Engraved on the Statue of Liberty it reads, “Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free...” A beautiful sentiment, indeed. 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. This is… A Bit of Optimism.  

 For more on Luma and her work visit:

 www.fugeesfamily.org   

https://www.ted.com/talks/luma_mufleh_don_t_feel_sorry_for_refugees_believe_in_them