Presenters
Bios will be uploaded as they are received.
Nick & Laura Armstrong, Glocal
Nick and Laura Armstrong worked in Indonesia for 23 years where Laura worked as a teacher and principal of a Christian international school in Central Java. Nick worked in the field of Relief and Community Development with World Relief International and World Renew. His work took him to places all over Indonesia and Southeast Asia and was took part in over 30 different disaster responses, most notably the earthquake and tsunami of 2004 off the coast of Aceh in Northern Sumatera. After returning to United States in August of 2013, Nick and Laura started an organization called Glocal Community Partners for the purpose of mobilizing, training and connecting volunteers with our New American friends and neighbors in the greater Boise area in a variety of different programs and events. Glocal is a ministry of Cole Community Church and partners with the resettlement agencies in Boise, a wide network of churches and other faith-based organizations, including the Islamic Center of Boise.
Isbelia Burnham, Owner and Founder,Interprelink
Isbelia has nearly thirty years of experience in managing language services following the guidelines and regulations established by law. Former Director of the Language and Cultural Services Department at SLHS, where she worked for 27 years. Isbelia is the owner and founder of InterpreLink, Inc., located in Boise, Idaho.
InterpreLink provides Professional Interpretation and Translation Services in all settings; medical, legal, mental health, etc.
Raymon Burton, Executive Director of Operations, One Refugee
Raymon serves as the Executive Director of One Refugee. He has been with One Refugee since 2017 and has been working with individuals from a refugee background in various capacities for the last six years. He recently worked for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in developing their refugee initiatives and spent half of 2016 embedded within the International Rescue Committee. Raymon holds an MPA from Brigham Young University.
Andrea Christopher, MD, MPH, FACP General internist at the Boise Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).
Andrea Christopher MD, MPH, FACP is a general internist at the Boise Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). She is also Clerkship Site Director and Assistant Professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Her passion for health equity motivates her interests in medical education, health policy research and clinical practice. As an educator, Andrea supervises and teaches third year medical students on their internal medicine clerkship in Boise, Idaho. She tries to translate her interest in health disparities into teaching medical students and resident physicians how health policy and the social determinants of health impact clinical care of patients. As a health services researcher, Andrea’s research focuses on disparities in access to healthcare for vulnerable populations. Recent research projects examine the financial burden of out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures and the impact of being uninsured on chronic disease management. As a clinician, Andrea is honored to serve veterans as a primary care provider and supervises trainees on the inpatient wards at the Boise VAMC.
Andrea graduated from the University of Washington (UW) with a Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology with College Honors. She then completed medical school at the UW School of Medicine, with a clinical focus on Global Health. She completed residency training at the UW Internal Medicine Residency, during which time she rotated as a Teaching Fellow at the University of Melbourne School of Medicine. Andrea then served as Chief Medical Resident for the newly formed UW Boise Internal Medicine Residency. She then completed General Internal Medicine Fellowship at Harvard Medical School, with a focus on health services and health policy research. During this time, she completed a Masters in Public Health at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health before returning to Boise to work at the Boise VA.
Rachel Emenaker, Senior Curator and Director of Global Alliances, Idaho Museum of International Diaspora (IMID)
Rachel Emenaker serves as the Senior Curator and Director of Global Alliances for the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora (IMID). She is an international artist with a unique multicultural and multinational upbringing, which comes as no surprise that her work focuses on ideas of globalization by combining Eastern and Western aesthetics and art practices. Rachel grew up in a Syrian-Armenian-American home, but lived between Paramaribo, Suriname and Moscow, Russia before moving to California to study at 19. As an artist, she has held exhibits in various parts of the world stretching from Los Angeles to Yerevan, Armenia. Her passion for social justice and art merged when she had the opportunity to work at a women’s shelter in Kabul, Afghanistan teaching art and in Yerevan, Armenia teaching an art class for special needs Syrian refugees. Rachel designed the study abroad itinerary for the IMID’s signature course – Cross-Border Voices of Diaspora, a partnership with Boise State Honors College and the Center for Global Education. She will be leading the international activities for the upcoming study abroad to Armenia in August 2020.
