14 Prominent Former Refugees Call San Diego Home
For years, San Diego County has been the primary refugee resettlement site in the state of California. The county boasts a population of roughly 150,000 refugees and former refugees, a number equal to the combined populations of three cities within the San Diego region—El Cajon, Lemon Grove, and Spring Valley. Measured against the San Diego County population of 3.3 million residents, refugees equal one in every 22 individuals.
Nile Sisters Development Initiative (NSDI) has compiled the following list to illustrate the invaluable contributions made in five fields by the diverse refugee community in San Diego.
Refugee Resettlement Agencies and Ethnic Community-Based Organizations (ECBOs)
Abdi Abdillahi, Refugee Coordinator
County of San Diego
Country of Origin: Somalia
Profile»
Walter Lam, President / CEO
Alliance for African Assistance
Country of Origin: Uganda
Profile 1»
Profile 2»
Elizabeth Lou, President / CEO
Nile Sisters Development Initiative
Country of Origin: Sudan**
Profile»
Abdi Mohamoud, Executive Director
Horn of Africa
Country of Origin: Somalia
Profile»
Dep Tuany, Founder
Southern Sudanese Community Center
Country of Origin: Sudan**
Profile»
Health and Social Services
Dr. John Kuek, MFT
Marriage and Family Therapy
Country of Origin: Sudan**
Profile»
Literature
Alephonsion Deng, Benson Deng, and Benjamin Ajak, Authors
They Poured Fire on Us from the Sky—True Story of Three Lost Boys from Sudan
Country of Origin: Sudan**
Profile»
Fashion
Mari Agory, International Model
Country of Origin: Sudan**
Profile»
Atong Arjok, International Model
Country of Origin: Sudan**
Profile»
Athletics and Sports
Angelo Chol, University Basketball Player
Country of Origin: Sudan**
Profile»
Charles Jock, Olympian
Country of Origin: Ethiopia
Profile»
Meb Keflezighi, Olympic Long-Distance Runner
Country of Origin: Eritrea
Profile»
** South Sudan became the world’s newest nation in 2011.
Statistical Sources
City of El Cajon Go»
City of Lemon Grove; 2010 Census Go»
City of Spring Valley Go»
San Diego County Go»
South Sudan Go»
