you can have a lot of money, but you’re not safe.” Kareem says. “I had a very good job there, a house, and a car, but the safety of my family is more important than anything.”

When Kareem and his family finally got the go-ahead to move, they had only two weeks to pack up what they could and get to the U.S.

“It’s very hard to move your roots,” Kareem says. “When I got here, there’s no Arabic people around me. It’s a big challenge for all of us.”

But having moved to America, Kareem spoke little English and didn’t have an American education. Kareem had graduated from high school in Iraq and had a degree from a school in Iraq, but he wasn’t sure what type of job to look for in the United States. His daughter-in-law suggested that Kareem apply for a job in the schools as a custodian.

“[In my country] no one will talk to you if you’re doing that job. It’s a disrespected job there in my country,” Kareem says, explaining that despite his reservations, he went ahead and applied for the job and began working as a custodian at Loveland High School.

“After the first month, I wanted to be a part of it. The people at Loveland, they make you feel like you are one of them,” Kareem recalls. “They treat me like I am something, I’m not nothing. I began to like that job.”

Now, Kareem has been working as a custodian in the district for almost 11 years. His daughter graduated from Loveland High School, and he has moved from working there to Centennial Elementary School, where he loves working with the younger students.

Centennial Principal Dr. Carmen Polka says the school would not be the same without Kareem.

“We are so fortunate to have Mr. Kareem as an important part of our Centennial community. Our school shines in excellence because of the pride he takes in the work he does each and every day,” she says.

It’s this sense of community and appreciation that makes Kareem enjoy a job that many would find challenging.

“This community gives me a lot; they made my life easier when I got here. It makes me want to give back,” he says.