Founding Board Member. Helping since 2016.
Cyndi (she/her) is a mother, non-profit leader, and an award winning marketer who has earned a reputation as a dynamic problem solver, thought leader, and community activator. Equal parts marketing executive & social justice advocate, Cyndi has a passion for building brands, businesses and social movements. Cyndi is a founding member of Miry's List and served as President of the Board for 4 years before joining the advisory board in 2021. In 2020, Cyndi Otteson ran a groundbreaking, grassroots campaign for Los Angeles City Council District 14, against a national-profile career politician. Today Cyndi helps progressive founders, executives, and community leaders move toward their desired future in their lives and through their work. Find Cyndi on LinkedIn.

Founding Board Member, 2020 Chair of the Board

Jade is our original co-chief legal council who got involved in 2016, taking Miry's List from a group of friends and neighbors helping new arrival families into a full-fledged 501(1)c3 non-profit. Jade makes Miry's List a part of her life and her family's life. This organization thrives because of the love, talent, expeirence and heart that Jade poured into us since our very first families.

Chief Operating Officer, Founding Board Member, member of the Dream Team
Yin joined Miry's List in 2017, after a very professional meeting with Miry held at a children's indoor playground. Yin served as co-Chief Legal Officer and a board member for several years before transitioning to her current role overseeing internal operations at the organization. As an immigrant who moved here when she was four, Yin understands the lasting impact those first few years have on new arrival families, particularly children. She was gifted a teddy bear on her second day in America that she still cherishes to this day. She knows the Miry's List community is providing the same welcome to hundreds of families all over the country and she is proud to be part of the team.

Founding Board Member, 2017-2020
Julie is a fundraising consultant to non-profit organizations and through the firm she founded, Good Ways Inc. Julie got involved in the first year of Miry's List to build a good foundation for good governance, fundraising, and a focus on impact. Find Julie on LinkedIn.

Founding Board Member, 2017-2020
Dan first got involved with Miry's List when he and his wife, Alex, opened up their home to host a new arrival family of three from Afghanistan. Shortly after, Dan began helping Miry's List with all things finance related, as Treasurer of the Board and CFO making sure Miry's heart wouldn't outspend her head.

Founding Board Member
Phil and Miry met in November 2016 through a mutual friend, and Phil quickly became our guide for solving problem for new arrival refugee families using technology, serving as our first CTO and a founding member of our board.

Founding Secretary of the Board

Organized countless baby clothes and household donations in Miry's driveway since 2016. Rachel’s early contributions set the foundation for the organization we are today.

2021 Secretary of the Board, boardmember since 2019. Helping since 2017.
Jenna is an Emmy-nominated actor, known for playing the character of receptionist Pam Beesley in The Office (2005), Raised in St. Louis, Missouri, she studied theater arts at Truman State University. Jenna got involved with Miry's List in 2017 as a volunteer when she became inspired to help resettling kids get new shoes, backpacks and school supplies for school. Today, Jenna serves on the Miry's List Board of Directors and has rallied her friends, family, community and fans to follow her lead and support resettling families. You can listen to Jenna weekly on her podcast Office Ladies, which she cohosts with Angela Kinsley.

2021 Chair of the Board, Boardmember since 2020
Ghulam is a results-driven professional with proven entrepreneurial, fund development, communication, program management, and operational skills. His expertise is focused on scaling social services programs and operations and leading innovative projects from conception to implementation. Ghulam’s entrepreneurial approach and relentless desire to bring positive change drives him. Ghulam joined the board of Miry’s List in 2020. Find Ghulam on LinkedIn.

2021 Vice Chair of the Board, Board member since 2020
Daniel carries a passion for building community, and began working with Miry’s List in 2020 to help shape the organization’s long term vision and growth strategy. He is determined to help us build a scalable future, inspired by his family’s own journey as resettling refugees in California. Daniel provides a unique leadership perspective, with career accomplishments in law, corporate strategy, business operations, and product marketing. Today, he works at Google, leading global product go-to-market strategy for emerging video advertising products. Find Daniel on LinkedIn.

Boardmember since 2019
Naomi is a nationally-recognized strategic communications leader and social innovator and president of Tower26 Agency, a strategic communications and public affairs agency. She transforms organizations into powerhouses of influence. Her hard-hitting strategies have put clients on the map for over 25 years, in a career spanning both coasts and the very different worlds of Washington, D.C. and Los Angeles. Previously, Naomi served as the director of communications for Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti and is currently a Senior Fellow with the Brittingham Social Enterprise Lab, USC Marshall School of Business. Naomi has led local, state, and national campaigns for advocacy organizations, elected officials, mission-driven corporations, tech innovators and entertainment industry luminaries, through robust partnerships, cutting-edge tactics, creative marketing and media buzz. Naomi joined the board of Miry’s List in 2019.

