Plenaries & Performances
MONDAY
Opening Performance - 8:15 am, Monday, February 5th
My name is Elvice. My nick name is BossElvice. I came to Idaho from Tanzania, but I was born in Congo. I’m a singer, a dancer, and I can play a little guitar. The thing I enjoy a lot is singing in front of people and making them feel something in their heart. My dream is to help bring peace in Africa, especially the Democratic Republic of Congo, by singing and inspiring people to love each other.
Opening Remarks - 8:30 am, Monday, February 5th
Dr. Martin Schimpf joined the faculty at Boise State University in 1990. He has held
several administrative appointments at the University, including Chair of Chemistry,
Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Dean of Arts and Sciences. He currently serves as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, a position he has held since 2010. Dr. Schimpf holds degrees in chemistry from the University of Washington and the University of Utah. His interdisciplinary research on thermophoresis and the characterization of nanomaterials has led to more than 80 internationally distributed publications in scientific literature.
several administrative appointments at the University, including Chair of Chemistry,
Associate Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences, and Dean of Arts and Sciences. He currently serves as Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs, a position he has held since 2010. Dr. Schimpf holds degrees in chemistry from the University of Washington and the University of Utah. His interdisciplinary research on thermophoresis and the characterization of nanomaterials has led to more than 80 internationally distributed publications in scientific literature.
Daniel B. Fink is rabbi of Congregation Ahavath Beth Israel in Boise, Idaho. He received his bachelor’s degree in history and philosophy from the University of Virginia, and a Masters of Arts in Hebrew Letters from the Hebrew Union College in Cincinnati. He is an ardent environmentalist who enjoys hiking, canoeing, biking and kayaking. He is the co-author of Let the Earth Teach You Torah and Judaism and Ecology as well as numerous articles on Judaism and environmental policy. He is married to Dr. Janet Kaufman, and is the very proud father of Tanya and Rosa Fink and Rachel and Jonah Kaufman.
Opening Plenary - 9:00 am, Monday, February 5th
Tara Wolfson is the newly appointed director of the Idaho Office for Refugees (IOR). She was formerly the Employment and Training Program Manager IOR and is a co-founder of Global Talent Idaho. In 2016, Tara represented the work of Neighbors United at the White House Convening on Building Welcoming Communities. Tara managed and worked on political campaigns in Idaho and California and has been involved in organizations that bring together people with often-divergent views, from Palestinians and Jewish Israelis to environmental and civic leaders in the U.S. She was a recipient of the Coro Fellowship for Civic Leadership in San Francisco and is a graduate of the University of Vermont. Tara has studied and worked in Zimbabwe, Israel, and Palestine, and has traveled extensively throughout Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe.
Ken Tota is the Deputy Director for the Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR),
Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). He has served in this capacity since 2008 and has served as the Acting ORR Director on several occasions, most recently in 2017. Before entering civil service, Ken was the Cuban Haitian Program Coordinator for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in Washington, DC and Miami, FL. Ken has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the American University in Washington, DC. As ORR Deputy Director, he has worked to
enhance funding and services for refugees by focusing on the most vulnerable populations, technical assistance, and expanding intensive case management. Ken has also been
instrumental in the creation of an ORR Division to focus on refugee health related issues and has developed numerous partnerships to expand services to refugees.
Administration for Children and Families (ACF), Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). He has served in this capacity since 2008 and has served as the Acting ORR Director on several occasions, most recently in 2017. Before entering civil service, Ken was the Cuban Haitian Program Coordinator for the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops (USCCB) in Washington, DC and Miami, FL. Ken has a Master’s Degree in Public Administration from the American University in Washington, DC. As ORR Deputy Director, he has worked to
enhance funding and services for refugees by focusing on the most vulnerable populations, technical assistance, and expanding intensive case management. Ken has also been
instrumental in the creation of an ORR Division to focus on refugee health related issues and has developed numerous partnerships to expand services to refugees.
Lunch Program - 12:00 pm, Monday, February 5th
Fidel Nshombo is from Bukavu the Democratic Republic of Congo; he was resettled in Boise, Idaho July 2006, eleven years after he became separated from his entire family during the First and Second Congo Wars. In 2011, Fidel was honored for his human rights work and for becoming a U.S. Citizen by Boise City Mayor, David Bieter, who presented him with a flag flown over the U.S. Capitol. He also received the Idaho Refugee Integration and Success Award from the Idaho Office for Refugees. Fidel is a poet and author, public speaker, refugee advocate, and a vice chair of the Refugee Congress a nationwide advocacy agency for refugees. You may follow Fidel Nshombo’s life and work on his website http://boisetobukavu.org/
TUESDAY
Opening Performance - 8:45 am, Tuesday, February 6th
The Dove Mission Initiative is a non-profit that provides opportunities for children and youth to improve skills in literacy and to understand and appreciate the importance of reading and writing in their daily lives. It promotes multiculturalism and diversity, promote dialogue between people, promote different social development initiative and projects
Panel: Resilience in Refugee Resettlement - 1:15 pm, Tuesday, February 6th
Join our three panelists, all individuals working in resettlement who arrived as refugees, for our afternoon panel:
Resilience in Refugee Resettlement. Our panelists will discuss their own resilience, the resilience they see in their clients every day, and the resilience their and other organizations need to continue to offer shelter to the world’s most vulnerable people.
Resilience in Refugee Resettlement. Our panelists will discuss their own resilience, the resilience they see in their clients every day, and the resilience their and other organizations need to continue to offer shelter to the world’s most vulnerable people.
