About Us
The Welcome Co-op is Georgia’s trusted advocate for new refugees, helping to secure housing and ensure a smooth and seamless transition for our state’s newest and ever-resilient residents.
As a collaborative effort between four-storied institutions — New American Pathways, the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Atlanta, Catholic Charities Atlanta, and Inspiritus — the Welcome Co-op marshals the collective resources of each organization to make an impact even greater than the sum of its parts.
Together, we create partnerships with apartment complexes and affordable housing arrangements across the state. We welcome refugees from the moment they set foot on American soil and transition them to their new homes. And we operate a donation-driven thrift store, the Shop of Hope, that provides quality clothing and shoes to refugees at no cost.
Our Partners
As Georgia’s—and one day the nation’s— action-oriented model for resettlement, The Welcome Co-op is the tireless ally refugees can always turn to, fulfilling our mission regardless of cuts in funding, changes in housing policy, and shifting political winds.
Each year, we personally welcome thousands of refugees to Georgia, helping them obtain what they need to become self-sufficient, safe, and consistently contributing members of our communities, putting together new homes in their new home country.
Meet The Team
Paedia Mixon
Founding Board Member, Board Chair
Paedia has worked at New American Pathways (and its predecessor Refugee Resettlement and Immigration Services of Atlanta) for 15 years and has over 20 years’ experience in refugee service. She was instrumental in the creation of the Welcome Co-op. Paedia is a leader in Georgia’s refugee and immigrant serving community and has helped to create a culture of collaboration among service providers that sets Georgia apart. Under Paedia’s leadership, New American Pathways has created a comprehensive service model that guides a refugee’s journey from arrival through citizenship. Prior to New AP, Paedia served in programming and fundraising roles at Junior Achievement Worldwide, the Carter Center and Catholic Social Services.
Kate Walker
Board Member
Kate is the Director of Performance and Strategic Initiatives at Catholic Charities Atlanta. Kate received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of Georgia in History before working in educational and public housing settings. Kate then returned to graduate school and earned her Master’s degree in Social Work at the University of Pennsylvania. Kate is a licensed master-level social worker and began working at CCA in 2009.
Justin Howell
Board Member
Justin is the Executive Director for the IRC in Georgia and Florida. Justin has been with the IRC since 2012 and has served in a variety of roles including Deputy Director for Programs in the Atlanta and Tallahassee offices, Development Manager, and Education & Learning Manager. Justin is a professional educator with over 10 years of teaching experience working with diverse, international populations. In 2016, Justin served as the Religion and Public Life Fellow for the Religious Studies Department and in 2017 served as the Religion and Public Life Scholar at Georgia State University. Justin holds a M.Ed. in pedagogy and curriculum as well as a Bachelor’s degree in philosophy, sociology, and biology.
Safia Jama
Board Member
Safia Jama serves as Sr. Resettlement & Resource Navigation Manager at New American Pathways. Safia has served with New American Pathways for over 22 years. At New American Pathways she manages a diverse staff from over 10 countries of origin and supervises programs that help resettle approximately 520 refugees per year from all over the world as part of the U.S. Humanitarian Resettlement Program. She has worked with refugees from over 20 countries and often takes on the most difficult cases. As a widowed mother of nine and a refugee herself, Safia can relate to the challenges that refugees face. She mentors new case managers and provides training on domestic violence, health concerns and resources, cultural competency and serving isolated rural communities.
Nadine Umuhire
Board Member and Board Treasurer
Nadine is the Finance Director at the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Georgia and Florida. Nadine graduated with a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University of Georgia with a minor in Sociology and she holds a Master of Accountancy from Georgia State University. Prior to joining the IRC, Nadine worked for Comcast, one of the World’s leading media entertainment companies; ESA, Inc. the operator of an economy apartment hotel chain in the USA and Canada; and Lutheran Services of Georgia (now Inspiritus). Nadine also worked in banking while pursuing her bachelor’s degree and served as a finance intern with the IRC in Atlanta after her graduate studies.
Aimee Zangandou
Board Member
Aimee has over ten years of experience in non-profit leadership, budget management, program design and implementation, grant and contract management, public policy, community organizing, and cross-cultural training. She currently serves as the Director of Refugee and Immigrant Services at Inspiritus (formerly Lutheran Services of Georgia). In this role, Aimee provides leadership across four sites in Atlanta, Savannah, Birmingham and Nashville with the goal of helping refugee and immigrants achieve self-sufficiency and integrate successfully into their new communities. Aimee came the United States through the Refugee Resettlement program in 1997 and her own experience as a refugee shapes her work and gives her unique empathy for the refugees and immigrants she serves. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Affairs from the Georgia Institute of Technology and a Master’s degree in Public Administration from Clark Atlanta University.