Boardmember since 2021. At the table since 2017.
Lynn attended our first-ever New Arrival Supper Club dinner on a starry night in a backyard in Atwater Village in 2017 and from that night forward, she has leaned in to further the mission of Miry's List. Lynn is a storyteller with a deep love of strategic problem-solving and dreaming up new ways of doing things given all the crazy constraints that life can throw at us. In her professional career in TV writing/producing, Lynn writes for tv + film, focusing on sci-fi, spies and speculative fiction - stories where no matter how dark it seems, there is always hope. Lynn is drawn to the joy, love, and feeling of home that is created at Miry's List. In her (pre-Covid19) off-time, she was a traveler up to my eyeballs in adventures. Lynn is currently working on Mars 2080, coming out in 2022, and is known for her work on the Emmy Award-winning series The Handmaid's Tale (Hulu), for which she won two Writers Guild of America awards. Find Lynn on IMDB.

Boardmember since 2021
A lifelong believer in the power of connectivity, Jon was drawn to join the Board of Directors at Miry’s List to help further our mission through connecting people. He is motivated to fundamentally change how we operate as individuals and businesses, to help everyone find their community. Jon is a builder at heart, who loves building teams, workflows, processes, studios, office space, you name it. In his role at Participant Media, he feels he has the best job because of the varied functions that he oversees, from the Information Technology group, the Media operations team and the Facility Operations staff. Jon says about his position on our board: "This is an opportunity for me to do what I love doing, helping to construct an amazing organization that connects people. If 2020 taught us anything, it should be this, you never know what’s possible, until you are forced to do it." Find Jon on LinkedIn.

Boardmember since 2021. Treasurer and CFO.
Ben graduated from Brigham Young University with a Bachelor of Science degree in Finance and graduated from the University of Utah with a Master’s Degree in Accounting. He is a CPA with experience in corporate accounting, internal audit, entrepreneurship, and process automation. He lives in Provo, Utah with his wife and three children. Find Ben on LinkedIn.

Boardmember since 2020
Josh is an expert US immigration law and practicing immigration lawyer for more than 17 years. Josh has been passionate about helping immigrants, their loved ones, and the businesses that want to hire them since he began his career. Josh runs an award-winning, immigration law firm, Goldstein Immigration Lawyers, with offices in Los Angeles and Boston. Josh joined the board of Miry’s List in 2020.

Co-founder, New Arrival Supper Club

Director of Program Development, Dream Team member since 2018
Amar oversees the strategic programming and operations for Miry’s List’s flagship program, Wishlists, as well as SANAH and Family Services. In addition to her professional role at Miry’s List, Amar is a Project Consultant and Founder of Moonlight Hubb Consulting and works with various institutions and organizations in San Diego, CA on research projects with vulnerable populations. She is very passionate about various social causes, such as gender equality, social inclusion of refugees and remedying juvenile justice systems. Amar enjoys working with individuals and organizations to formulate strategies and implement solutions that generate lasting social benefits. Find Amar on LinkedIn.

Director of Volunteerism, Dream Team member since 2017
MacKenzie Kassab puts volunteers to good use at Miry’s List. As Volunteer Coordinator, she finds ways for the community to support their neighbors through fundraising initiatives, events and behind-the-scenes roles. MacKenzie got involved with Miry’s List after returning from eight years in Lebanon, where she learned to drive in Beirut traffic and order pizza in Arabic. She never found the cure for homesickness but now hopes to lessen it in families new to the US. Today MacKenzie is a writer in LA, where she lives with her daughter, husband and Lebanese rescue cat.

Director of Listmaking, dream team member since 2021
is proud to serve as the Ambassador Liaison for Miry’s List. Christina was born and raised in California by her immigrant grandparents from Greece, and has always embraced the Greek spirit of philotimo; a sense of open-armed hospitality and unconditional generosity. She is currently pursuing a degree in Global Studies, and plans to focus her future career on helping refugee families. In addition to her work with Miry’s List, she volunteers with her local Philoptochos Society and sits on various community fundraising committees within her diasporic community. When she is not volunteering or studying, you can find her enjoying the beautiful SF Bay Area with her wife and 3 kids.

