Luma Mufleh
Women's Professional Development Conference
Thursday, May 1, 2008
7:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Luma Mufleh,
Morning Keynote Speaker
Social Entrepreneur and Fugees Founder and Coach
For two hours each afternoon, a playing field in the small town of Clarkston, Georgia, comes alive with children playing one of our most universal games—soccer. In time this group, comprised of players from over 17 war-torn countries, became a team known as the Fugees, short for refugees. They are led by an inspirational coach, Luma Mufleh, who has not only changed their lives, but has had a profound effect on their families and community. An immigrant from Jordan and a graduate of Smith College, Luma first noticed the group playing barefoot at their apartment complex. She stopped, and her future was changed. Soon her role as frequent player to part-time coach evolved to addressing the needs of the players and families struggling to find their way in America. In time, she found her work with the Fugees gave her life a sense of authenticity: each day she had passion and purpose. In the fall of 2006, Luma closed her coffee shop business and founded Fugees Family. The nonprofit organization provides tutoring, assistance with housing, and health and educational programming for refugee families beginning a new life in America. Luma calls her work “social entrepreneurship,” changing our communities by helping one child…one family at a time.
The success of Luma Mufleh’s refugee programs has attracted significant media coverage that has led to a movie and book contract with Universal Studio to tell the Fugees story. Luma Mufleh has also been profiled on The Today Show and featured in The New York Times.
