Meet Lemi
RISE Impact Coordinator Julia DiGiacomo sat down with Lemi Tilahun to find out what he's been up to since his time with RISE.
“To be part of RISE and see the kind of effects it has had on the clients and the people that I have helped
resettle has made it worth it for me,” Lemi says. “I’m definitely recommending the program.”
resettle has made it worth it for me,” Lemi says. “I’m definitely recommending the program.”
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Lemi Tilahun is a former 2018-2019 RISE member who is dedicated to improving the lives of immigrants and refugees through community-based programs. During his AmeriCorps term, he worked as both a family reunification specialist and a documentation and compliance coordinator for refugee resettlement.
Lemi says he was drawn to the RISE program partly because of its local, grassroots focus. RISE’s vision of connecting families to critical resources and services spoke to him. “I thought it was pretty impressive, particularly because the RISE program was one of the only programs in the nation that was working directly in the community with emerging population groups,” Lemi says. |
The RISE program impacted him on many levels, he says. He was encouraged to continue working in a field directly benefiting the communities of Cedar Rapids.
After his term, Lemi was hired as a Community School Coordinator for the Cedar Rapids Community School District. He now supervises RISE members who work with refugee and immigrant students and families at Hoover Elementary School. He continues to coordinate resources and bring together students, parents, staff, and the community to best promote students’ well-being.
After his term, Lemi was hired as a Community School Coordinator for the Cedar Rapids Community School District. He now supervises RISE members who work with refugee and immigrant students and families at Hoover Elementary School. He continues to coordinate resources and bring together students, parents, staff, and the community to best promote students’ well-being.
