Layna Mee

Growing up in a refugee family that resettled in a new country when I was just a child, I witnessed my family experience language, literacy, and cultural barriers firsthand. That is why I am motivated to get a Bachelor's Degree at the University of Northern Iowa and work in a career field where I can use my experience, language skills, and education to help bring resources to the refugee communities. Before graduation, I served as a community leader for the Karenni Community and helped coordinate many annual traditional and resource outreach events. After graduating from UNI, I worked as a Community Program Coordinator and Resettlement Caseworker. This is where I acquired professional skills by leading focus group listening events, and successfully resettling refugee families from all over the world into a new community. These valuable experiences taught me the importance of balancing a job that requires intensive responsibility, a solution-oriented mindset, and delivering efficient communication skills. My goal is to empower the refugees to become self-sufficient and seek higher education for a brighter future. It may be a challenging job, but I hope to continue learning and make a difference in one's life at a time.

Child Passenger Safety Technician - National Child Passenger Safety Certification Issued June 2024 · Expires June 2026

Fundraised and built a Student Health Centre called New Hope on the Karenni National College campus in Refugee Camp-1 on the border of Thailand and Myanmar. The center has a Nurse who can diagnose and refer students to the main hospital. Other services include providing free menstrual health products and pain-killer medication to students.