Becca Butcher
Board Member
Becca is the Associate Director of Refugee Services at Inspiritus and has over 12 years’ experience serving refugees and immigrants. She currently oversees Inspiritus’ refugee service programs in Atlanta and Savannah, GA and in 2021 worked to develop and launch new Inspiritus resettlement sites in Birmingham, AL and Nashville, TN. Prior to joining Inspiritus in 2014, Becca worked in domestic violence case management, fundraising and event planning, and served as an AmeriCorps member and intern with World Relief, IRC, and Refugee Family Services. She is a licensed master social worker in the state of Georgia and earned a B.S. in Public Policy and a Master of Social Work from Georgia State University.
Alison Hernandez
Board Member
Alison is the Senior Director of Refugee Services at Catholic Charities Atlanta. Alison received her Bachelor’s in International Studies and Psychology from Denison University and has been working in refugee services both abroad and in the Atlanta area for nine years. Prior to joining CCA, Alison worked at New American Pathways, Something New, and Notre Dame AmeriCorps. In her current role she oversees the Refugee Resettlement, Refugee Support Services, Youth Services, and Safe Passages teams at Catholic Charities.
Emily Laney
Staff Member
Emily Laney, LSMW is the Executive Director of The Welcome Co-op and has over 12 years of experience in nonprofit leadership and higher education. Most recently she served as the Executive Director at Girl Talk, Inc, where she increased the organization’s visibility, funding, and programming reach. She has also held leadership roles in development and programs at two of Atlanta’s refugee resettlement agencies, New American Pathways and Inspiritus. Emily is a licensed social worker for the state of Georgia and a Part Time Instructor of Human Services at Kennesaw State University, where she teaches courses on advocacy, community organizing and internship seminars. She is deeply passionate about the work of welcoming refugees to Georgia and is grateful to be part of the collaborative model of The Welcome Co-op. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Master of Social Work from Kennesaw State University.
Jonathon Howard
Staff Member
Jonathon is a Logistics Specialist with the Welcome Co-Op and has been in this role since his start in December of 2019. His previous role was as a Case Aide for IRC Atlanta setting up apartments, helping clients acquire social security numbers and driver’s licenses, handling airport pickups and doctor appointments among other tasks. The time Jonathon spent at the IRC provided wonderful oversight into the world of refugee services that would later transfer to the Welcome Co-Op. Currently, with the Welcome Co-Op Jonathon handles apartment setups for newly arriving refugees between our partner agencies with the help of staff and volunteers. He also helps to coordinate donation pickups with donors and handles the ordering of purchased goods for inventory.
Ataullah Amir
Staff Member
Ataullah (Ata) Amir is a Logistics Specialist with the Welcome Co-Op and has been in this role since June 2022. His last role was as a case manager with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Atlanta where he served many of his fellow Afghans who entered the US through the Afghan Placement & Assistance Program. While still in Afghanistan, Ata filled the critical role of Cultural Advisor for the United States Armed Forces, equipping US service men and women to effectively and appropriately interact with the local Afghan population. Since his arrival into the United States, Ata has held multiple jobs and gained a broad variety of experiences. In his work with the Welcome Co-op, Ata handles housing setups for new refugee arrivals. He also helps organize and maintain the warehouse, manages our vehicles, and works with volunteers.
Carolyn Kelly
Staff Member
Carolyn is the Resource Coordinator with the Welcome Co-op and has been in this role since July 2021. Carolyn manages the Welcome Co-op’s Shop of Hope which offers a unique shopping experience for clients from our partner agencies by providing them no-cost clothing and household items. Carolyn has years of experience working both in the wireless communication industry as well as in retail and not-for-profit organizations. During her service with Every Woman Works, she had the opportunity to support displaced women by managing an attractive space where the women could gain retail experience, confidence, and professional attire for job placement as they prepared to navigate re-entry into the work place. Through many years of church leadership roles, Carolyn has counseled women and families as they have faced life-changing opportunities. Carolyn holds a Bachelor of Business Administration and Accounting degree from Eastern New Mexico University.
Obaidullah Ataey
Staff Member
Obaidullah is the newest Logistics Specialist at The Welcome Co-op. Obaidullah served in support of the US military operation in his native Afghanistan and came to the US with his family to establish a new life here. He has a variety of work experiences that he brings to us including moving, delivery, and driving. In addition, Obaidullah speaks fluent Dari and Pashto. He lives with his family in the eastern Atlanta suburbs and is excited to welcome and serve others who have experienced some of the same challenges he has faced.
John Arnold
Staff Member
John is the Sr. Housing Manager of the Welcome Co-op. John has been with the Welcome Co-op since October 2019. He has served refugees for the last 26 years, previously as Programs Director at World Relief in Atlanta. Over the years he has had the privilege of getting to know and work with refugees from around the world and to learn to appreciate the incredible cultural contributions they bring to the U.S. John oversees the day-to-day operations of the Welcome Co-op, coordinating closely with member agencies, connecting with housing partners to secure homes for refugees, and working with staff to ensure a warm welcome to newcomers through the provision of housing and clothing at the Welcome Co-op’s Shop of Hope. John is proud of the collaborative effort the Welcome Co-op represents and is deeply grateful to serve in this kind of setting.
