Beni DeDieu Luzau

State: Maryland

City of Residence: Silver Spring, Maryland

Country of origin: Democratic Republic of the Congo

Arrival in the U.S.: 2008

Mr. Beni DeDieu Luzau fled the Democratic Republic of the Congo in 2004 to avoid imprisonment for his advocacy work on LGBTI issues and HIV/AIDS awareness. In the U.S. he continues his work for social justice as a member of the National LGBTQ Task Force and founder of the Refugee Alliance Network (RAN). He also works as a correspondent for a Belgian Magazine called Telsquels, and serves as a translator and interpreter for Christ Companions Church. Mr. Luzau is most proud of contributing to his community by organizing a World Refugee Day event at Russell Senate Office Building on June 16, 2016 with representatives from refugee resettlement agencies, the U.S. Department of State, the Office of Refugee Resettlement, the U.S Senate, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees.

Word for US: Opportunities