Join us for an evening of art, community, and collaboration between Valor Christian High School and Project Worthmore.
Featuring the work of distinguished local and student artists, this event will explore the intersection of art and the refugee experience in an immersive exhibit, as well as a conversation facilitated by James Laurie of the Flobots, with two former refugees and integral voices in the Denver area, Maythem Alshadood and Georgette Mabi.
Maytham is Congressional District Director, a Transplant Medicine RN, a Healthcare Researcher, and a Community Advocate. A native of Iraq, he moved to the U.S. in 2008 after serving as a Combat Interpreter with the U.S. Army. Maytham founded DRIVE Project, a nonprofit that focused on refugee and immigrant empowerment. Through DRIVE Project, Maytham was able to advocate for a law that enabled refugees and immigrants to qualify for in-state tuition upon resettlement.
For his advocacy, Maytham was presented with an Immigrant Liberty Award by RMIAN, named a rising political star by Denverite, presented at TEDxMileHigh, and featured on the cover of 5280 magazine as one of 15 “Disrupters” who are changing Denver.
Georgette is originally from the Democratic Republic of Congo and came to the United States as a refugee. She has called Colorado her home for ten years. A fluent speaker of French, English, Kiswahili, and Lingala, Georgette has worked tirelessly as a navigator for six years, connecting families in the African community to vital resources and supporting new arrivals as they orient to their new surroundings, just as she once did herself.
Aside from her work as a community navigator, Georgette has worked extensively with Denver Public Schools and is a proud mother of two.