top of page

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_edited.jpg

Amal Al Chbenawi
Children's Teacher

Arabic

khadega.jpg

Khadega Alfaiq

Children's Teacher

Arabic

Tabisom.jpeg

 

Tabasom Alizada
Children's Teacher

Dari, Pashto

FURAT.jpg
alemitu.jpg

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.jpg

 

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

Hanae.jpg

 

Karen Javits

ESOL Teacher 

Spanish

Khadija Jury
Children's Teacher

Arabic

khadija jury.JPG

Kate Lindsey

Clarkston Community Center Site Manager

Deanna McArthur
Children's Teacher

lin lin.JPG

Hannah McCord
Children's Teacher

Lin Lin Mkhumdui

Children's Teacher

Burmese 

San.JPG

San Niang

Children's Teacher

Zomi, Chin, Burmese

Gay Oh Do.jpg

Gay Oh Doh

Children's Teacher 

Burmese, Karen

 

Beth Pasquier

ESOL Teacher 

Spanish

beth.JPG

Amy Pelissero

ESOL Teacher

image0.jpeg
alex.jpg

Alex Philippi

Children's Teacher

Chinese

 

Paw Pre

Children's Teacher

Karen, Burmese

Paw Pre.jpg

Courtney Robinson

ESOL Teacher

French, Spanish

CLR 11.30 head.jpg
leyla.JPG

Leyla Sabir

Children's Teacher

Amharic 

 

Yasmin Sadia

Children's Teacher

Arabic

Hai Si

Children's Teacher

Chin, Burmese

Hai Si.jpg
Van Sung.JPG

Van Sung

Children's Teacher 

Burmese, Chin

RI VANG.jpg

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.

bottom of page