We are an initiative of people in the United States who have experienced forced displacement. We harness our expertise and diverse perspectives to influence and impact society through our stories.
The Refugee Storytellers Collective is a group of individuals across the United States who are experts in their lived experiences. By sharing their stories and perspectives, they speak to the challenges refugees and asylum seekers face and the many ways they give back to society.
The Collective builds community through storytelling. It also aims to strengthen support for refugee resettlement, asylum, and immigration protections through education and advocacy opportunities.
Members of the Refugee Storyteller Collective are available for media interviews, talks, workshops, panels, and more.
Adam Sadda
University of North Carolina at Greensboro Graduate & Refugee Congress Delegate for North Carolina
“My story is not unique. Every year this country resettles thousands of refugees from all over the world. But my story, I think, does show the importance of the program staying robust. The sad truth is that refugee resettlement is vulnerable to politics. It is incredibly important that leaders across the country let the administration know how valuable refugee resettlement is to the vitality of American communities.”
Read more about Adam’s story from the Reflector.
Andreina Zuluaga
Psychologist & Refugee Congress Delegate for New Jersey
“Now I live in New Jersey where I had to start from nothing. The hardest thing of all was that I wasn’t allowed to work. Because of a statutory requirement that asylum seekers wait 180 days for a work permit, it was six months before I was granted work authorization…All I wanted was to work, but the law did not allow it.”
Read more about Andreina’s activism in City Limits.
More Members of the Collective
Connect with the Collective
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Have questions? Read our Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to learn more about the Collective.
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Refugee Storytellers Collective Stories
The Refugee Storytellers Collective is a space where storytellers share their authentic perspectives. The views and opinions expressed here are the authors’ own and do not necessarily reflect the views of all Collective members or the Collective's core partners.