OPENING PLENARY
Salome Mwangi is a Kenyan-born American speaker who inspires, challenges and equips others to overcome their real or perceived obstacles, live up to their full potential, work with diverse teams, and grow professionally and personally.
Drawing from her own experiences Salome seeks to encourage, build up and support others as they journey through their own lives. Her life is a living testimony that regardless of what life hands you, only the smallness of your dreams limits your opportunities.
Salome resettled in Boise, Idaho in 2004 as a refugee, where she lives with her teenage daughter.
The values, tenacity and spirit of never giving up that were instilled by the “village” as she grew up have not only helped her navigate life as a single parent, but also her work as a Cultural Broker, working with Limited English Proficient clients and their service providers.
Drawing from her own experiences Salome seeks to encourage, build up and support others as they journey through their own lives. Her life is a living testimony that regardless of what life hands you, only the smallness of your dreams limits your opportunities.
Salome resettled in Boise, Idaho in 2004 as a refugee, where she lives with her teenage daughter.
The values, tenacity and spirit of never giving up that were instilled by the “village” as she grew up have not only helped her navigate life as a single parent, but also her work as a Cultural Broker, working with Limited English Proficient clients and their service providers.
Negin Farsad was named one of 50 Funniest Women by Huffington Post, named one of the 10 Best Feminist Comedians by Paper Magazine, and was selected as a TEDFellow for her work in social justice comedy. She even gave a TEDTalk because they slipped up and let a comedian on their vaunted stage. She is the author of the recently released How To Make White People Laugh, a memoir-meets-social-justice-comedy manifesto which was nominated for the Thurber Prize for Humor and recommended by Oprah Magazine. Farsad is host of Fake the Nation, a political comedy podcast on the Earwolf network and she’s a regular panelist on NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me. She appears on the current season of Nat Geo’s Year Million, the upcoming season of HBO’s High Maintenance, and the last season of Netflix’s Chelsea Handler Show.
She is also the director/writer/star of the rom-com 3rd Street Blackout, starring Janeane Garofalo, Ed Weeks, and John Hodgman (now available on Amazon). She has written for/appeared on Comedy Central, MTV, PBS, IFC, Nickelodeon and others. She is director/producer of the feature films The Muslims Are Coming! starring Jon Stewart, David Cross and Lewis Black and Nerdcore Rising starring Weird Al Yankovic (both available wherever movies are streamed/downloaded). She has written good-old fashioned articles for The Guardian, The Daily Beast, Oprah Magazine, Indiewire and others. She has sued New York State’s MTA over the right to put up funny posters about Muslims and WON
She started her comedy career as a Cornell and Columbia-educated policy advisor for the City of New York.
She is also the director/writer/star of the rom-com 3rd Street Blackout, starring Janeane Garofalo, Ed Weeks, and John Hodgman (now available on Amazon). She has written for/appeared on Comedy Central, MTV, PBS, IFC, Nickelodeon and others. She is director/producer of the feature films The Muslims Are Coming! starring Jon Stewart, David Cross and Lewis Black and Nerdcore Rising starring Weird Al Yankovic (both available wherever movies are streamed/downloaded). She has written good-old fashioned articles for The Guardian, The Daily Beast, Oprah Magazine, Indiewire and others. She has sued New York State’s MTA over the right to put up funny posters about Muslims and WON
She started her comedy career as a Cornell and Columbia-educated policy advisor for the City of New York.
Tyler Moran is Special Assistant to the President for Immigration for the Domestic Policy Council. Tyler most recently served as Executive Director of the Immigration Hub. Tyler previously served as Senior Policy Advisor to Senate Democratic Leader Harry Reid of Nevada and in the Domestic Policy Council in the Obama-Biden White House. While at DPC, Moran worked on the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program and the President’s 2013 immigration reform bill. Prior to working in government, Tyler worked for the National Immigration Law Center, the Massachusetts Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Coalition and taught high school at the Tilton School. Moran is a graduate of St. Lawrence University and the Harvard Graduate School of Education and currently lives in Boise, Idaho with her husband and two sons.