Tecle Gebremicheal, Boise State University
Six years back, a refugee from one of the smallest countries in Africa appeared in Idaho, a state never heard before. Tecle Gebremicheal, came here with couple pairs of shoes and an empty pocket hoping America might have everything a refugee would seek in life. As hoped America didn’t fail him, but it took time and determination to accomplish certain level of success and to be regular person again. Refugee status has to end to start part of a community and self-supporting person again even though the name refugee sticks forever. He is currently studying to achieve a B.S (Political Science) at Boise State University, School of Public Service Department. His careers so far in the US consist of Service member, Petroleum supply specialist U.S Army Reserves, and Soccer coach, Nations United U19 head coach. In his spare time he enjoys running, hiking, reading books and poem writing.
Gary Hanes, Gary E. Hanes & Associates, LLC
Gary has years of broad-based public and private sector experience in community development. He has worked at the private nonprofit level, as well as, the federal, state and city levels. He is the managing member of Gary E. Hanes & Associates, LLC. His company focuses on language access planning in federally assisted activities and compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act with respect to limited English proficiency.
Kirsi Jarvis, Careers Manager, One Refugee
Kirsi operates as the Careers Manager for One Refugee. In her role, she oversees all student employer events, internship partnerships, and professional mentorship for senior students. Prior to joining One Refugee, Kirsi worked with Global Talent and UpwardlyGlobal supporting professional job seekers in Utah and D.C. She also worked with Meridian International Center, a large NGO implementing international exchange programs with U.S. embassies worldwide. Kirsi holds an MPA from Brigham Young University.
Chelsea Jordan
Chelsea Jordan has worked with refugees and multi-lingual students for the past 7 years. Her career started at the English Language Center as a service-learning volunteer and research assistant at Boise State before going to Northern Arizona University for her Master's in Teaching English as a Second Language. She then worked as a English instructor at a university in Ankara, Turkey for two years. She recently re-joined the ELC in the summer of 2019 and enjoys creating engaging lessons and developing the ELC's curriculum as part of her role as the Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator.
Reshma Kamal, Director of Humanitarian and Refugee, Islamic Center of Boise
Director of Humanitarian and Refugee at the Islamic Center of Boise, Reshma grew up working at the grass-root level with people of varying faith and co- existing together. She allies with Glocal Community Partners and Social Integration team, under Neighbors United, to support Boise Refugee community and bring about social changes in human interactions with local projects. As part of “Seek the Peace’’ initiative, she works as a peace maker to bring about an understanding on issues impacting the Muslim community. He earned a Masters in English Literature.
Jessica Knarr, Refugee Liaison Officer, Boise Police Department
Officer Jessica Knarr currently serves as the Refugee Liaison Officer for the Boise Police Department. Officer Knarr joined the BPD in 2014 shortly after graduating from Boise State University with a B.A. in Criminal Justice. In her current position with the BPD she works closely with community stakeholders and the refugee community to lessen the severity and frequency of crime involving refugees (as victims or suspects) and strives to create and maintain a positive relationship with the refugee community and police in Boise through education and outreach.
Michelle Larson, Founding member, Glocal Community Partners
Michelle Larson is a founding member of the Glocal Community Partners team. Her leadership and administrative capabilities have allowed her to work closely with Nick and Laura Armstrong, co-directors and co-founders to serve those who have come as refugees. Her passion comes from years of working with people from across the globe in her professional career with HP. Now serving the multicultural population whom have settled in Boise, she uses many of those same skills. Within Glocal, Michelle leads the large Thanksgiving Peace Feast which brings Muslims, Christians and those who have come as refugees together to celebrate the holiday and build community. She also leads the Baby Shower Program serving those new moms from across the world in Boise.
