The World We Share: Meet the Cerqueras

In the 1970s, the song Un verano en Nueva York was released by El Gran Combo and served as an ode to New York City and the migrant communities that thrive within it.

Over 10 years after its release, Dora and Joaquín independently arrived in the Big Apple, a place where they would unknowingly find their love—one that would flourish into something well beyond a feeling.

And like so many migrants across the world, the couple embarked on an up north trip from their native Colombia to the concrete jungle where dreams are made of, where possibility becomes opportunity. New York City is where Dora and Joaquin’s journey really began.

Key Takeaways

• Dora and Joaquín Cerquera’s migration journey spans Colombia, the U.S., and Spain, each shaping a different stage of their lives.

• Their relationship and early stability grew within New York’s migrant community.

• Starting with limited resources, they built financial security through persistence and small-scale entrepreneurship.

• Ria became central to the family’s story, supporting both their business growth and Michelle’s career path.

• Moving to Madrid marked a shift toward balance and a calmer quality of life.

• Cultural identity remained strong as the family blended Colombian roots with new national experiences.

• Gratitude, resilience, and legacy are the defining values passed across generations.

Starting Anew

New York, in all its chaos, promise, hustle and bustle, was both the backdrop and the proving ground for the Colombian couple. Both left their homeland in search of opportunity; Dora arrived in 1988 and Joaquín followed a year later.

The crossing of their paths was purely coincidental and came about through the ordinary daily lives of migrant communities. One day, Dora took the children she was babysitting to the park, where Joaquín–whose first job was a soccer player–just so happened to be playing.

And Dora remembers the moment she knew Joaquín was the one: “There is where I said this man is going to be the father of my children,” she said with a huge cackle.

Though the unrelenting nature of migration might not always allow you to stop and smell the roses, Dora and Joaquín managed to build something from nothing—despite the uncertainty that comes with starting anew.

From the Big Apple to the Old Continent

New York gave the Cerqueras a foundation, but the city did not tie them down nor define their entire story. In their moment of truth, the couple jumped across the pond and landed in Madrid.

There, they found a completely different way of life that heavily differed from what they had in Colombia and the United States. “They are two very different experiences, two very different systems,” Joaquín explained.

What the couple takes away from Colombia are the people, the joy, and life itself. From the United States, its technology and language. And from Spain, the calmer way of life—in essence, it became equilibrium.

With their new roots put down in Madrid, the family was building a quieter, but still meaningful, life. If New York was all about bringing the ruckus, Madrid was about mastering the quiet storm that allowed the family to flourish.

The Cerqueras are, in many ways, a melting pot themselves. With children born in New York and Spain, they all absorbed the cultures around them while always hanging on to their parent’s Colombian flair. “They’ll always have the Latin blood, that can never be lost,” Dora said.

Ria Runs in the Cerquera Family

This Colombian family didn’t arrive with shortcuts or lucky breaks. Though they would later name their Madrid-based restaurant El Trébol (the clover), luck played little part in how the Cerquera’s lives turned out: it was old-fashioned hard work and dedication put in by all family members, past and present, while always moving forward.

Back in the Big Apple, the family tapped into the New York state of mind as their entrepreneurial journey developed in stages.

Dora and Joaquín started off selling furniture and slowly building capital. With the calling center boom, they opened their first store on 84th and Roosevelt, followed by a second on Long Island. Both calling centers operated as Ria agents, using the company’s services from the very beginning.

Their daughter Michelle taught English while she studied at university. Once she finished her studies, and after applying for what felt like thousands of jobs, she finally got a call from a company.

It was written: in both cases, it was Ria. Dora and Joaquín had built their business around Ria’s services, while Michelle started off her own journey there as a marketing assistant.

It’s a full circle moment that still feels surreal for the Colombian parents. To see their daughter start where they started, in a company they once so heavily relied on. They were above the clouds, revisiting the past.

“Being an immigrant, that pushes you to want to become someone,” Dora reflected, while highlighting persistence and hard work. There always must be a will, then you’ll find a way.

Family Dynamics

Underneath all that entrepreneurship lies a strong family foundation, built on love and determination, that holds everything up.

Dora describes herself as “very hot-headed”. Conversely, Joaquín brings balance to Dora’s energy, which she does not disagree with. “She’s the earthquake I have to hold back,” Joaquín joked, as Dora laughed away.

“I think we’ve complemented each other well. We’ve been made for each other,” they said, with ups and downs, like any couple. “We get through it.”

As such, Michelle grew up watching her parents’ dynamic unfold, receiving the blueprint that shaped her understanding of success which instilled in her a strong work ethic and perseverance.

“I want to thank my parents for all their efforts, which have been the foundation upon which I’ve been able to build my own base,” Michelle graciously expressed, adding that thanks to them, she was able to do her studies and evolve as a person.

Gratitude and Legacy

Gratitude is the common theme throughout the Cerquera’s story. For Dora and Joaquín, their gratitude for the countries and the people that took them in as migrants is apparent, while Michelle expresses nothing but gratitude for her parents’ sacrifices.

“My parents had to leave their country to search for a better future, one that I’ve been able to have thanks to their efforts, and I want my kids to see the fruit of it all.”

What began as a journey into the unknown became a life shaped by perseverance and shared purpose. Dora and Joaquín’s love wasn’t just a feeling, and their story is one of migration and the construction of something lasting.

For Michelle, their sacrifices are more than memories; they are a responsibility to carry forward what was given through effort and love.

FAQs

What challenges do migrant families face when starting over in a new country?

They often deal with uncertainty around work, culture, and stability while rebuilding their lives from scratch.

How does migration shape identity across generations?

Children growing up across multiple countries often develop layered identities rooted in both heritage and lived experience.

Why are migrant communities important for newcomers?

They provide informal support, connection, and access to opportunities in unfamiliar environments.

How do immigrant entrepreneurs typically grow their businesses?

Many start small, reinvest gradually, and rely on consistency, effort, and family support.

How does living in different countries change views on work and life?

Exposure to different systems often reshapes priorities around pace, balance, and long-term well-being.

What role does family play in long-term success?

Strong family bonds transmit work ethic, resilience, and motivation across generations.

Why is it important to share migration stories?

They humanize migration, preserve lived experience, and highlight the impact of perseverance over time.