Brandon Prelogar is the Director for Refugee and Other Humanitarian Protection for the Domestic Policy Council’s immigration team. Brandon previously served as a Special Assistant to the Division Chief of the International and Refugee Affairs Division in U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), a component of the Department of Homeland Security (DHS). In this role, he advised the Chief on the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and humanitarian parole, among other duties. Brandon previously served as the Chief of the International and Humanitarian Affairs Division in USCIS’s Office of Policy and Strategy and as a Senior Counselor to the USCIS Director. In these roles, he worked on a range of humanitarian immigration protection issues.
Brandon served at the National Security Council in 2013-2014, where he worked as the Director for Human Rights and Refugee Protection in the Office of Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights. Prior to that, he worked at DHS Headquarters’ Office of Policy as the Special Advisor for Refugee & Asylum Affairs. He began his career in immigration as a Refugee Officer and a Presidential Management Fellow at USCIS. Brandon served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Bulgaria from 1999-2001.
Brandon served at the National Security Council in 2013-2014, where he worked as the Director for Human Rights and Refugee Protection in the Office of Multilateral Affairs and Human Rights. Prior to that, he worked at DHS Headquarters’ Office of Policy as the Special Advisor for Refugee & Asylum Affairs. He began his career in immigration as a Refugee Officer and a Presidential Management Fellow at USCIS. Brandon served as a Peace Corps volunteer in Bulgaria from 1999-2001.
Mayor Lauren McLean is the 56th mayor of Boise. She is the first elected female Mayor in the city's 150-year history.
Lauren was born in Boston, Massachusetts and spent her formative years in Houston, Texas, and Cazenovia, New York. She attended the University of Notre Dame, graduating with honors in 1997. While at Notre Dame, Lauren participated in the Center for Social Concerns, leading and developing community engagement and social justice seminars for students. Lauren studied her sophomore year in Angers, France at l’Université Catholique de l’Ouest. She earned a Master of Public Administration from Boise State University as the first Carl Burke Fellow.
Lauren moved to Boise, Idaho shortly after graduating from Notre Dame and marrying her high school sweetheart, Scott.
Public service has been an integral part of Lauren’s career and personal life. In 2001, she led the historic Boise Foothills Open Space Levy campaign and, along with hundreds of dedicated volunteers, secured protection of the Boise Foothills for future generations. Lauren served on Boise City Council from 2011-2019, and served as Council President from 2017-2019. During her time on City Council she led the effort to pass Boise's 100% Clean Energy Plan.
Three months into her first term as the Mayor of Boise, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Despite the very real challenges brought on by the virus, she continues to lead boldly, with the community at the forefront of every decision.
As Mayor, she has led the fight against climate change, setting ambitious goals to lead the city into an environmentally and economically resilient future. Her vision is to create a city that is truly for everyone – one that offers equitable access to housing, living wage jobs, transportation, and a seat at the table for residents when decisions about the future of Boise are being made.
Lauren currently serves on the Board of Governors at the Andrus Center at Boise State University. She has been recognized as one of the nation's most promising young political leaders by the Aspen Institute and New Deal Leaders. She was selected to participate in the 2020 Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative on Economic Recovery.
Lauren and Scott are parents to Madeleine and Aiden. She is an avid trail runner, outdoorswoman, and reader. In her free time, she and her family love to explore Idaho's beautiful backcountry by foot or by ski.
Lauren was born in Boston, Massachusetts and spent her formative years in Houston, Texas, and Cazenovia, New York. She attended the University of Notre Dame, graduating with honors in 1997. While at Notre Dame, Lauren participated in the Center for Social Concerns, leading and developing community engagement and social justice seminars for students. Lauren studied her sophomore year in Angers, France at l’Université Catholique de l’Ouest. She earned a Master of Public Administration from Boise State University as the first Carl Burke Fellow.
