Blog
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August 16, 2023
Emergency Rental Assistance Client Testimonial
Bonilla’s Story During the COVID-19 pandemic, Luminus received emergency state and federal funds to help families struggling to pay their rent. Over the 35 months the program was funded, Luminus distributed more than $2.6 million to help 398 families stay in their homes. Approximately 40% were immigrant families. …
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July 27, 2023
Book of the Month: Separated
During the last administration, the forced separation of families at the southern border of the U.S. resulted in one of the darkest chapters in our history. As an attorney deployed in the Summer of 2018 to the Southern Texas region, CEO Gabriel Moreno encountered detained parents who were ripped away…
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July 26, 2023
Volunteer Spotlight: Emmanuella Osei
Emmanuella Osei is a volunteer with the Luminus Network for New Americans. Emmanuella Osei is a rising sophomore at the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) studying Public Health. She is a resident of Columbia, Howard County, and a graduate of Wilde Lake High School, class of…
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July 10, 2023
Luminus names new Chief Executive Officer
Luminus is welcoming a new Chief Executive Officer. Gabriel Maximilian Moreno has been a fearless advocate for immigrants for nearly a decade, dedicating his efforts to helping unaccompanied children and separated families. Known for his leadership and commitment to improving the community, Gabriel has been at the forefront of the…
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August 19, 2022
English Conversation Partners Program
This Summer, Luminus launched a new English Conversation Partners Program to facilitate English acquisition for our Afghan neighbors. Interested individuals were paired with volunteers over the span of eight weeks to help improve their practical conversation skills. We had a total of 13 pairs and many of the participants were Afghans along…
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May 17, 2022
Illuminating Human Rights: Afghanistan
Illuminating Human Rights Podcast#11: Afghanistan Host & Director: Michelle Lee We are excited to share the first episode of Illuminating Human Rights, a podcast in association with the Luminus Network for New Americans that highlights the stories of refugees and immigrants and seeks to change the narrative around immigration.
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May 3, 2022
Mario Gorjon and Green Angels Landscaping
“The success of our company goes to hard work, determination, and the belief that whatever can be believed can be achieved.” Growing up on a farm in Acapulco among five children, Mario Gorjon was responsible for milking the cows and feeding the horses. From an early,…
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March 9, 2022
Shakera Rahimi and the Afghan Alliance of Maryland
In August of 2021, the Afghan government collapsed after the Taliban took control of Kabul, following the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the country. Since that time, over 80,000 Afghans have been evacuated. For Shakera Rahimi, an Afghan refugee who came to the United States in 2014, this was a…
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January 18, 2022
Ivy League bound Beruktawit Gebreamlak speaks on her experience immigrating to the U.S
“I just hope that one day I will be in a position where I am able to give back and help support my community” Beruktawit tutoring her classmate in math. When she first came to the United States, Beruktawit Gebreamlak struggled with the language barrier and culture shock.
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September 13, 2021
Jay Nwachu Helps New Americans Make Innovative Ideas a Reality
“Innovation is happening every single day in communities across Baltimore because folks survive on innovation. I think we have a responsibility to shine a light on those types of innovations and also give them the resources to allow them to thrive even further.” Jay Nwachu President and CEO,…