Palina Louangketh, MHS RHIT, Founder & Executive Director/Adjunct Faculty, Idaho Museum of International Diaspora/Boise State University
Alexx Goeller is originally from Salt Lake City, UT. Ms. Goeller graduated Cum Laude from Westminster College with a degree in International Business and French in 2011. After graduating she served as a community economic development volunteer with the United States Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa (2012 – 2014). After returning to Utah, Ms. Goeller became employed as the Refugee Youth Program Coordinator for the International Rescue Committee (IRC) of Salt Lake City, UT. Her focus there was around aligning newly arrived refugee youth with educational opportunities in the community. After one year at the IRC, Ms. Goeller transitioned into a new role as a Federal Refugee Program Specialist with the Utah Department of Workforce Services - Refugee Services Office to be able to further facilitate partnership collaboration, program development and refugee community capacity building. Palina Louangketh is an alumna of Boise State University with both her bachelor of science and master of health science. She has over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry in various leadership roles. She designed a master course on quality improvement for the health studies and public health programs in which she also teaches in the College of Health Sciences. Palina will be graduating with her Doctor of Strategic Leadership degree from Regent University in May 2020. Because she lives, breathes, and speaks strategy, Palina is comfortable in complex and changing environments. Her family’s two-year journey as refugees from Laos into Idaho inspired her vision for an innovative multipurpose museum to honor the human journey on a global scale. As the founder and executive director of the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora (IMID), a 501c3 non-profit corporation, she is passionate about helping others find their inspiration. While health care is still her profession, Palina has transitioned over to also teaching multicultural studies. She designed a trilogy of courses under the IMID’s Global Diaspora Curriculum and in partnership with Boise State Honors College, students have access to these course offerings.
Myja Maki
Myja earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Northwest Nazarene University in October 2017. She has worked within refugee resettlement for many years and recognizes that each individual is unique and finds value in adapting each therapy session to the needs and goals of the client. Myja uses a variety of intervention techniques to help clients work towards their goals, including expressive art, play therapy techniques with children, mindfulness, culturally appropriate interpretation, and trauma informed care. She’s influenced by Bessel van der Kolk’s work and research in trauma and the body and places a large emphasis on person centered therapy in creating a positive and safe environment.
Rabiou Manzou, Immigration Services Supervisor, International Rescue Committee-Boise
Rabiou Manzo began working for IRC Boise in February 2006 when the International Rescue committee first opened in Boise Idaho. He spent 6 years working as a case manager and case manager supervisor for Reception and Placement and Matching Grant programs for newly arrived refugees. In April 2012, he obtained his BIA (Board of Immigration Appeals) accreditation and started working as an immigration services supervisor providing legal services and citizenship services to refugees, immigrants and asylees. In addition to his work at the IRC, Rabiou is currently a HROC (Healing and Rebuilding Our Communities) facilitator where he works with different communities in Boise providing trauma rehabilitation workshops. Since 2011 Rabiou is an Adjunct Professor, at Boise State University, teaching refugee case management and principles of refugee resettlement classes. Rabiou speaks French, Russian, Hausa and Djerma and has a M.S. from the University of Idaho.
Tessa Murdock-Bell, LCSW
Tessa Murdock-Bell, LCSW, received her Masters in Social Work from Boise State University. She has since studied at Shanti Yoga School and completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training. She advocates for the re-integration of the body-brain-spirit as the means toward healing and wholeness for ourselves and others with a particular interest in embodiment through breath and movement. Currently she is a clinical social worker at Saint Alphonsus Center for Global Health and Healing's International Clinic.
Elizabeth Rutten-Turner, LCSW
Elizabeth Rutten-Turner, LCSW, is a social worker/counselor at Saint Alphonsus Center for Global Health and Healing. She provides individual and family healing opportunities for survivors of war trauma and torture in an integrated medical setting that includes primary care providers, midwives, cultural liaisons, and social workers. Since earning her MSW she has sought trainings to aid her work in cross-cultural healing with families, such as the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma, Bringing the Body into Therapy and the Neurobiological Effects of Trauma. She is also a trained birth and post-partum doula, a childbirth educator, and an adjunct professor at BSU teaching Principles of USA Refugee Resettlement. Currently she serves on the Advisory Board for the National Capacity Building project for torture treatment centers across the US. Prior to becoming a social worker, Beth earned her BS in Education from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She worked with families affected by the immigration/refugee resettlement systems in various settings; public education, community centers, resettlement agencies, and nonprofits in Minnesota, Nebraska, and Georgia. She has also worked with community-based NGOs in Kenya, Uganda, and Nepal and attended cultural and linguistic immersion classes in Argentina, Chile, and Mexico.
