Amer Swedeh
Delegate – Illinois Country of Origin: Syria Arrival in the U.S.: 2011
Jean Claude Safari Bahanuzi
Delegate – Illinois Country of Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo Arrival in the U.S.: 2009
Valerie Bahige
At Large Representative – Board of Directors Delegate – Wyoming Country of Origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo Arrival in the U.S.: 2015 Valerie Bahige is the Refugee Congress Delegate for Wyoming.
Drocella Mugorewera
Southeast Regional Representative – Board of Directors Delegate – Tennessee Country of Origin: Rwanda Arrival in the U.S.: 2009 Drocella Mugorewera is the Refugee Congress Delegate for Tennessee. Born in Rwanda, Mugorewera was forced to leave as a refugee and came to Tennessee in 2009. She is an enthusiastic and dynamic leader. In Africa, she served in different capacities, including being […]
World Refugee Day
On June 20 and throughout the month of June, we join together for World Refugee Day to celebrate the contributions of refugees and rally for increased welcome and support for refugees. In the midst of the current COVID-19 crisis, refugees are ensuring the health and well-being of their communities as essential workers such as healthcare professionals, driver, teachers, grocery workers […]
Maryam Naziri
Delegate – New Jersey City of Residence: Elizabeth, New Jersey Country of Origin: Afghanistan Arrival in the U.S.: 2014
Teklit Michael
Delegate – Maryland City of Residence: Silver Spring Country of Origin: Eritrea Arrival in the U.S.: 2018 Teklit Michael is the Refugee Congress Delegate for Maryland. After spending over a decade advocating for his rights as an asylum seeker in Israel, Michael now resides in Silver Spring, MD. During his 11 years in Tel Aviv, he served the Eritrean community […]
Nejra Sumic
Refugee Congress Delegate to Arizona Former Refugee from Bosnia and Herzegovina “Surviving through adversity reminds us of our own strength.” – Nejra Sumic Nejra Sumic is a former refugee who was forced to flee from her home country of Bosnia and Herzegovina. After a long and dangerous journey, Sumic and her family were finally granted asylum as refugees into the […]
Heval Kelli
State: Georgia Arrival in the U.S.: 2001 Dr. Heval Kelli is the Refugee Congress Delegate for Georgia. A Syrian Kurdish-born physician, Kelli moved to the United States as refugee two weeks after 9/11 and enrolled at Georgia State 10 months later as a freshman. He graduated Summa Cum Laude while working as a dishwasher and was later accepted to Morehouse School of Medicine, where […]
Tecle Gebremicheal
State: Idaho Country of Origin: Ethiopia Arrival in the U.S.: 2012 Tecle Gebremicheal is the Refugee Congress Delegate for Idaho. Only seven years ago, he came to the U.S. as a resettled refugee from Ethiopia with nothing but a few pairs of shoes — one for running and the other soccer cleats — and an empty pocket, with the full […]
Nga Vương-Sandoval
State: ColoradoCountry of Origin: Việt Nam Nga Vương-Sandoval is the Refugee Congress Delegate for Colorado. She and her family fled their homeland due to the Việt Nam War and became refugees. They were displaced in refugee camps before resettling in the U.S. and were known as the ‘boat people.’ As a Việtnamese refugee, she embraces her heritage and refugee experience and is empathetic […]
Carmen Kcomt
State: California Country of origin: Peru Arrival in the U.S.: 2003 Carmen Kcomt is the Refugee Congress Delegate for California. She is a former asylum-seeker and is an attorney, member of the American Bar Association and former Magistrate from Peru. She served in the Judicial Power for 10 years as a Family and Juvenile Judge. Kcomt holds a master’s degree in International Law […]
Lynda Kana
State: Kentucky Country of origin: Congo Arrival in the U.S.: 2014 Lynda Kana is the Refugee Congress Delegate for Kentucky. She is a resettled refugee from Congo and fondly recalls a warm welcome when she and her family arrived in Kentucky, including a fridge full of food, assistance with medical appointments and opportunities to learn English. Five months after arriving, she knew she […]