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They came to the United States as refugees themselves. Now these heads of Church World Service resettlement affiliates in six cities are helping other refugees build new lives in their new communities.

CWS resettles refugees to 23 states through a network of agencies and offices in 34 cities. Former refugees now head resettlement in Fort Worth, Texas; Columbia, South Carolina; Portland, Oregon; Harrisonburg, Virginia; Lincoln, Nebraska, and Denver, Colorado.

Here are links to the first two directors' profiles. Additional profiles will be added in the days to come.

• Vesna Vila: Former pediatrician now helps refugees heal from trauma

• Viktor Sokolyuk: "To help others: an American principle"

• Ferdinant Mevlani: Giving other refugees a "chance to have dreams"

• Vanja Ilic: Helping refugees because "I've been in those shoes"

• Abdulkadir "Lee" Abdi, Fort Worth, Texas

• Bedrija Jazic, Columbia, South Carolina

Learn more about how refugee resettlement works.

Find your local CWS office:

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