Heba Al-Obaidy is originally from Baghdad, Iraq and has diverse experience in project management, human resources, office and events management with over nine years of experience helping clients and employers fulfill their needs.
She graduated with an Associate Degree in Business Management and a Bachelor’s Degree in English Language.
She last served as a Project Manager for Appen Butler Hill, where she oversaw several high-impact projects that help developing companies’ artificial intelligence.
She is married to a beloved husband and is a mother of two beautiful children, Lana and Adam. She enjoys doing things from scratch or being involved in DIY activities.
(865) 540-1311
halobaidy@bridgerefugees.org
Maddie Casey was born and raised on the Gulf Coast of Mississippi. She received her undergraduate degrees in Social Work and Spanish from Mississippi State University in 2018.
After graduation, Maddie joined the Peace Corps where she served in Zambia as an environmental volunteer. She served from March 2019 until March 2020 when COVID-19 forced the evacuation of all volunteers. In April of 2020 she started work as a community organizer for an immigrants’ rights group in Biloxi, Mississippi. She stayed in this position until she was accepted to the University of Tennessee College of Social Work master’s program. Since moving to Knoxville in 2021 she has had the privilege of working with the University of Tennessee’s Pride Center, the Center for Global Engagement, and ThreeCubed, a local research nonprofit.
In May of 2023, Madeline graduated with her masters and in July started work at Bridge. She is passionate about advocating for refugees and immigrants and is grateful to have the privilege of continuing this work.
(865) 321-1257
mcasey@bridgerefugees.org
Kayla E. Davis is an anthropologist by trade but is also a former educator. She grew up on a farm in rural Southwest Virginia and lived 10 years in the Tri-Cities, TN area before relocating to Knoxville for graduate school at the University of Tennessee. She has experience in the developing world both as an educator and a researcher. She has been traveling internationally in a humanitarian capacity since age 11.
In 2014, she lived in Kampala, Uganda, teaching ESL every week in a free school that catered to vulnerable populations in the city. It was during this trip, that she realized her passion lies not only in discovering new cultures but also in alleviating human suffering. This led her to pursue a degree in Anthropology after many years of teaching middle school, high school, and pre-k. She comes to Bridge Refugee Services with seven years of experience within the non-profit sector – including work with animal rescues, after-school programs, and doing social work on a volunteer basis for the court.
In 2018, she returned to Kampala in a research capacity, working with the same population as she did in 2014. Her research focused on urban poverty, specifically perceptions of urban poverty. She examined government records, interviewed the local population, and accessed NGO data to reveal how people in poverty were viewed by those around them. With a graduate certification in Disasters, Displacement, and Human Rights, she is excited and ready to work with the local refugee population in Knoxville.
In her free time, she fosters for five local animal rescues, hangs out with her border collie Neville, and enjoys both watercolor and oil painting.
(865) 276-6080
kdavis@bridgerefugees.org
Mohammad Dawran is originally from Afghanistan, where he worked alongside American forces. He came to the US with a Special Immigrant Visa and resettled with his family in Knoxville in late 2022.
Upon arriving in the US, Mohammad’s path was shaped by the support and guidance he received from Bridge Refugee Services. The assistance he received was transformative, enabling him to navigate the complexities of his new environment and lay the foundation for a promising future.
Driven by gratitude and a desire to make a difference for others who have recently immigrated to the US, Mohammad works in the role of Employment Specialist. In this capacity, he is committed to supporting other refugees as they embark on their own journeys of resettlement and, in particular, finding work that can sustain themselves and their families. Drawing from his personal experiences, he is dedicated to providing guidance and support, helping individuals find employment opportunities and build fulfilling professional lives.
Mohamad is fluent in Persian, Dari, Turkish, Urdu, Pashto, and Turkmen and has a bachelor’s degree from Kaboora Institute of Higher Education. He has had a highly varied career in Afghanistan and Turkey, working in import/ export, sales, supply and logistics, and customs clearance.
(865) 540-1311
mdawran@bridgerefugees.org
Peter Green moved from Memphis in July 2021 to join the Bridge team as the Capacity Building and Outreach Contractor. In December 2021, Bridge hired him as the Volunteer and Co-Sponsorship Manager. Growing up the son of an Army officer and living overseas in Germany and Japan, he began to understand the struggles that can arise from living in a new country that does not share your native language or culture. In Memphis, he studied at Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary, earning his Master’s degree in Missions and Intercultural Studies and his Doctorate in Missions. His doctoral dissertation examined Diaspora Missiology, and focused specifically on how the local church can come alongside refugees in their communities to make an impact in their lives. During this time, he also taught a Bible study for African refugee children, building many lasting friendships in the Memphis South Sudanese refugee community. Peter brings this experience to his work at Bridge Refugee Services, and is excited to wed his passion for welcoming refugees with his love for the faith community to build a support network for Knoxville’s refugee families.