Slobodanka Hodzic was born in Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina. She studied Economics at University of Sarajevo, and used to work in Sarajevo City Tax Department. She left Sarajevo in 1994, after almost three years of constant fear for life during Bosnian Civil War, and spend a year and a half in Hungary as a refugee. Both her and her husband were approved for refugee resettlement in the US. and arrived to Twin Falls in September 1996. Her first job in Twin Falls was working as a therapy technician; since she did not know if any of her previous credentials could be transferred in the US. She started classes at CSI, beginning the medical assisting program. In March 2001, Slobodanka and her family moved to Boise hoping she would find a job in medical field after completing the MA program at CSI. A friend who used to work at ANA told her there was a CM position open. This temporary CM position became her life calling. In 2010, she went back to school and completed a BA in accounting from BSU. After ANA previous director moved to the Idaho Office for Refugees, Slobodanka become the ANA Program Director
Dauda Kandolo Balubwila was born in Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo. He holds a degree in Marketing and Management from DR Congo and worked in an attorney’s office as a secretary for 10 years. Afterward, Dauda worked for six years in Nairobi, Kenya for Tushirikiane Afrika, an NGO dealing with Refugees of Great Lakes named Tushirikiane Afrika. Dauda now lives in Boise with his wife and four of his seven children, and has worked for the International Rescue Committee since 2012.
Zeze Rwasama is the Director of the CSI Refugee Programs and one of the 2016 recipients of the Idaho Hometown Hero Medal. Zeze’s childhood dream of becoming an engineer in electronics was halted and shifted to helping the less advantaged refugees some years ago. His interest and involvement in helping the refugee started when he became a refugee in 1995. Zeze has years of professional experience of working with refugees in and out of the United States. Before and after receiving his associate of science degree in Computer Science, bachelor of science degree in Social Work, and master degree in Public Administration, Zeze has played multiple key roles in refugee integration and self-sufficiency and some of his roles included executive director, program manager, administrator, community leader, trainer, administrator, grant writer, fundraising officer, job developer, job coach, case manager, employment counselor, and more.
Gina Finley is the Manager of the Global Talent Idaho program. She strongly believes that when people are positioned to utilize the knowledge and skills they have worked hard to acquire and develop, that is when they will reach their true potential – and EVERYONE deserves a chance to become and/or reclaim who they were meant to be. Every year refugees arrive in Idaho with university degrees and interrupted careers as engineers, doctors, nurses, teachers, accountants, scientists and more. Gina and the GTI team close the knowledge gap of the cumbersome and unfamiliar U.S. professional job search process, enable access to professional networks, offer guidance on international credential validation, and the Idaho licensing process in regulated industries. Since January 2015, employers have hired over 65 candidates from the Global Talent Idaho candidate pool for professional roles within their organizations and hosted 38 internships for GTI job seekers.
Closing Program - 4:00 pm, Tuesday, February 6th
Diana Lachiondo is the director of community partnerships for the City of Boise. In this role she serves as a convener and catalyst to drive change on issues related to children and youth, seniors, veterans, homelessness and refugees, among others. Under Diana’s leadership and in partnership with multiple stakeholders, the City of Boise launched the Housing and Homelessness Roundtable in Feb 2015. The Roundtable has supported the development of the first site-based Housing First effort to address homelessness in the state of Idaho. Diana also spearheaded the development of the Boise Pre-K project in conjunction with the Boise School District. Recent assessment results demonstrate that children participating in this high-quality pre-k program are 30% more prepared than their peers upon entering Kindergarten. In addition, Diana is a key leader driving the work of Neighbors United, our community’s plan to help refugees successfully integrate and thrive. Boise was recognized by the White House Task Force on New Americans for this work in 2015.
Diana is a native of Boise and a graduate of the University of Washington. She previously spent more than a decade in the nonprofit sector in Seattle, Denver and Boise before joining the City of Boise.
Diana is a native of Boise and a graduate of the University of Washington. She previously spent more than a decade in the nonprofit sector in Seattle, Denver and Boise before joining the City of Boise.
Film Premiere & Panel - 7:00 pm, Tuesday, February 6th
American Beat: Cops and Refugees Join Forces in Boise
Special Events Center, Boise State University, Student Union Building
Presented by the Wassmuth Center for Human Rights and the Boise State University School of Social Work
The film weaves together three stories about a local police department’s commitment to supporting immigrants: the officers’ groundbreaking efforts to integrate and mentor refugees; the determination of a former Iraqi translator for the U.S. military, putting down roots with his family and hoping to become a police officer; and the story of Boise, Idaho, itself, working to help refugees from war-torn Africa and the Middle East learn to trust that in America, a united community can conquer tragedy and hate.
Panelists include representatives from the Boise Police Department, College of Southern Idaho Refugee Center, International Rescue Committee, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Seating is limited to the first 435 to arrive. For more information, visit www.wassmuthcenter.org
The film weaves together three stories about a local police department’s commitment to supporting immigrants: the officers’ groundbreaking efforts to integrate and mentor refugees; the determination of a former Iraqi translator for the U.S. military, putting down roots with his family and hoping to become a police officer; and the story of Boise, Idaho, itself, working to help refugees from war-torn Africa and the Middle East learn to trust that in America, a united community can conquer tragedy and hate.
Panelists include representatives from the Boise Police Department, College of Southern Idaho Refugee Center, International Rescue Committee, and The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints.
Seating is limited to the first 435 to arrive. For more information, visit www.wassmuthcenter.org
