Executive Director

Edafe Okporo is the author of ASYLUM: A Memoir and Manifesto and Executive Director of Refuge America Inc. Originally from Nigeria, Edafe sought refuge in the United States after facing persecution, an experience that now fuels his advocacy for LGBTQIA asylum seekers and refugees.

Co-Founder

Dan Friedman is the former executive editor of the Forward, where he won a number of national awards for both his editing and his writing. Recently he has regularly consulted for HIAS, Dayenu: A Jewish Call to Climate Action and the Center for Countering Digital Hate.

Legal Advisor

Rachel Einbund, Esq. is a seasoned immigration attorney based in New York, and the founding principal of the Law Office of Rachel Einbund, P.C., a boutique practice she opened in 2011 which specializes in LGBTQ family and humanitarian‐based immigration law. Rachel has assisted thousands of clients from over 100 countries.

Rachel received her undergraduate training at New York University and earned her J.D. from New York Law School. She is admitted to practice in the State of New York and is also admitted to the U.S. Courts of Appeals for the 2nd, 3rd, 5th, and 9th Circuits.

Secretary Board of Directors

A queer creative director, artist, and writer from the southeastern United States, Ryan-Ashley Maloney imagines a world where all people, regardless of status, identity, and circumstance are treated with dignity and care.

She brings fifteen years experience working in advertising and the arts as well as prior experience working in politics at the local and national level.

Maloney currently lives in Portland, OR with her husband and menagerie of pets, plants, and found objects.

Co-Board President

Dorothy is currently Strategic Storyteller for synseer™, an intelligent health and wellness company.

Dorothy is an intrepid storyteller for non-profit organizations, particularly stories of recently arrived immigrants in her role as Board Member of First Friends of NJ & NY and as Board Member for Refuge America. Her photos of LGBTQIA+ immigrants were featured at a Pride event hosted by Refuge America and the LGBT Community Center in NYC.

Dorothy holds an MBA in Marketing and Finance from Columbia, a BA in English from Tufts, and a Certificate in Storytelling from New York University.

Board of Director

Steven Muleme is a nonprofit leader, writer, and advocate for LGBTQ+ rights and refugee communities.

He is the Founder and Executive Director of Visual Echoes for Human Rights Advocacy (VEHRA), a

youth-led organization established in Uganda in 2017 that empowers sexual minorities through sports, arts, and culture. Now based in New York, Steven continues to provide strategic guidance to VEHRA while actively engaging in advocacy and support for immigrants and asylum seekers.

Board Member

Board of Director

Tim Ceci is a Senior Retail, Arts, and Culture Executive, Corporate Advisor, and Board Member. Tim is a solutions-oriented executive who enjoys finding resolutions to complex business challenges, utilizing his expertise, which stems from over 30 years of leadership experience, enabling organizations to achieve their objectives.

Well-known for accomplishing business benchmarks and beyond in international markets, especially in Europe and the United States, Tim attributes his success to a formula that he has perfected over many years, which is to build superior teams, optimize operations, cultivate strong work cultures, to tailor brand-defining merchandise, and creating the best possible customer experiences.

• Craig Lemley (‘22, Inaugural Board Member): Craig has played a pivotal role in shaping the organization, from fundraising to program leadership. We are excited that he will continue supporting us as an advisor and volunteer.

• Brian Merlano (‘24) and Dominic Ramos (‘24)