Layan Amkieh

Layan Amkieh works in community organizing and refugee resettlement legal work. She spent six to seven years in the legal field, where she focused on humanizing clients and adopting a community-centered, buy-us-for-us approach to resettlement work that was hands-on and life-changing for participants. For the past four years she has also organized independently by hosting third spaces centered on music and entertainment. These events bring together local artists and musicians to create consistent, affordable, accessible, and tolerant recharge and healing spaces that attract people from varied economic, regional, and ethnic backgrounds. Amkieh earned a Bachelor's of Political Science in 2019. She leads a non-profit organization in San Diego, California, where she handles planning, facilitation, and project management with support from siblings in the UK and local volunteers. Her upcoming work includes emceeing the first Middle Eastern North African Heritage Night with the San Diego Padres in August, which will also serve as a fundraiser for her organization. She has been covered in Rolling Stone Middle East North Africa and hopes to inspire others to launch their own grassroots community initiatives.