Meet the Members

Members of the Refugee Storytellers Collective are experts in their lived experiences. They can speak to the challenges displaced people face and the contributions they make to their communities.

Members of the Refugee Storytellers Collective are available for media interviews, talks, workshops, panels, and more.

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Alenga Alokola

Alenga Alokola is the CEO of Mwangaza Wa Upendoa, a nonprofit organization dedicated to empowering the refugee community in Arizona. With a Master’s Degree in Global Management from the Thunderbird School of Global Management, he is passionate about creating educational resources for new refugees and helping them overcome challenges as they build better lives in the United States.

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Nejra Sumic

Nejra Sumic is the National Field Manager for the We Are All America Campaign and the Arizona Delegate for Refugee Congress. She is fluent in English, Spanish, Bosnian, and several other dialects, and is proud to serve her community.

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Sophal Ear

Sophal Ear is a professor of diplomacy and world affairs at Occidental College. He enjoys walks, badminton, movies, reading, board service, and parenting.

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Nominate yourself or someone you know to become a member of the Collective. We accept nominations on a rolling basis and will be in touch for an initial interview.