Refugee Women's Network is mindful and intentional about creating opportunities for refugees and immigrant women and girls in advancing their professional careers, at the same time bringing their whole selves to the workplace. In an effort to do so, RWN is committed to hiring diverse, dynamic women to lead the organization.

RWN's governance and staff includes refugee and immigrant women from Africa, Asia, Europe, the Middle East, and the Americas as well as American-born caucasian, Asian and African-American women.

Staff :

D. BryAnn Chen, Executive Director
BryAnn Chen has been leading the organization for almost 6 years. Her major responsibilities are ensuring that all RWN activities are aligned with the RWN mission of empowering refugee and immigrant women to be self-sufficient community leaders and that RWN has the resources to do so, and empowering staff to do the same. BryAnn has been involved in the social justice movement since 1988. Through paid and unpaid work, she’s brought attention to issues ranging from violence against women, nutrition education, and teen driving safety.  She has also worked in the field of philanthropy reviewing grant proposals and managing a scholarship program. 

When asked to identify the communities she calls her own, she says “I view myself primarily as an Asian-American feminist.  I am an American because I was born and raised here.  I am Asian-American because my experience as an American-born Taiwanese is very similar to other Asian-Americans.  And as a woman, my gender identity is central to who I am because there are gendered identities within every culture that affect my interactions with Americans, Asians, refugees, and immigrants.” BryAnn is skilled in speaking Mandarin Chinese with an American accent!

BryAnn is passionate about social justice, travel/learning about other cultures, art/craft and her family.

In 2008, BryAnn was featured in 11 Alive's Good People news segment.  You may view it here

Jo Ann Cooper, Accountant/Office Manager
Jo Ann Cooper began working with RWN in April 2008. Her chief responsibilities are finance, office management and human resources.  Prior to coming to RWN, Jo Ann was an employee of the U.S. Social Forum and served as the administrative assistant to the National Lead Staff Organizer.  Along with the Lead Organizer and Atlanta Organizing Committee, Jo Ann provided logistics for over 12,000 people who attended the first ever U.S. Social Forum.  Her other duties included managing all office functions which included accounts receivables and payables and supervising office volunteers.

In Jo Ann’s spare time, she does volunteer work with Grady Health System and WRFG Radio.  On WRFG, 89.3 FM, Jo Ann serves on various committees including the board of directors as well as hosting a weekly radio program featuring the Creole people of southwest Louisiana.

At Grady Health System, Jo Ann functions in the capacity as an OB/GYN inpatient volunteer on the perinatal – antepartum/GYN ward.  Under the direction of the charge nurse, her main duties include assisting in personal care of the patients, providing patient ambulation and transport.

Jo Ann has been an active member of the historic Ebenezer Baptist Church since 1995.  She has served in the Multimedia ministry, Teenage mother’s ministry, Carrie Dean Boston Missionary Circle and Single’s Ministry.

Lystra Cupid, Business Development Counselor

Lystra Cupid is the Business Development Counselor for the Microenterprise Program. She has been working with RWN for 3 ½ years. Her major responsibilities include spreading the information about RWN Microenterprise Program, encouraging women to use their skills and contacts to open or expand businesses. Once women contact RWN for microloans or technical assistance, Lystra works with them to help them navigate the intricacies of operating a business in America. Lystra came to the RWN when she attended the Leadership Development training in 2004. Lystra brings with her a wealth of knowledge and experience from working in the corporate sector, being an entrepreneur and business owner and traveling across the globe.

Lystra is passionate about self-empowerment through entrepreneurship. She notes that women in many countries are the backbone of the informal business sector, and are natural business leaders. Lystra considers the Caribbean her home and entrepreneurs and small business organizations as communities that mark her identity.

  Satyam Barakoti, Communications & Advocacy Coordinator

Satyam Barakoti is the Communications and Advocacy Coordinator for Refugee Women's Network. Satyam has two parts to her job: In her communications role, her major responsibilities are developing and disseminating organizational information through print and electronic media. In her advocacy role, Satyam represents the organization in policy discussions that affect refugee and immigrant women. Click here to learn about the Refugee Advocacy Program, a new initiative of RWN that Satyam is leading. Since joining RWN in 2007, Satyam successfully coordinated the 9^th Annual Refugee and Immigrant Women’s Leadership Conference

Satyam brings to RWN over 10 years of experience working with women on various women’s empowerment issues like economic development, political and social empowerment, domestic violence and human rights.  She has worked with women in Nepal and has provided support and services to immigrant and refugee women in the United States.

Satyam was born and raised in Nepal. She came to the United States for higher education. She is passionate about and active in finding creative solutions to oppressive, deeply entrenched problems. Satyam loves experimenting with different ingredients while cooking and spending time with friends and loved ones. Satyam speaks English, Nepali, Hindi, Urdu and Maithili.

Sumaya Karimi, Leadership Program Coordinator

Sumaya Karimi is the Leadership Program Coordinator with the Refugee Women’s Network. Since re-joining the organization in 2008, Sumaya has been working on rejuvenating the Leadership Program, reestablishing old networks, providing technical assistance to Leadership Program graduates and developing a training manual. Sumaya trained at the Grail Center in South Africa on using Freirian Methodology. Paolo Freire’s Training for Transformation principles and tools are the basis for Leadership Program and Leadership Trainings that she conducts.

Sumaya worked at RWN from 2000-2003 and provided Leadership Training and technical assistance. She travelled to where the leadership graduates lived and worked and helped them train local community members, find local resources and networks that they can use.

Sumaya came to the United States as a refugee from Afghanistan in 2000 and has been working with the refugee community ever since.  She has extensive experience of more than 10 years of designing and implementing programs in Afghanistan, and in the refugee and immigrant communities in the United States. She has a medical degree from Afghanistan and a Diploma on Education and Development from the Kimach College of Ireland. Sumaya has two beautiful children and loves playing with them. Sumaya is fluent in Farsi and Pashto.