Engraved on the Statue of Liberty are the words, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free…” It’s a beautiful sentiment indeed, but the reality is a little less poetic. When refugees reach America’s shores today, they face the daunting task of rebuilding a sense of community while trying to work through a system that is ill-equipped to give them the support they need. That’s where Luma Mufleh comes in.
Twenty-nine years ago, Luma came to the United States as a refugee and has since found herself on a path she didn’t expect—building schools to support refugee children. After hearing her TED Talk, “Don’t Feel Sorry For Refugees, Believe In Them,” I couldn’t wait to get her perspective on how to build a community devoted to taking care of each other.