Director, New Arrival Supper Club, Dream Team member since 2018
Christy serves as the Director of the New Arrival Supper Club, one of the programs within Miry’s List. This program uses the universal language of food to bring the community and refugee families together through a social impact culinary experience. Christy is also the founder and executive director of Claremont Canopy, a sister organization that serves new arrival refugee families in the Inland Empire. Christy is a Minnesota native and began her career in the non-profit sector. Christy feels strongly it is our duty to welcome our new arrival neighbors and help them thrive in their new home. Christy has received recognition from both local and district government offices, as well as local groups for her work with Claremont Canopy. Christy has been a resident of Claremont, CA since 2014. She and her husband are active in the community raising their four children. Find Christy on LinkedIn.

Director of Donor Retention, Dream Team member since 2020
Ahmed Abedy is a Fulbright scholar, professional engineer, and serves as a Director of Donor Retention for Miry's List. His work over the past 17 years focuses on community development, strategic planning, and capacity building. Ahmed facilitates connections between the beloved Miry's List families and our vast global network of donors to drive donor loyalty and the culture of Philanthropy at Miry’s List. Ahmed is a dad of 4 and lives in San Diego, California. Ahmed moved to San Diego from Iraq with his wife and children in 2018. Find Ahmed on LinkedIn.

Director of Family Services, Dream Team member since 2016
Rabia oversees communications and listmaking with our Farsi-speaking families, usually from Iran or Afghanistan. Rabia works one-on-one with families and volunteer listmakers to ensure lists are being created and maintained effectively. Rabia recently moved to the US from Afghanistan with her family which includes two adorable toddlers. In Afghanistan, Rabia worked as a grant writer and programs manager for various American organizations and earned a degree in economics.

Family Services Coordinator, Dream Team member since 2018
Husna joined Miry’s List as a Family Service Coordinator in 2018, less than a year after arriving in the US from Kabul, Afghanistan. When she’s not guiding Farsi-speaking families through the resettlement process, Husna can be found studying medicine at university or spending time at home with her mom, dad, and siblings. The future doctor is passionate about empowering her community and can often be heard saying, “I love my job!”

Director of Family Services, Dream Team member since 2016
Huda oversees communications and listmaking with our Arabic-speaking families, usually from Syria or Iraq. Huda manages a team of family advocates and works one-on-one with families and volunteer listmakers to ensure lists are being created and maintained effectively. Huda moved to the US with her three adorable sons from Jordan in 2015 and brings over nine years experience working with the UN to Miry's List, as well as a degree in finance and accounting. Having experienced first-hand the process of immigrating to the United States and starting over, Huda was a natural choice for leading the charge with our Arabic listmakers. Huda is hopes to design a course in empowerment, positivity and self defense for new arrival mothers and daughters in the future.

Director of Alumni Engagement, Dream Team member since 2016
Rafid makes things happen! Rafid is responsible for distributing supplies to hundreds of families in El Cajon and the surrounding region in east San Diego county (which happens to be the #1 place in the US for Syrian refugee resettlement). Rafid worked over 15 years in humanitarian assistance with the UN and various American organizations in Iraq and Jordan. He is a natural problem solver with unmatched empathy and resolve to help the people around him. Arriving in the US from Iraq as a refugee himself with his family in September 2016, Rafid immediately sprung into action to help the people around him.

Director of Community Engagement, Dream Team member since 2016
Ayman is one of our team members working on the ground directly with families. Ayman is one of the first points of contact to welcome new arrival families, guiding them through the stages of our program and proactively connecting new families within in the community. Ayman builds relationships with our families. Ayman moved to the U.S. in 2016 as a refugee with his wife, mother, and their 5 children. Ayman was one of the first members of the Miry's List team, volunteering to help newly arrived families get furniture, kitchen supplies, and personal items to set up their new homes. Ayman can be found driving our “giving mobile” delivery truck, picking up and dropping off essential supplies to families. “Ayman” means “the right hand that helps” in Arabic and our Ayman identifies deeply with the meaning of his name. Ayman is happy to help others and wishes happiness for all. Ayman learned his interpersonal skills in Syria, where he worked as a professional a barber and managed an event venue.

Creative Director since 2016
Andrea is the creator of the iconic Miry’s List logo and the creative force behind our brand’s visual expression since our founding in 2016. Andrea is the owner of Go As If, a production company and creative agency offering branding, consulting, event, and film production. Her work in partnership with national and international, public, and private-sector organizations is focused on removing barriers (real and perceived) to high-quality, intergenerational arts and culture experiences. With an emphasis on inclusion, equity, and amplifying marginalized voices, her productions and programming are a reflection of and in service to healthy and diverse communities.

Beloved son, brother, friend, community member, Miry's List volunteer

Daniel loved volunteering with Miry's List and his work had a direct, positive impact for dozens of resettling individuals.

