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 […]
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 […]
Dauda Sesay
State: Louisiana Country of Origin: Sierra Leone Arrival in the U.S.: 2009 Dauda Sesay is the Refugee Congress Delegate from Louisiana. Sesay fled Sierra Leone due to the brutal war that led to the murder of his father and younger sister. While he was fleeing the military and the rebels, he was shot and seriously injured. In a refugee camp […]
Fatima Dirie
State: Utah City of Residence: Salt Lake City Country of origin: Somalia Arrival in the US: 1997 Fatima Dirie is the Refugee Community Liasion for the Salt Lake City Mayor’s office. Fatima was born in Somalia, and lived in Kenya for several years before coming to the United States. She moved to Utah with her family in 1997 and has […]
Lourena Gboeah
Northeast Regional Representative Delegate – Delaware Country of origin: Liberia Arrival in the US: 1992 Lourena Gboeah is the Refugee Congress Delegate for Delaware. She was resettled to the U.S. in 1992, when she was only four years old, after her family fled war in Liberia and the continuous harassment from government soldiers and rebels. Gboeah is committed to serving […]
Karna Gurung
Midwest Regional Representative – Board of Directors Delegate – Nebraska Country of origin: Bhutan Arrival in the U.S.: 2009 Mr. Karna Gurung is a refugee from Bhutan who was resettled to the United States in 2009. His family fled Bhutan after the government seized their home and farmland, and tortured his father. He spent nearly 20 years living in a […]
Biar Atem
State: Nevada Country of origin: South Sudan Arrival in the U.S.: 2001 Biar Atem is the Refugee Congress Delegate for Nevada. He was born in South Sudan and was forced to abandon his family and village when civil war threatened his life. War in South Sudan severed a generation of Lost Boys from their birthplace and their families. At age seven, […]