Suleman Dar was born in Pakistan and lived there well into adulthood. His job was physically exhausting, and he recalls having worked 96 hours straight with only two 30-minute breaks. Complaining was not an option but doing something to better his life was. A longtime DALC (Duncan Area Literacy Council) donor met him when they both appeared for jury duty and he raised his hand when the judge asked if anyone was not a citizen. She recognized him as a helpful Walmart worker she had encountered the previous day, so she later sought him out there and told him about DALC's citizenship program. Escaping life in Pakistan was an accomplishment but American Citizenship was his dream, one he worked tirelessly to achieve. Suleman attended weekly classes at DALC with instructor Nancy Litsch. He passed his interview and was sworn in as a US Citizen early this year. In April of 2025, he registered to vote. He is now a fervent ambassador for our literacy programs, especially the one for achieving U.S. Citizenship.

Citizenship has given license to Suleman to expand his natural desire to help other people. He has newfound purpose in promoting U.S. Citizenship in general, and the DALC program in particular. Although he has now completed a pharmacy tech program, Suleman has not sought that kind of work after realizing that he is more at ease among people rather than in the back of a pharmacy. Anyone encountering Suleman in his role as a Walmart maintenance employee sees his helpful side, always talking to people on the floor as he works and stopping to direct them to a product, or help them with their load.