Issa Spatrisano, Program Director and State Refugee Coordinator, Catholic Social Service's Refugee Assistance and Immigration Services (RAIS)
Issa Spatrisano is the Program Director and State Refugee Coordinator at Catholic Social Service’s Refugee Assistance and immigration Services (RAIS) program in Alaska. Issa has worked over 8 years in refugee resettlement and has served in a variety of roles including, case management, reception & placement, education, and employment services. Issa has assisted forced migrant communities in Alaska, Missouri, Oregon, and Kansas, allowing her to bring a broader perspective to refugee services in both a city and rural setting. Issa has a B.A. from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI and a M.Ed. in Teaching & Learning from the University of Alaska Anchorage. Through her teaching and resettlement experience, Issa has assisted clients from over 65 countries.
Kate Udall, Adult Education Manager, Idaho Office for Refugges
Kate Udall spent 12 years working with multi-lingual students at Boise State and CWI before beginning in her current position of Adult Education Manager at Idaho Office for Refugees. She enjoys her role building partners across Idaho to work with in developing and supporting English programming for new Americans. She has taught English in Portugal, Korea and Mexico and has worked in higher education partner development in Asia and Latin America.
Nate Walsh, Realtor, Property People
Nate Walsh is currently a Realtor® with Property People in Boise, a team of Silvercreek Realty Group. Nate moved to Boise in 2013 to obtain his Masters in Bilingual Education and immediately began working with language learners at the English Language Center, College of Western Idaho, Boise State’s Intensive English Program and others. After working as a Job Training Manager at Create Common Good for three years, Nate saw the demand from renters who wanted to become homebuyers and decided to make a career change. In July of 2017 he shifted into the real estate industry to serve many of the same folks he worked with getting their first jobs to get their first home. He is passionate about creating an empowering experience for each of his clients, applying his teaching background towards his real estate services. With the team at LEAP Housing Solutions he started the Yes You Can first time homebuyer’s program, which blends the essential elements of social services, nonprofit coordination, and education into the home purchase process.
He lives with his wife/best friend, Amanda, in Boise and was the pilot Yes You Can participant. He enjoys getting semi-lost in the foothills with Amanda above all else or urban hiking until his joints ache.
Nick & Laura Armstrong, Glocal
Nick and Laura Armstrong worked in Indonesia for 23 years where Laura worked as a teacher and principal of a Christian international school in Central Java. Nick worked in the field of Relief and Community Development with World Relief International and World Renew. His work took him to places all over Indonesia and Southeast Asia and was took part in over 30 different disaster responses, most notably the earthquake and tsunami of 2004 off the coast of Aceh in Northern Sumatera. After returning to United States in August of 2013, Nick and Laura started an organization called Glocal Community Partners for the purpose of mobilizing, training and connecting volunteers with our New American friends and neighbors in the greater Boise area in a variety of different programs and events. Glocal is a ministry of Cole Community Church and partners with the resettlement agencies in Boise, a wide network of churches and other faith-based organizations, including the Islamic Center of Boise.
Isbelia Burnham, Owner and Founder,Interprelink
Isbelia has nearly thirty years of experience in managing language services following the guidelines and regulations established by law. Former Director of the Language and Cultural Services Department at SLHS, where she worked for 27 years. Isbelia is the owner and founder of InterpreLink, Inc., located in Boise, Idaho.
InterpreLink provides Professional Interpretation and Translation Services in all settings; medical, legal, mental health, etc.
Raymon Burton, Executive Director of Operations, One Refugee
Raymon serves as the Executive Director of One Refugee. He has been with One Refugee since 2017 and has been working with individuals from a refugee background in various capacities for the last six years. He recently worked for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in developing their refugee initiatives and spent half of 2016 embedded within the International Rescue Committee. Raymon holds an MPA from Brigham Young University.
Andrea Christopher, MD, MPH, FACP General internist at the Boise Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC).
Andrea Christopher MD, MPH, FACP is a general internist at the Boise Veterans Affairs Medical Center (VAMC). She is also Clerkship Site Director and Assistant Professor at the University of Washington School of Medicine. Her passion for health equity motivates her interests in medical education, health policy research and clinical practice. As an educator, Andrea supervises and teaches third year medical students on their internal medicine clerkship in Boise, Idaho. She tries to translate her interest in health disparities into teaching medical students and resident physicians how health policy and the social determinants of health impact clinical care of patients. As a health services researcher, Andrea’s research focuses on disparities in access to healthcare for vulnerable populations. Recent research projects examine the financial burden of out-of-pocket healthcare expenditures and the impact of being uninsured on chronic disease management. As a clinician, Andrea is honored to serve veterans as a primary care provider and supervises trainees on the inpatient wards at the Boise VAMC.
