Refugee Speakers Bureau
Bridging cultures through storytelling
Established in 2015, this program of the Idaho Office for Refugees provides Idahoans who arrived in the U.S. as refugees and immigrants with training to engage in public dialogue and reach out to the community. Participants share their stories in as speakers at meetings and events, and at schools, businesses, and other places in the Treasure Valley and throughout Idaho.
Join Us! Free Public Speaking Workshop
Meet the Workshop Facilitators
Sara Skinner, MPH, is a facilitator, trainer and consultant. She specializes in creating workshops and meetings that are transformative for the people involved and for the communities where they live and work. Sara’s background is in community-based public health, specifically in how to design, implement and evaluate community-based programs. She brings extensive cross-cultural experience from her work with farmworkers, refugees, and other immigrants, and from her time living in Spain and Brazil. She currently collaborates with the Neighbors United Refugee Collaborative, with a variety of US and international organizations, and with IOR Global as an Intercultural Trainer. Sara’s work has been featured on NPR’s All Things Considered, StoryCorps, the MOSAICS Podcast, and in the Minnesota Star Tribune.
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Moe “Ramona” Thuzar Aye is a survivor who endured the horrors of the Rohingya Genocide at the age of16 in the Rakhine State in 2013. It was during this challenging period that the sight of homeless children, devoid of educational opportunities, deeply impacted her. Fueled by her unwavering belief in the transformative power of education, she embarked on a journey to teach children in the streets, sparking her profound passion for teaching.
In 2017, Ramona enrolled at YLCC Community College, where she dedicated six months to volunteering for youth-empowerment programs and swiftly advanced from an assistant to a senior teacher. She currently serves as an academic officer at TLCC Community College, where she contributes not only a steadfast passion for education but also professional trainings in both instructional methods and safeguarding. |
Opportunities for Speakers, Artists, Performers
Please fill out our Speaker Application Form to learn more and get connected with these opportunities!
Speaker Development Workshop
We offer free trainings to help you develop your confidence and skills in public speaking and storytelling. Our next workshop is May 11, 2024, in Boise. Learn more and register here!
World Refugee Day Boise
June 22, 2024, at the Grove Plaza
Paid opportunities for dancers, musicians, emcees.
Booth space available for vendors and chefs from multicultural backgrounds.
Northwest Conference on Resettlement
Oct. 17-18, 2024, at The College of Idaho, Caldwell
Paid opportunities for emcees, storytellers, performers, workshop presenters.
Refugee Appreciation Luncheon
TBD - February 2025 at the Idaho State Capitol
Meet lawmakers and community leaders and enjoy a free lunch with food from around the world.
Speaker Circles
We're launching Speaker Circle to provide a welcoming place for community members to connect and practice sharing their stories with one another.
Podcast & Media
Speakers have opportunities to be featured on our podcast, MOSAICS, and to do interviews with the local media.
We offer free trainings to help you develop your confidence and skills in public speaking and storytelling. Our next workshop is May 11, 2024, in Boise. Learn more and register here!
World Refugee Day Boise
June 22, 2024, at the Grove Plaza
Paid opportunities for dancers, musicians, emcees.
Booth space available for vendors and chefs from multicultural backgrounds.
Northwest Conference on Resettlement
Oct. 17-18, 2024, at The College of Idaho, Caldwell
Paid opportunities for emcees, storytellers, performers, workshop presenters.
Refugee Appreciation Luncheon
TBD - February 2025 at the Idaho State Capitol
Meet lawmakers and community leaders and enjoy a free lunch with food from around the world.
Speaker Circles
We're launching Speaker Circle to provide a welcoming place for community members to connect and practice sharing their stories with one another.
Podcast & Media
Speakers have opportunities to be featured on our podcast, MOSAICS, and to do interviews with the local media.
Hear from Storytellers
MOSAICS Podcast Interviews:
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Find more stories on our social media: