Episode 02: Beyond Borders

Episode 2 of the Florida 2100 podcast dives into the evolving needs of refugee communities in Florida and how resettlement is shaping a brighter future for the state. From new businesses to vibrant communities, their contributions are enriching the state in transformative ways. Jamie Scotti Everett, Executive Director of Refugee Assistance Alliance, joins the podcast to share insights into how her organization provides critical resources such as employment assistance, community navigation, and education to empower refugees. We discuss the importance of collaboration among nonprofits, local governments, and businesses, and how these partnerships are creating a supportive environment for successful resettlement. Tune in to learn more about how refugee resettlement is driving positive change for Florida’s future.

Jamie Scotti Everett is the Executive Director of Refugee Assistance Alliance (RAA), a grassroots, community based non-profit in South Florida which serves refugee families from around the world. Jamie joined RAA in the summer of 2018, when it was only 6 months old. She considers it a privilege to have helped to build the organization and it's programming and policies alongside the founder, and is extremely proud of the amazing staff team at RAA, which includes former refugees and immigrants from diverse backgrounds and worldviews, who help our client families feel welcome, understood and appreciated for who they are. Prior to working for RAA, Jamie worked in Women's Empowerment and Protection for the International Rescue Committee. She also serves on the Board of Directors for Set Her Free, a Ugandan non-profit which rescues (from brothels), shelters, and educates girls. She circumnavigated the globe in 2015 on a study abroad Semester at Sea ship with her husband, then 6-year-old son, and 600 undergrads, where she mentored students and led Impact Travel Excursions in places like China, India, Myanmar (Burma), and South Africa. Prior to that, Jamie lived in the Brazilian Amazon for several years, where she worked with indigenous women to create a micro-enterprise for women’s economic empowerment. She holds a B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh, an M.A. in Theology, where she studied Liberation and Feminist Theologies, and an M.A. in International Administration from the University of Miami, where she studied poverty and development, human rights, and non-profit management.