Andrea graduated from the University of Washington (UW) with a Bachelor of Science in Neurobiology with College Honors. She then completed medical school at the UW School of Medicine, with a clinical focus on Global Health. She completed residency training at the UW Internal Medicine Residency, during which time she rotated as a Teaching Fellow at the University of Melbourne School of Medicine. Andrea then served as Chief Medical Resident for the newly formed UW Boise Internal Medicine Residency. She then completed General Internal Medicine Fellowship at Harvard Medical School, with a focus on health services and health policy research. During this time, she completed a Masters in Public Health at the Harvard TH Chan School of Public Health before returning to Boise to work at the Boise VA.
Rachel Emenaker, Senior Curator and Director of Global Alliances, Idaho Museum of International Diaspora (IMID)
Rachel Emenaker serves as the Senior Curator and Director of Global Alliances for the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora (IMID). She is an international artist with a unique multicultural and multinational upbringing, which comes as no surprise that her work focuses on ideas of globalization by combining Eastern and Western aesthetics and art practices. Rachel grew up in a Syrian-Armenian-American home, but lived between Paramaribo, Suriname and Moscow, Russia before moving to California to study at 19. As an artist, she has held exhibits in various parts of the world stretching from Los Angeles to Yerevan, Armenia. Her passion for social justice and art merged when she had the opportunity to work at a women’s shelter in Kabul, Afghanistan teaching art and in Yerevan, Armenia teaching an art class for special needs Syrian refugees. Rachel designed the study abroad itinerary for the IMID’s signature course – Cross-Border Voices of Diaspora, a partnership with Boise State Honors College and the Center for Global Education. She will be leading the international activities for the upcoming study abroad to Armenia in August 2020.
Tecle Gebremicheal, Boise State University
Six years back, a refugee from one of the smallest countries in Africa appeared in Idaho, a state never heard before. Tecle Gebremicheal, came here with couple pairs of shoes and an empty pocket hoping America might have everything a refugee would seek in life. As hoped America didn’t fail him, but it took time and determination to accomplish certain level of success and to be regular person again. Refugee status has to end to start part of a community and self-supporting person again even though the name refugee sticks forever. He is currently studying to achieve a B.S (Political Science) at Boise State University, School of Public Service Department. His careers so far in the US consist of Service member, Petroleum supply specialist U.S Army Reserves, and Soccer coach, Nations United U19 head coach. In his spare time he enjoys running, hiking, reading books and poem writing.
Gary Hanes, Gary E. Hanes & Associates, LLC
Gary has years of broad-based public and private sector experience in community development. He has worked at the private nonprofit level, as well as, the federal, state and city levels. He is the managing member of Gary E. Hanes & Associates, LLC. His company focuses on language access planning in federally assisted activities and compliance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act with respect to limited English proficiency.
Kirsi Jarvis, Careers Manager, One Refugee
Kirsi operates as the Careers Manager for One Refugee. In her role, she oversees all student employer events, internship partnerships, and professional mentorship for senior students. Prior to joining One Refugee, Kirsi worked with Global Talent and UpwardlyGlobal supporting professional job seekers in Utah and D.C. She also worked with Meridian International Center, a large NGO implementing international exchange programs with U.S. embassies worldwide. Kirsi holds an MPA from Brigham Young University.
Chelsea Jordan
Chelsea Jordan has worked with refugees and multi-lingual students for the past 7 years. Her career started at the English Language Center as a service-learning volunteer and research assistant at Boise State before going to Northern Arizona University for her Master's in Teaching English as a Second Language. She then worked as a English instructor at a university in Ankara, Turkey for two years. She recently re-joined the ELC in the summer of 2019 and enjoys creating engaging lessons and developing the ELC's curriculum as part of her role as the Curriculum and Instruction Coordinator.
Reshma Kamal, Director of Humanitarian and Refugee, Islamic Center of Boise
Director of Humanitarian and Refugee at the Islamic Center of Boise, Reshma grew up working at the grass-root level with people of varying faith and co- existing together. She allies with Glocal Community Partners and Social Integration team, under Neighbors United, to support Boise Refugee community and bring about social changes in human interactions with local projects. As part of “Seek the Peace’’ initiative, she works as a peace maker to bring about an understanding on issues impacting the Muslim community. He earned a Masters in English Literature.
