February 2, 2018

When Ayat’s family left ISIS-controlled Baghdad to come to the U.S. in 2014, they couldn’t tell anybody of their plans.  Here, Ayat speaks about the pain and remorse that came with uprooting her life in Baghdad, as well as the fulfillment she has found in the U.S., where she has renewed her passion for learning […]

Sofia describes her journey to understanding her own identity through the pursuit of knowledge and wisdom.  Her story illustrates the ways in which spiritual wisdom coincides with academic wisdom, and how a balance of different forms of knowledge have contributed to her own world view.  Sofia is also a recipient of MALA’s Scholarship Program for

Laurel Hilbert: A Journey Towards Peace Laurel Allen Hilbert is the Founder and CEO of A Dignified Home Children and Youth Services. A native of Syria, he came to this country in 2013, where he experienced firsthand the challenges and difficulties of being homeless. Prior to founding A Dignified Home, his professional background included experience as

Twen Beyene: Home is Where the Heart is Twen Beyene grew up in a completely different world than where she lives now. Her days were spent without electricity, technology and many of the luxuries so many take for granted. But she treasures her old life as she continues on in her new, recognizing how the