Barwaqo Aden, BS

Barwaqo is the Assistant Director at Nisaa African Family Services, an organization that serves survivors of domestic violence and sexual assault in African communities in Iowa. Barwaqo is a Somali-American who grew up in Kenya and is dedicated to serving African communities.  She has been an advocate at Nisaa since 2014 and through her role she overseas, implement projects and conducts community outreach. She is also responsible for organizing education programming, conducting trainings, and supervising advocates. Barwaqo has previously volunteered with immigrant populations in South Africa and the United States. Barwaqo is passionate about women’s global health and empowerment projects. She is a graduate from the University of Phoenix with a Bachelor of Science in Business Human Resources and a concentration in Global Management. When she is not working or giving back to her community, Barwaqo enjoys reading, cooking, and spending time with loved ones.

Jodi Bowden-Fuentes, BA

Jodi is the Domestic Violence Program Coordinator at Latinas Unidas por un Nuevo Amanecer (L.U.N.A). Jodi began working with survivors of gender-based violence as a Bilingual Shelter Advocate at Children and Families of Iowa, Domestic Violence Services. In that role, she had the opportunity to work closely with the Latino community and gain a practical understanding of immigration law, as well as extensive knowledge related to working with survivors as they navigate recovery from their victimizations. She received her Associate's Degree in Communications and a Bachelor of Science in Human Services Management from the University of Phoenix. Jodi's educational background focused on trauma-informed interventions, diversity and cultural competency, and women’s issues.

Vilma Bramasco, ARNP

Vilma is the Health Clinical Director at Proteus, a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that provides job training, health care, and education assistance to agricultural workers in Iowa, Nebraska, and Indiana. She and her husband enjoy watching their son participate in sporting activities.

Amaya Alexandra Ramos (Alexandra), MSW, CPH, MA

Alexandra is an interdisciplinary researcher focusing on mental/public health programming for survivors of forced migration, torture, and targeted violence. Committed to bridging the gap between research and practice, Alexandra advocates for ethnography as a vehicle for institutional learning, enforcing human rights, and furthering equitable access to integrated health systems. Multilingual and proficient in all levels of engagement, she has supported humanitarian and development efforts from direct service provision through to administration for global bodies, including national and international: psychosocial program design and related research; crisis stabilization; immigration policy alignment; communications; monitoring and evaluation; education; and curriculum development. Alexandra has also worked in anti-human trafficking, post-disaster gender-based violence, and infectious disease research.

Certified in Public health, Alexandra holds master's degrees in Social Work, International Affairs (Middle Eastern and modern languages emphasis), and Music (Ethnomusicology emphasis). Her regional specialization is working with Persian-speaking populations and the broader Middle East/Central Asian regions. In addition to her research and social services work, Alexandra is a lifelong visual and performing artist who seeks to incorporate the arts into holistic human rights practice.

Alexandra is the founder and Chair of HazRav, a non-profit displacement health/mental health research organization and information-sharing professional network that supports integrated well-being for humanitarian beneficiaries and their providers and advocates by mobilizing and synthesizing diverse sources of knowledge across various interconnected sectors. Alexandra also holds an adjunct position teaching graduate coursework in Diversity and Social Justice at the University of South Florida’s School of Social Work.

Emily Mendez

Emily has dedicated her career to public health initiatives, particularly supporting and working with immigrant and refugee communities. With experience spanning maternal child health, mental health, oral health, and primary care, she has worked at Al Razi Academy, Catholic Charities, EveryStep, and Dental Connections. Currently serving as Director of Development at Proteus, Inc., Emily raises funds to ensure healthcare access for marginalized individuals, including immigrants and refugees. A graduate of Central College in Pella, IA, she serves on the Board of Directors for the Iowa Rural Health Association and as the Membership Chair for the Latino Trade Network.

Stephanie Moris, BA

Stephanie is the Director of the Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa.  She has been involved with the Alliance since 2013 and has worked with refugee and immigrant communities in education, employment, and wrap-around direct case management before joining RACI.  Stephanie obtained a Bachelor of Arts from Iowa State University after living in the Dominican Republic, where she met her husband. Outside of work Stephanie is very passionate about empowering our refugee and immigrant communities, immigration rights, and connecting our community. She volunteers as a mentor and teaches Spanish. She is a mother of two and loves creating art, reading, hiking, and swimming.

Carly Ross, BA

Carly is the Executive Director of Dental Connections, a private, non-profit community health center focused on providing dental care to all. Carly is also a public member of the Iowa Board of Dentistry. Carly has an extensive background working with the refugee and immigrant population in Des Moines. From 2015 to 2019, she was the Field Office Director for the U.S. Committee for Refugees and Immigrants. In this role, she also served on the Steering Committee of the Refugee Alliance of Central Iowa. Previously, she worked in East Africa for a non-governmental organization contracted by the U.S. State Department to help determine refugee eligibility for resettlement to the United States. Prior, she worked as a refugee resettlement case manager for Lutheran Services in Iowa, coordinating their high-need medical programs. She has a graduate degree from the Asian Institute of Technology, where she researched race and equity in Thai society.

Sara Zejnic, MA

Sara is the Deputy Director of Programs for the International Rescue Committee (IRC). She is responsible for leading the design and implementation of all direct service programs in the IRC Iowa office; including programming focused on refugee resettlement, economic empowerment, support to Ethnic and Community-Based Organizations (ECBOs) to deliver education and youth services, and health initiatives.