Webmaster since 2016
Matthew built miryslist.org and is responsible for ongoing maintenance and content updates for the site. He began his career in technology as a writer and digital producer in New York City, where he spent more than 10 years working for various publications and marketing agencies, before moving to Los Angeles and becoming an independent consultant full-time. He currently focuses on non-profits and social good businesses, creating websites, social media and marketing initiatives for his clients under the moniker Lucky Cat.

Director of New Arrival Supper Club 2018-2019

Wishlist Program Director, 2016-2018

Founder & Executive Director since 2016
Miry started Miry's List in July 2016 when a friend introduced her to a family of new arrival Syrian refugees resettling in Los Angeles with kids the same age as her own. Until then, she was a stay-at-home mom and community activist with ten years experience in digital marketing. She speaks fluent Hebrew and is learning Arabic in the car on an app with her sons. Miry can typically be found digging in the garden with her sons, Reuben and Sabo, singing karaoke, or playing piano.

Volunteer and member of the Hive since 2016

Designer and Creator of "The Hive" 2021 Volunteer Awards.

CRM Manager since 2019
Mona is hands-on global CRM Administrator with a background of technical implementation, marketing automation, project management and system evangelizing to end-users. Past responsibilities include executing day-to-day configuration, training, maintenance and the provision of support to the improvement of user experience. Mona oversees our database of donors and volunteers to ensure we are tracking and managing these important relationships. In addition to volunteering with Miry’s List, Mona works at SAP as a Global Nurture Expert for the EMEA South region. Find Mona on LinkedIn.

Charlotte is an elementary schooler who lives in LA with her mom, dad and brother. Charlotte first got involved with Miry's List in 2020 when she led her Girl Scout Troop in a huge supply collection for our families
Charlotte loves reminding new arrivals that there are people like her who care about them. She says, “I want the kids that Miry’s List helps to have clothes and shelter and toys and all of the same things I have that make me comfortable, happy, and healthy.”

Rahaf is an elementary school student who lives in Northern CA with her parents and siblings. Rahaf is an avid reader and has an obsession with science fiction stories. Her dream is to be an oncologist and defeat cancer! At the age of 9 years old, Rahaf co-hosted the Bed Fund for Refugees campaign with her dad, Ahmed. Rahaf spoke from the heart, making our Bed Fund campaign a success and unforgettable for all. At the age of 10, she received the 2021 Pinecone Award from Miry's List for excellence in volunteering.

The Muller family makes participation with Miry's List a family affair. Frances has been volunteering with different organizations since elementary school and would like to study Social Work/Sociology in college. Agnes has always been interested in helping others – even when they have four legs. During quarantine she adopted two kittens to keep her company in her Portland, Oregon, studio apartment.

Kareem is a valued contributor to our Welcome Team, helping to make enrollment in Miry's List a beautiful and welcoming experience for new families. Kareem plans to pursue reconstructive plastic surgery and directly impact Syrian refugees through medical aid.

Jackson was integral in helping Miry’s List secure grant funding to expand our SANAH English program for resettling students in Los Angeles. In addition, Kareem is a regular helper in our welcome workshop, packing welcome kits of essential supplies for new arrival families.

Juliette is a valued member of the 2020-2021 Welcome Team. Juliette credits the positive energy of the Miry’s List team for making it easy and enjoyable to volunteer. (And we feel the same way about her!)

Willow is a valuable member of our Welcome Team. Packing welcome kits, organizing the welcome workshop, delivering supplies all across LA to new families, Willow does it all! Among other things, Willow says, “they’re a small step in making the families feel welcome to their new home, but every step is important.”

Listmaker and Miry's List East Coast Liaison

Josephine wants to fight all injustice. She is a feline enthusiast. Loves her grandma. This is not Josephine’s first award. She once won a bronze medal in a frying-pan-throwing contest.

Ambassador for July 2020 wishlist campaign

Hong says, “Our family were immigrants from Vietnam and we benefited from the generosity of many Americans who welcomed us. We feel honored to help another family start their life in America.”

Haseeb and his family are dedicated, passionate, and kind. Haseeb says he loves being a part of a team where, “regardless of race, religion or background, they give such respect, honor and dignity to every individual.”

Sacramento Liaison, Miry's List

Kristin is a busy mom who has made volunteering with Miry’s List a family affair, stepping in to help our Sacramento families, went above and beyond delivering items and storing items. She has recruited her husband, dad, in-laws, and two daughters to volunteer alongside her.

