In episode 63 of Immigrant Conversations, Mehran Sorourian hosts Aisha Koroma, a Sierra Leonean-born refugee, licensed psychotherapist, and founder of the Safe Space Project.

Aisha arrived in the U.S. as a young teen after surviving trauma during her refugee journey. Today, she serves as Assistant Director of Social Integration at HIAS, Refugee Congress Delegate for D.C., and leads global mental health initiatives. She holds certifications in Trauma-Informed Care, Gender-Based Violence, and MHPSS from Harvard, WHO, and Johns Hopkins.

In this episode, Aisha discusses:

1. Her harrowing refugee journey from Sierra Leone and traumas endured
2. Struggles arriving in America as a teenage refugee
3. The mental health crisis in refugee communities and cultural stigma
4. Why Western therapy models fail displaced populations
5. Building trauma-responsive, culturally grounded mental health care
6. Practical advocacy for refugee mental health equity

Keywords: refugee mental health, immigrant mental health, trauma-informed care, MHPSS, Sierra Leone refugee, mental health stigma, displaced communities, Safe Space Project, refugee resilience, immigration trauma, refugee experience

Bio:

Aisha Koroma is a Sierra Leonean-born, U.S. resettled refugee who arrived in her early teens and is now a licensed psychotherapist dedicated to advancing mental health equity for displaced and immigrant communities. She holds certifications in Trauma-Informed Care, Gender-Based Violence, and MHPSS in humanitarian settings, with advanced training from Harvard, WHO, and Johns Hopkins. Aisha serves as Assistant Director of Social Integration at HIAS, Refugee Congress Delegate for D.C., and founder of the Safe Space Project, an initiative to destigmatize mental health in refugee communities. She has led global MHPSS efforts with IOM in Qatar, co-founded Texas’ first refugee mental health clinic, and contributed to the field through publications such as The Handbook of Refugee Experience and research on refugee health equity. Her work bridges lived experience and clinical expertise to create trauma-responsive, culturally grounded systems of care.

Connect with Aisha Koroma:

www.projectsafespace.org

https://www.instagram.com/akcenter4wellbeing?igsh=MWc2ZjdwNXBvbHBwMA==

www.akcenterforwellbeing.com

Info@Akcenterforwellbeing.com

What happens when technology, philanthropy, and AI meet the immigrant journey? In this episode of Immigrant Conversations, host Mehran sits down with Bartlomiej “Bart” Skorupa—Polish immigrant, social entrepreneur, investor, and one of Dell’s 25 World Change-makers. We explore:

•Bart’s inspiring immigrant journey from Poland and the lessons it holds for the future of America

•Whether America is still a good country to migrate to today

•The vision and impact of The Mobile Pathway, bringing access to justice through innovation

•How technology, philanthropy, and AI can work together to solve global challenges

•Bart’s insights on leadership, resilience, and building mission-driven organizations

Tune in for an honest conversation on immigrant leadership, social change, and the power of innovation.

Biography:

Bartlomiej (Bart) Skorupa is an immigrant social entrepreneur, investor, and best-selling author dedicated to inspiring leadership and championing fair access to justice. With a passion for launching mission-driven organizations, Bart works at the intersection of technology, philanthropy, and artificial intelligence to create powerful opportunities for change. Bart's impactful work has been featured in prominent outlets such as NPR, Forbes, Men’s Journal, The San Francisco Chronicle, Bravo Network, and Bloomberg Businessweek. Dell recognized his contributions to global change in 2014, naming him one of the 25 World Change-makers alongside figures like Lauren Bush, Edward Norton, and Adam Braun. He is an active member of influential communities including the Fast Forward, SOCAP, Opportunity Collaboration, Salesforce Ohana, and Summit Series. Beyond his professional achievements, Bart finds inspiration in the joys of raising two disruptive daughters in a cabin in the woods.

Suggested book: One Billion Americans

www.mobilepathways.org

https://www.instagram.com/bartjskorupa/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/bartlomiejskorupa/

On the fourth anniversary of Taliban returning to power in Afghanistan, Mehran, host of Immigrant Conversations podcast, speaks with Anita Omary, an Afghan advocate who came to the U.S. just two years ago with a mission to fight for women’s rights.

Anita offers a rare and personal perspective on:

• What women’s rights looked like in Afghanistan before and after the Taliban takeover
• Why the support of fathers and brothers is so critical in a patriarchal society
• How culture is shifting as global connections reshape even the most traditional communities
• The heartbreaking story of Halima, a woman Anita knew—forced into marriage with a Taliban fighter, abused, and ultimately killed

This is a raw, moving conversation about loss, resilience, and the fight for justice that continues far from the spotlight.

Bio:

Anita Omary is an Afghan storyteller, public speaker, and Master of Public Administration student at the University of New Haven. Originally from Afghanistan, Anita came to the United States in 2023 after years of working with non-governmental organizations supporting refugee communities. Her lived experience of forced displacement informs her current work, where she advocates for refugee and immigrant rights, women's empowerment, and inclusive policy. Anita is a speaker with the New American Speaker Program and is currently writing a collection of true stories exploring the complex relationships between Afghan fathers and daughters under patriarchy, tentatively titled Being Father of a Daughter Is Not Easy. She speaks Dari, Pashto, Urdu, and English, and continues to use her voice to bridge cultures and raise awareness about the realities many Afghan women face today.

https://medium.com/me/stories/public