Lauren moved to Boise, Idaho shortly after graduating from Notre Dame and marrying her high school sweetheart, Scott.
Public service has been an integral part of Lauren’s career and personal life. In 2001, she led the historic Boise Foothills Open Space Levy campaign and, along with hundreds of dedicated volunteers, secured protection of the Boise Foothills for future generations. Lauren served on Boise City Council from 2011-2019, and served as Council President from 2017-2019. During her time on City Council she led the effort to pass Boise's 100% Clean Energy Plan.
Three months into her first term as the Mayor of Boise, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. Despite the very real challenges brought on by the virus, she continues to lead boldly, with the community at the forefront of every decision.
As Mayor, she has led the fight against climate change, setting ambitious goals to lead the city into an environmentally and economically resilient future. Her vision is to create a city that is truly for everyone – one that offers equitable access to housing, living wage jobs, transportation, and a seat at the table for residents when decisions about the future of Boise are being made.
Lauren currently serves on the Board of Governors at the Andrus Center at Boise State University. She has been recognized as one of the nation's most promising young political leaders by the Aspen Institute and New Deal Leaders. She was selected to participate in the 2020 Bloomberg Harvard City Leadership Initiative on Economic Recovery.
Lauren and Scott are parents to Madeleine and Aiden. She is an avid trail runner, outdoorswoman, and reader. In her free time, she and her family love to explore Idaho's beautiful backcountry by foot or by ski.
Twin Falls Mayor Suzanne Hawkins has served on the City Council since 2012. She is a proud alumni of the College of Southern Idaho. In 1994 Suzanne opened and developed Computer Connection into a thriving business. At the time she began her career as a computer technician it was almost unheard of for a woman to have that roll. Mayor Hawkins is past president of the Association of Idaho Cities. In 2019 She was a nominee for Idaho Business Women of the Year. Suzanne has been married to her husband, Dave for 28 years. Together they have raised six amazing children and are blessed with 18 grandchildren.
Gonzalo R. Bruce serves as Assistant Provost for Global Education at Boise State University. As the Senior International Officer, he provides leadership in areas that support strategic internationalization, including Global Learning Opportunities, International Recruitment and Admission, the Intensive English Program, International Scholars and Academic Immigration Services, International Students Services, and the Peace Corps Prep Program. He has more than 18 years of experience in international education at public and private higher education institutions, in the U.S. and in Chile. In his current position, he provides oversight of the Center for Global Education, a division of Academic Affairs that is dedicated to advance campus internationalization efforts, where he is directly involved in developing new international programs and partnerships and managing externally funded projects with global partners. Gonzalo is active in several professional associations, including NAFSA, AIEA and EAIE.
As the state refugee coordinator and director of the Idaho Office for Refugees (IOR), Tara Wolfson oversees resettlement programs in the state. Tara is committed to the continued development of Idaho as a welcoming home to new Americans, where people have the opportunity to reach their full potential and to contribute to a stronger community. Tara has presented the work of Neighbors United, a refugee collaborative, at the White House Convening on Building Welcoming Communities and in Berlin, Germany at the Transatlantic Exchange. Prior to IOR, Tara ran political campaigns and worked to bring together people with often-divergent views, from Palestinians and Jewish Israelis to environmental and civic leaders in the U.S. Tara is a graduate of the University of Vermont and a recipient of the Coro Fellowship for Civic Leadership in San Francisco. Tara has studied and worked in Zimbabwe, Israel, and Palestine and has traveled extensively throughout Africa, the Middle East, and Eastern Europe. She lives in Boise with her husband, two daughters, and a puppy.
WELLNESS BREAK - Mindful Movement
As farm manager for Global Gardens, Roscoe Oswald works to provide access to land for entrepreneurial farmers. You'll find him at the farms keeping things in order, managing the irrigation, building new infrastructure, and teaching farmers how to grow mushrooms. He brings experience from two Peace Corps tours and working with other international NGOs in the fields of agriculture, water systems, construction, and renewable energy.