Listmaker since 2019

Kristine gets her Wishlists done quickly and takes initiative in taking more assignments, even while managing a very busy life with 2 kids. Kristine volunteers with Miry’s List because she likes being part of a community that helps families turn houses into safe, welcoming homes. She and her daughter recently started a small balcony garden in their apartment, where they’ve been growing potatoes and sunflowers.

Listmaker since 2019

Elsa is known for taking on multiple wishlists, and being kind and proactive. Elsa’s own mother immigrated to the US when she was pregnant with Elsa. She says she understands firsthand how far kindness from a stranger can go in a new country.

SANAH English Learning Program Coordinator

Alison has been volunteering with Miry’s List since 2019 and has earned a reputation for being helpful, reliable and a very vocal advocate for refugees. Alison has pitched in in so many ways. To name a few: Curriculum development for our English learning program, Listmaker, grant writer. Alison is a stay-at-home mom with 2 beautiful kids and taking online courses for higher education.

Adam is a Social Impact Consultant & Nonprofit Professional and Dad who lives in Evergreen, CO with his family. Adam led a 3-month probono capacity study to guide the scaling and expansion of our Wishlists program. One thing Adam loves about volunteering is helping ensure families resettling here have opportunities to utilize their talents and pursue their ambitions. The capacity study gave us the data-based guide and roadmap to expanding our wishlist program!

Ariane is a Social Impact Strategist & Consultant who led a 3-month probono capacity study to guide the scaling and expansion of our Wishlists program. Arianna’s email signature is a quote from Grace Murray Hopper: "The most damaging phrase in the language is 'We've always done it this way.’” We couldn’t agree more. The capacity study gave us the data-based guide and roadmap to expanding our wishlist program!

Gemma got involved in January 2020 helping us create a data story to share information about our impact. As a data story builder, Gemma is our go-to for the beautiful infographics you see us post, but that’s not her only talent. Gemma once trained for and competed in a Dragon Boat race in Taiwan. Gemma works in Monitoring, Learning and Evaluation professional Associate Director, Evaluation & Improvement USC

SANAH Program ESL Tutor

Laura provides great resources for other volunteer tutors. Laura's students really appreciate her time. Laura lives in Orange County, has taught English in four countries, and says she learns just as much from her students, especially when it comes to perseverance and resilience.

SANAH Program ESL Tutor

Angela makes (GORGEOUS) handmade Irish crochet lace, a skill that has been passed down by the women in her family for several generations.

Who captures our essence

Christina is Miry's List official photographer, capturing our team, families and events since 2017. If you've wondered why our website and materials are so beautiful, Christina’s photography is usually the cause! Consistently. With love and expertise.

SANAH Program ESL tutor

Susie has lived abroad and says she has been graciously welcomed in many different cultures. She adds, “It is wonderful to be able to 'return' the favor by welcoming new residents to the US.”

Listmaker, occasional translator, known for being quick and responsive and willing to help out in whatever area is needed. Bahaureh says she gets a thrill from checking her families’ wishlists and seeing an item has been purchased! I think that’s a feeling most of us can relate to.

Listmaker since 2019

Meghan is known for going above and beyond, taking on multiple wishlists among other volunteer tasks. Meghan is not only a reliable volunteer, she’s also a Korean Drama expert (and she’s available for recommendations, if you’re looking for something to watch).

Grace is a volunteer Listmaker who goes above and beyond. Always willing to make extra wishlists, always awesome about updating the communication log. Grace says that seeing an item purchased from her families’ wishlists feels like receiving her own gift.

Yzzy is a volunteer Listmaker who goes Above and Beyond, always willing to make extra wishlists, always awesome about updating the communication log. Yzzy says, “Being a part of Miry's List is a form of showing love and welcoming a new family home!”

Volunteer, New Arrival Supper Club

Ally has helped at almost every supper club event since the 2020 pandemic began! Ally is in college, however previously worked for UNHCR in Myanmar as a case worker! Ally credits our very own Kanjo family’s cooking with helping her overcome an irrational, lifelong fear of eggplants. She credits the Miry’s List community with truly deepening her life and expanding her world view.

Ambassador for Musawee Family Wishlist

Robert Mahar, Designer and “Making It” Contestant. Robert designed a custom flag to sell to fundraise for the big items on the Musawee family's list! Robert knows that the quickest way to a person’s heart is through their stomach: he is currently learning how to cook the Dominican food his partner grew up eating.

John-Paul led a group of his colleagues at Salesforce in writing welcome letters to resettling families. John-Paul is a spicy-food aficionado and has yet to try something that he considers “too spicy.”

Gary regularly handwrites beautiful and meaningful letters to our families, complete with one-of-a-kind art. He says, “It’s very meaningful to connect to such strong, caring new arrival families.”