(865) 540-1311, ext. 113
pgreen@bridgerefugees.org
Noah McBrayer Jones, CFRE is an original native of Knoxville, TN. He attended Appalachian State University in Boone, NC (receiving his BA) and Mary Baldwin College in Staunton, VA (receiving both his MLitt and MFA). Since 2005, he has worked professionally in the development, communications, and event management fields with companies such as Clever By Half Productions, Rosetta Stone, the Arts Council of the Valley, the Staunton Downtown Development Association, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of East Tennessee. As of 2021, he is humbled to support Bridge’s empowerment of clients to grow their new homes in this beautiful area and hopes to honor the lives we touch with his work.
(865) 276-6490
njones@bridgerefugees.org
Heather Martin asserts that no city may claim her thanks to her father’s service in the Army during most of her childhood.
She attended Ferris State for both her undergraduate and graduate degrees in Nursing before switching careers in 2010 and starting work in the finance field. A search for warmer weather brought her to Knoxville in 2022.
Despite her many early moves, she did not leave the country before turning 33. She now chips away at her bucket list destinations by traveling internationally at least semi-annually.
(269) 281-6065
hmartin@bridgerefugees.org
Rehema Mukeshimana is a Congolese refugee who grew up in Uganda and came to the US in 2016. Rehema and her family were resettled in Tallahassee, FL, and then moved to Knoxville after one-and-a-half years there. Rehema speaks eight languages, some of which she learned in school and others by associating with different people in the refugee camp. Rehema began interpreting for Bridge in August of 2018 and has become a valuable member of the team.
(865) 540-1311, ext. 115
rmukeshimana@bridgerefugees.org
Zawadi Nyandinda was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo and immigrated to the United States in 2013, settling in Knoxville. She has degrees from Light University of Bujumbura and Pellissippi State University. With a background in project development and case management, she has experience working with refugees and immigrants through positions with organizations including African Women’s Empowerment Community of Knoxville, which she founded, AUTISM Breakthrough Corp., the Congolese Embassy in Burundi and Adventist Development Relief Agency. She has served as a member of the Black Immigrants Caucus, Introduction Knoxville, Leadership Knoxville and the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition. Through her work at Bridge, she aims to empower and help clients discover their potential by providing the information and tools they need to succeed in their new lives. Supporting others’ passions, needs and goals gives her joy and fulfillment, and she loves serving others.
(865) 540-1311
znyandinda@bridgerefugees.org
Irina Popova was born in Moldova. She attended the Slavonic University and studied Architecture and Design. At the age of 18 she decided to pursue the American dream and move to Block Island, RI. That’s where she met people from all walks of life and around the world. This would further develop her passion for foreign languages and cultures.
In 2013, Irina moved to Knoxville, TN and started to volunteer in the community. She worked as a teacher for the Center for English, volunteered for Burundian Church, and even helped local advocates to publish a book called In Her Threads in 2017.
Irina has been a staunch supporter of many local and national groups such as A21 Walk for Freedom, Gay Pride Parade, Martin Luther King Jr. Parade, and many others. She loves to use her art background to not only shine light on pressing issues but to bring hope to those with disabilities. She loves visiting Heartland Services or attending their fundraising events.
Irina is honored to serve people in need and considers it her calling in life. In spare time she enjoys being in nature, trying new foods, and taking pictures. Irina lives with her husband and their two rescue animals.
(865) 540-1311
ipopova@bridgerefugees.org
Yana Shatruk was born and raised in Ukraine and holds a Master’s degree in German and English, focusing on language instruction and world literature. She began her teaching career in Ukraine, where she educated students in English. She is fluent in both Ukrainian and Russian, which helped her connect with a diverse range of students.
In 2014, during the Crimea invasion, she and her family fled to Belarus. After the Minsk Peaceful Agreements, they returned to Ukraine in 2016, where she continued teaching.
With the outbreak of war in 2022, Yana and her family relocated to Dnipro for safety. There, she joined the International Rescue Committee as a psychological support worker, facilitating social-emotional sessions for children, sexual education for teenagers, and positive parenting sessions for caregivers affected by the conflict.
In 2024, seeking further safety, Yana and her family moved to Knoxville, TN. She is excited to join the Bridge Refugee Services team, where she will leverage her academic background, professional experience, and personal journey as a refugee to support other displaced individuals in rebuilding their lives and finding hope in their new communities.
(865) 540-1311
yshatruk@bridgerefugees.org
Kent Southworth is Bridge Refugee Services’ Eligibility Caseworker, handling the Refugee Cash Assistance and Refugee Medical Assistance programs. He has been with Bridge since 2006, working first as a case manager and interpreter before leaving for graduate school. Kent returned to Bridge in 2009 and has been working here ever since. Born and raised in Knoxville, he got his BA in Russian and linguistics from the University of Tennessee and his MA in Russian and second language acquisition from Bryn Mawr College.
(865) 540-1311, ext. 103
kent@bridgerefugees.org
Alicia Widener was born and raised in East Tennessee. She attended the University of Tennessee where she earned her Bachelor Degree in Child and Family Studies with a minor in Psychology. Since graduation, she has worked in Social Services in several capacities, including Case Management and Housing and Employment.
Alicia joined the Bridge team in February 2024 and is thrilled to be given the opportunity to provide support and empowerment to refugees and their families. In her free time, Alicia enjoys baking bread, reading, and spending time with her husband and four children.
(865) 540-1311
awidener@bridgerefugees.org