Luma Mufleh believes in people and strives to make them believe in themselves. She uses the power of sports and education to build resilience, bridge divides, and empower refugees to thrive.

Born in Amman, Jordan, Luma came to the United States to attend college and became a refugee seeking asylum. Her path from privilege to poverty to humanitarian took many turns, and a wrong one led her to her current path.

In 2004, a chance meeting inspired her to start a soccer team – the Fugees – for kids from refugee families who were starting new lives in a small community in rural Georgia. 

When Luma realized that many of the kids on the team – some of whom had already been in school in the U.S. for years – were still struggling with basics like reading and writing, she knew she had to do something to help. Ignoring the warnings of a local principal who told her that her idea would “never” work, Luma started a school based on a new educational model she developed for refugee kids. 

The school that began with a makeshift classroom in a church basement continued to grow – eventually encompassing a summer camp, college prep, a network of charter schools with campuses in multiple states, and, finally, a nationally recognized program used in school districts across the country. 

Named a “Top-Ten Hero” by CNN, Luma is the CEO of Fugees Family, Inc. and a much sought-after speaker, leader, and expert on team-building and education who uses her unique vision, life experience, and humor to inspire others.

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