Roscoe has always been inspired by fit and healthy people of all ages living in rural areas around the world who ate primarily food that they grew or foraged themselves, walked a lot, climbed trees, played their own music, and lived in community.
His own desires for health, happiness, and longevity has led him to study a variety of mindful movement practices and he has certifications in yoga, qigong, and natural movement. He believes these practices help to be ready for the physical demands of the farm season as well as cultivate compassion when working with diverse populations.
Roscoe has always been inspired by fit and healthy people of all ages living in rural areas around the world who ate primarily food that they grew or foraged themselves, walked a lot, climbed trees, played their own music, and lived in community.
His own desires for health, happiness, and longevity has led him to study a variety of mindful movement practices and he has certifications in yoga, qigong, and natural movement. He believes these practices help to be ready for the physical demands of the farm season as well as cultivate compassion when working with diverse populations.
CLOSING PLENARY
Robert Paye was born and raised in Monrovia, Liberia, of West Africa. During his time as a child, the country fell into a brutal civil war. He and his family were forced into refugee camps in nearby African countries including Guinea and Ghana. Through their struggles for survival, he was able to successfully complete high school and later became a teacher. In 2006, he was opportune to immigrate to the United States as an asylee. He has since gained an advanced certificate in Network System Administration and a BS in Network and Communication Management. He is currently the president of the Julius David Family Association of North America and president of the Liberian United Association of Idaho. He has a deep passion for education and has dedicated his life to helping others.
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 2021.
Prior to ORR, he served as Senior Program Specialist at the Immigration and Naturalization Service where he provided oversight to the Cuban Haitian Entrant Program and Unaccompanied Alien Children’s Program (UAC). Since the transfer of the UAC from the U.S. Department of Justice to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2003, Ken has worked to significantly increase shelter capacity and enhance care and services for newly arriving unaccompanied children.
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.
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.
Prior to ORR, he served as Senior Program Specialist at the Immigration and Naturalization Service where he provided oversight to the Cuban Haitian Entrant Program and Unaccompanied Alien Children’s Program (UAC). Since the transfer of the UAC from the U.S. Department of Justice to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services in 2003, Ken has worked to significantly increase shelter capacity and enhance care and services for newly arriving unaccompanied children.
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.
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.
Anselme Sadiki is the Executive Director of the Children’s Home Society of Idaho, a 112 – year- old organization that operates the Warm Springs Counselling Centre.
A native of the Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly known as Zaïre, Sadiki was a university student when the country’s dictator launched a campaign of terror against students. Mr. Sadiki resettled in Pocatello, Idaho in 1994 where he started over and completed his bachelor’s degree in social work at Idaho State University. He later earned a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University and went on to work for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
He worked as a UNDP deputy representative in Mauritania, Cabo Verde, and Gabon. He led development projects funded by the African Development Bank, the World Bank, and the European Commission in several countries in Africa and South East Asia. Mr. Sadiki also helped establish a government in South Sudan, now the world newest country. After spending a dozen years with U.N., Mr. Sadiki returned to Idaho with his wife and daughter.
A native of the Democratic Republic of Congo, formerly known as Zaïre, Sadiki was a university student when the country’s dictator launched a campaign of terror against students. Mr. Sadiki resettled in Pocatello, Idaho in 1994 where he started over and completed his bachelor’s degree in social work at Idaho State University. He later earned a master’s degree in international affairs from Columbia University and went on to work for the United Nations Development Program (UNDP).
He worked as a UNDP deputy representative in Mauritania, Cabo Verde, and Gabon. He led development projects funded by the African Development Bank, the World Bank, and the European Commission in several countries in Africa and South East Asia. Mr. Sadiki also helped establish a government in South Sudan, now the world newest country. After spending a dozen years with U.N., Mr. Sadiki returned to Idaho with his wife and daughter.