Jessica Knarr, Refugee Liaison Officer, Boise Police Department
Officer Jessica Knarr currently serves as the Refugee Liaison Officer for the Boise Police Department. Officer Knarr joined the BPD in 2014 shortly after graduating from Boise State University with a B.A. in Criminal Justice. In her current position with the BPD she works closely with community stakeholders and the refugee community to lessen the severity and frequency of crime involving refugees (as victims or suspects) and strives to create and maintain a positive relationship with the refugee community and police in Boise through education and outreach.
Michelle Larson, Founding member, Glocal Community Partners
Michelle Larson is a founding member of the Glocal Community Partners team. Her leadership and administrative capabilities have allowed her to work closely with Nick and Laura Armstrong, co-directors and co-founders to serve those who have come as refugees. Her passion comes from years of working with people from across the globe in her professional career with HP. Now serving the multicultural population whom have settled in Boise, she uses many of those same skills. Within Glocal, Michelle leads the large Thanksgiving Peace Feast which brings Muslims, Christians and those who have come as refugees together to celebrate the holiday and build community. She also leads the Baby Shower Program serving those new moms from across the world in Boise.
Palina Louangketh, MHS RHIT, Founder & Executive Director/Adjunct Faculty, Idaho Museum of International Diaspora/Boise State University
Alexx Goeller is originally from Salt Lake City, UT. Ms. Goeller graduated Cum Laude from Westminster College with a degree in International Business and French in 2011. After graduating she served as a community economic development volunteer with the United States Peace Corps in Senegal, West Africa (2012 – 2014). After returning to Utah, Ms. Goeller became employed as the Refugee Youth Program Coordinator for the International Rescue Committee (IRC) of Salt Lake City, UT. Her focus there was around aligning newly arrived refugee youth with educational opportunities in the community. After one year at the IRC, Ms. Goeller transitioned into a new role as a Federal Refugee Program Specialist with the Utah Department of Workforce Services - Refugee Services Office to be able to further facilitate partnership collaboration, program development and refugee community capacity building. Palina Louangketh is an alumna of Boise State University with both her bachelor of science and master of health science. She has over 25 years of experience in the healthcare industry in various leadership roles. She designed a master course on quality improvement for the health studies and public health programs in which she also teaches in the College of Health Sciences. Palina will be graduating with her Doctor of Strategic Leadership degree from Regent University in May 2020. Because she lives, breathes, and speaks strategy, Palina is comfortable in complex and changing environments. Her family’s two-year journey as refugees from Laos into Idaho inspired her vision for an innovative multipurpose museum to honor the human journey on a global scale. As the founder and executive director of the Idaho Museum of International Diaspora (IMID), a 501c3 non-profit corporation, she is passionate about helping others find their inspiration. While health care is still her profession, Palina has transitioned over to also teaching multicultural studies. She designed a trilogy of courses under the IMID’s Global Diaspora Curriculum and in partnership with Boise State Honors College, students have access to these course offerings.
Myja Maki
Myja earned her Master’s Degree in Social Work from Northwest Nazarene University in October 2017. She has worked within refugee resettlement for many years and recognizes that each individual is unique and finds value in adapting each therapy session to the needs and goals of the client. Myja uses a variety of intervention techniques to help clients work towards their goals, including expressive art, play therapy techniques with children, mindfulness, culturally appropriate interpretation, and trauma informed care. She’s influenced by Bessel van der Kolk’s work and research in trauma and the body and places a large emphasis on person centered therapy in creating a positive and safe environment.
Rabiou Manzou, Immigration Services Supervisor, International Rescue Committee-Boise
Rabiou Manzo began working for IRC Boise in February 2006 when the International Rescue committee first opened in Boise Idaho. He spent 6 years working as a case manager and case manager supervisor for Reception and Placement and Matching Grant programs for newly arrived refugees. In April 2012, he obtained his BIA (Board of Immigration Appeals) accreditation and started working as an immigration services supervisor providing legal services and citizenship services to refugees, immigrants and asylees. In addition to his work at the IRC, Rabiou is currently a HROC (Healing and Rebuilding Our Communities) facilitator where he works with different communities in Boise providing trauma rehabilitation workshops. Since 2011 Rabiou is an Adjunct Professor, at Boise State University, teaching refugee case management and principles of refugee resettlement classes. Rabiou speaks French, Russian, Hausa and Djerma and has a M.S. from the University of Idaho.
