Basma Alawee

Basma Alawee is a former refugee from Iraq, a Refugee Congress Delegate since 2013, and the Refugee Organizer for the Florida Immigrant Coalition. Born in the midst of the Iran-Iraq war, Basma witnessed the horrors and consequences of war occurring in her homeland. After moving to the United States in 2010, she identified the urgent need to unite U.S based refugee/immigration rights groups, faith-based organizations, refugees, and decision-makers, in order to capture refugees’ influence on American culture, economy, and future trajectory. The State of Florida’s refugee program is the largest in the nation, receiving more than 27,000 refugees, asylees, and Cuban/Haitian entrants each year. In light of this, Basma started organizing the refugee community in Florida through the We Are All America campaign in 2018 and immediately sought to educate legislators on local refugee programs by connecting refugee families and their stories to local decision-makers. By sharing her own story, Basma has helped create a platform that empowers others and brings the refugee community of Florida to the policy-making table.

This event is funded through a Florida Humanities Florida Talks Grant, in partnership with WUWF Public Media.