About Us

We are a passionate team of teachers, refugees, and volunteers dedicated to educating mothers and their families in the Clarkston, GA refugee community.
Refugee Family Literacy Program began in 2008 as a 2-day-a-week community program with just 4 staff members, trying to make a difference in their rapidly evolving neighborhood.
Today, the program has a paid staff of over 40, manages 20-30 weekly volunteers, and runs 12 classes for over 300 adult and young students. Our teaching staff speaks 26 languages combined.
Staff
All staff photos provided by RFL Staff

Amal Al Chbenawi
Children's Teacher
Arabic

Khadega Alfaiq
Children's Teacher
Arabic

Tabasom Alizada
Children's Teacher
Dari, Pashto


Furat Almid
Children's Teacher
Arabic
Alimetu Demisse
Children's Teacher
Amharic

Aku Dogbe
Children's Teacher
French
Fahmo Fidow
Children's Teacher
Somali

Maryam Fnu
Children's Teacher
Dari, Pashto
Fetlework Gebregiorgis
Children's Teacher
Amharic

Jennifer Green
Director
Rahma Hassan
Children's Teacher
Somali
Farhio Hersi
Children's Teacher + GED
Somali, Arabic



Cathy Hogan-Davies
ESOL Teacher
Hanae Isha
Memorial Drive Site Manager
Tigrinya, Amharic

Karen Javits
ESOL Teacher
Spanish

Khadija Jury
Children's Teacher
Arabic


Kate Lindsey
Clarkston Community Center Site Manager

Deanna McArthur
Children's Teacher


Hannah McCord
Children's Teacher
Lin Lin Mkhumdui
Children's Teacher
Burmese

San Niang
Children's Teacher
Zomi, Chin, Burmese

Gay Oh Doh
Children's Teacher
Burmese, Karen
Beth Pasquier
ESOL Teacher
Spanish

Amy Pelissero
ESOL Teacher


Alex Philippi
Children's Teacher
Chinese
Paw Pre
Children's Teacher
Karen, Burmese

Courtney Robinson
ESOL Teacher
French, Spanish


Leyla Sabir
Children's Teacher
Amharic
Yasmin Sadia
Children's Teacher
Arabic

Hai Si
Children's Teacher
Chin, Burmese


Van Sung
Children's Teacher
Burmese, Chin

Ri Vang
Children's Teacher
Burmese, Chin
Meredith White
Family Support + Communications


Zulikha Yousif
Children's Teacher
Arabic
Partners and Supporters
Our work wouldn't be possible without the talent and generosity of our partners and supporters.
Supporters
Refugee Family Literacy Program has received grants or financial gifts from a number of generous organizations and individuals.
Partners
We are privileged to work with several partner organizations from across the Atlanta area.
Georgia Department of Public Health
Nell Hodgson Woodruff School of Nursing at Emory University
Center for Pan Asian Community Services
Dekalb County Public Library
Georgia State University Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders
The Howard School
CDF: A Collective Action Initiative
Rollins School of Public Health at Emory University
Clarkston Early Learning Network
Dekalb County Public Library
Purisolve
The Imlay Foundation
Literacy for All
Atlanta Women's Foundation
Decatur Rotary Club
Wells Fargo
Jewish Federation of Atlanta
National Association of Asian-American Professionals
Griffith Theological Foundation
Dunwoody Women's Club
St. Luke's Presbyterian Church
Oakhurst Presbyterian Church
Memorial Drive Ministries
Allen Foundation
Goldsmith Family Foundation
IBM
Colorado State University
Rotary Foundation
Atlanta Foundation
Support us!
Donate
Donations from our community are essential in order for us to provide excellent programs for the families we serve. We are a 501(c)3, and all donations are tax-deductible and acknowledged in writing.
Volunteer
Volunteers are an essential part of our program! We have a variety of opportunities: helping in classrooms, tutoring English, and gathering and distributing supplies. Volunteers can come for an hour several times a week, or stay for a couple of hours one day each week.