“All of our families, at one point in time, were immigrants to America. That’s what makes the promise of our country so inspiring and welcoming. One Journey celebrates our diversity and I’m proud to be a part of it.”

Khadija is a Moroccan immigrant who is passionate about immigrants and refugees issues. Khadija is a believer that every one of us should be “what’s right” with the world we live in. She brings her finance expertise to the One Journey alliance.

“I am so proud of our hundreds of volunteers. Every day, they give me hope.” Kenn is a retired advertising executive, writer, and co-founder of NOVA Friends of Refugees. His compassion for the displaced grew from his experience in Haiti after the 2010 earthquake.

Cyndie Cota

Sponsorship & Fundraising

Currently, as the Manager of Administration at Washington National Cathedral, Cyndie has a broad range of experience in administrative/logistical affairs and operations, ranging from human resources and security to development and special events.

Matt Tully

Sports Engagement

Matt serves as the lead for One Journey soccer events, where he combines his passions for soccer and serving the refugee community to bring people together through the common language of sport.

Mara Staines

Technology Tent

Mara is a software developer living in Arlington, VA. She is passionate about introducing young people to careers in technology, especially those from populations who are currently underrepresented in IT.

Nafiseh Jafarzadeh

Kids Tent Programming

"I am an environmental specialist, currently working as a consultant at the World Bank, focusing on the South Asia region. I have working experience in Afghanistan and Iraq, and very much interested in humanitarian sector."

Lindsay Wozniak

Website Designer/Developer

Lindsay founded Red Fish Studios to help non-profits to create innovative marketing solutions to help ensure their success. She provides consulting to help One journey to stay on the forefront of digital marketing trends.

Lauren Mizus

Volunteer Management

Licensed clinical social worker from the DC area dedicated to lifting up under represented voices. I find human behavior and culture fascinating and love to travel and explore. I am so excited to volunteer with One Journey and look forward to what is ahead.

Jess Young

Communications & Marketing

"I come from a family of refugees and could not be more thankful for the life I have today. My goal to tell more stories of refugees – the hardships, the trauma, but also the resilience and joy."

Anna Harty

Communications & Marketing

Anna is passionate about social justice and refugee advocacy in particular. One of Anna's favorite quotes that sums up her interests comes from Desmond Tutu: "My humanity is bound up in yours, for we can only be human together."

Ariel Brengle

Festival Program Book

Ariel holds a Masters's in Public Health with a focus on Global Health. She has worked with organizations such as the National Hispanic Medical Association and is currently an associate consultant at Eagle Hill Consulting. She is thrilled at any opportunity to uplift those who are marginalized in her personal and professional life. Ariel values cultivating trusting and meaningful relationships, which she thinks is the foundation of all impactful change.

Karla Kramer

Music and Dance Programming

Karla brings her passion for movies to One Journey and coordinates film screenings featuring refugee documentaries. As a proud Chickasaw, Karla is familiar with her ancestors plight of becoming refugees in their own land, and believes whole-heartedly in One Journey’s cause to celebrate refugees and their talents through cultural programming.

Rodolfo Scannone

Volunteer Management

Venezuelan in DC. Education Consultant focused in results-based financing models and partnership building to transform education systems. M.S. in Public Policy and Management at Carnegie Mellon University and B.A. in Mass Communication from Universidad Católica Andrés Bello (UCAB).

Sonya Marsden

Kids Tent Programming

Sonya Marsden is a policy analyst who worked at the Government Accountability Office for 15 years in Education Policy.  Sonya is currently studying International Development as a graduate student at George Mason University, serves as an outreach leader at Holy Cross Episcopal Church in Vienna, VA, and is a full time mom to a great human. 

Dimple Dhabalia

Storytelling Tent

Dimple Dhabalia is an entrepreneur, visual storyteller, and global foodie who spent a number of years traveling around the world bearing witness to the stories of thousands of refugees trying to resettle in the United States. Those experiences and her role as the daughter of first generation immigrants had a profound impact and led Dimple to recognize the power storytelling has to bridge gaps, and to help us connect with one another on a human level. Through her role on the One Journey Core Team Dimple looks forward to using various forms of storytelling to create community and celebrate humanity.

Dana Lea

Communications & Press/
Media Relations

Dana Lea is the Senior Manager of Civil Society Engagement at Endeavors, a Texas-based nonprofit, where she manages engagement for the Migrant Services team providing sheltering of migrant families and children at the Southwest border. She previously has over seven years of experience in the local refugee resettlement field coordinating community engagement, advocacy, fundraising and development, strategic marketing and communications, and cultural integration of families and individuals. Dana also volunteers with KAMA DC and the Immigration Film Festival steering committee.

Aujeneè Douglas

One Journey Intern

Aujeneè, also known as Auj, is a Sophomore at American University, studying Justice, Law and Criminology with a minor in Communications. At American University, she is active in her sorority's executive board as VP Diversity, Equity and Inclusion and is a Freshmen Resident Assistant. Her experience in the past as Junior President of the Buffalo Soldiers Motorcycle Club and President of her school's Women of Color Club has further developed her interest in philanthropy and advocacy; hence, leading her to OneJourney. She hopes to apply these passions into her work with OneJourney in an effort to further develop a sense of community in DC!

Sofia Kohl

One Journey Intern

Sofia is a Sophomore studying International Relations and Public Health at American University in Washington, D.C. On campus, she is a member of Alpha Chi Omega through which she works with My Sister’s Place, a domestic violence shelter in DC. In the past, she was a fellow with Her Bold Move, a non-profit organization focusing on breaking the gender inequalities in government by supporting female candidates. She also volunteered at a local hospital in her hometown for many years, leading to her passion for public health. Through working with OneJourney, Sofia hopes to work to lessen the animosity immigrants face upon coming into this country, as well as identify gaps in the healthcare offered to immigrants.