Tessa Murdock-Bell, LCSW
Tessa Murdock-Bell, LCSW, received her Masters in Social Work from Boise State University. She has since studied at Shanti Yoga School and completed her 200-hour yoga teacher training. She advocates for the re-integration of the body-brain-spirit as the means toward healing and wholeness for ourselves and others with a particular interest in embodiment through breath and movement. Currently she is a clinical social worker at Saint Alphonsus Center for Global Health and Healing's International Clinic.
Elizabeth Rutten-Turner, LCSW
Elizabeth Rutten-Turner, LCSW, is a social worker/counselor at Saint Alphonsus Center for Global Health and Healing. She provides individual and family healing opportunities for survivors of war trauma and torture in an integrated medical setting that includes primary care providers, midwives, cultural liaisons, and social workers. Since earning her MSW she has sought trainings to aid her work in cross-cultural healing with families, such as the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma, Bringing the Body into Therapy and the Neurobiological Effects of Trauma. She is also a trained birth and post-partum doula, a childbirth educator, and an adjunct professor at BSU teaching Principles of USA Refugee Resettlement. Currently she serves on the Advisory Board for the National Capacity Building project for torture treatment centers across the US. Prior to becoming a social worker, Beth earned her BS in Education from Minnesota State University, Mankato. She worked with families affected by the immigration/refugee resettlement systems in various settings; public education, community centers, resettlement agencies, and nonprofits in Minnesota, Nebraska, and Georgia. She has also worked with community-based NGOs in Kenya, Uganda, and Nepal and attended cultural and linguistic immersion classes in Argentina, Chile, and Mexico.
Issa Spatrisano, Program Director and State Refugee Coordinator, Catholic Social Service's Refugee Assistance and Immigration Services (RAIS)
Issa Spatrisano is the Program Director and State Refugee Coordinator at Catholic Social Service’s Refugee Assistance and immigration Services (RAIS) program in Alaska. Issa has worked over 8 years in refugee resettlement and has served in a variety of roles including, case management, reception & placement, education, and employment services. Issa has assisted forced migrant communities in Alaska, Missouri, Oregon, and Kansas, allowing her to bring a broader perspective to refugee services in both a city and rural setting. Issa has a B.A. from Western Michigan University in Kalamazoo, MI and a M.Ed. in Teaching & Learning from the University of Alaska Anchorage. Through her teaching and resettlement experience, Issa has assisted clients from over 65 countries.
Kate Udall, Adult Education Manager, Idaho Office for Refugges
Kate Udall spent 12 years working with multi-lingual students at Boise State and CWI before beginning in her current position of Adult Education Manager at Idaho Office for Refugees. She enjoys her role building partners across Idaho to work with in developing and supporting English programming for new Americans. She has taught English in Portugal, Korea and Mexico and has worked in higher education partner development in Asia and Latin America.
Nate Walsh, Realtor, Property People
Nate Walsh is currently a Realtor® with Property People in Boise, a team of Silvercreek Realty Group. Nate moved to Boise in 2013 to obtain his Masters in Bilingual Education and immediately began working with language learners at the English Language Center, College of Western Idaho, Boise State’s Intensive English Program and others. After working as a Job Training Manager at Create Common Good for three years, Nate saw the demand from renters who wanted to become homebuyers and decided to make a career change. In July of 2017 he shifted into the real estate industry to serve many of the same folks he worked with getting their first jobs to get their first home. He is passionate about creating an empowering experience for each of his clients, applying his teaching background towards his real estate services. With the team at LEAP Housing Solutions he started the Yes You Can first time homebuyer’s program, which blends the essential elements of social services, nonprofit coordination, and education into the home purchase process.
He lives with his wife/best friend, Amanda, in Boise and was the pilot Yes You Can participant. He enjoys getting semi-lost in the foothills with Amanda above all else or urban hiking until his joints ache.
