Basma Alawee, Founder, WeaveTales

Basma Alawee is a renowned leader in the global arena. Recognized for her dedication to refugee and immigrant rights, she has been the driving force behind groundbreaking initiatives to welcome refugees. Alawee serves as the deputy executive director at the Community Sponsorship Hub, where she leads engagement on the Welcome Corps, paving the way for diaspora communities and new actors to embrace freedom and opportunity by welcoming refugee families to America. Notably, Alawee made history as the first refugee advisor on the U.S. government delegation to UNHCR’s Executive Committee, amplifying the voices of those often marginalized in policy-making circles. Her tireless dedication continues to inspire and catalyze meaningful change on a global scale.  

Alawee’s passion for advocacy is rooted in her own experiences as a former refugee from Iraq. Her impact extends far beyond borders, as evidenced by her selection in 2023 to join the Global Refugee Sponsorship Initiative's advisory board, where she champions refugee sponsorship efforts worldwide. Before her current role, Alawee served as the national campaign director for We Are All America at the National Partnership for New Americans. Leading organizing efforts across 21 states, she advocated for policy changes and support for refugee and immigrant communities.

In 2019, Alawee founded WeaveTales, empowering over 500 refugees and immigrants through storytelling training programs—a testament to her commitment to uplifting marginalized voices. Alawee’s contributions have not gone unnoticed. She has been honored with awards such as the Arab Americans 40 under 40 in 2023, Leadership Jacksonville in 2022, Jacksonville EVE Award in 2020, Athena40’s Jacksonville 40 Under 40 in 2021, and Grant Thornton’s Purple Paladin in 2022.