Meet Jessi kalambayi | Model and Program Manager in Refugee resettlement

We had the good fortune of connecting with Jessi kalambayi and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jessi, can you tell us more about your background and the role it’s played in shaping who you are today?
I was born in the Democratic Republic of Congo, in Kinshasa. This is located in Central Africa, My family migrated to South Africa before I could remember. I spent most of my life growing up in Durban. where I completed both Primary and High School before migrating to the United States, all 3 of these places have played a significant part in my identity, the language I speak, my values, and the work I am passionate about today. Having to start and rebuild a life in a new country requires hard work, courage, resources, and resilience. These are traits I’ve learned along the way but adopted from my parents. Being an immigrant ignited my passion for immigration space, but more specifically working with refugees and migrants which came as an opportunity in my undergraduate years through internship opportunities.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
My story isn’t particularly unique, as there are thousands of immigrants in Colorado who have had to leave their careers, and communities behind to restart their entire lives to have a fighting chance at success. However, what has set me apart is my courage to put myself out there despite the fear of estrangement and imposter syndrome.

I left South Africa at 18, a year after finishing High school, However, I waited 2 years before attending college due to the restrictions on in-state tuition fees at the time. Already feeling like an untraditional college student, I completed my Bachelor of Sciences in Psychology with a minor in Africana Studies, in hopes of one day going to law school and becoming an immigration attorney. From a young age, I understood that legal status played a significant role in the opportunities you qualified for, and your ability to build a stable life. Unfortunately, not many migrants had a straightforward pathway to legal status and citizenship, and I wanted to support those who had to navigate those legal challenges. However, after completing my first internship with the United Nations Association for Boulder County, I was mentored by an immigration attorney who advised me to give a refugee resettlement agency a try. I found my space. The bureaucracy of working within the legal system began to dawn on me and I felt I would potentially have less of an impact on improving the livelihood of immigrants without major restrictions. Refugees faced a unique set of challenges that I was curious to explore. I transitioned from case aide to Program manager through the support of my predecessor, DU staff, and ACC staff members. Throughout this time, I worried about my lack of experience in taking on such a title, so early on in my career. But what was apparent to everyone around me was my passion for the people I served. The refugees and migrants who walked into our doors each day. Not only was I a familiar face and a teacher to them. But I was a representation of what is possible. Because I reminded every refugee/immigrant I worked with to dream big. the same way I did. That no dream was unattainable. As a young, black woman, my voice was not only valuable, it was necessary that they could hear and see from an immigrant, the possibilities that are endless before them.

It is a challenge to navigate a system that still has various challenges that are outside our spheres of reach and authority, however, as I continue to work in this system, I understand the importance of resilience and learning which will allow me to be a stronger advocate for the refugee population.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
As a non-Denver native, I’m still exploring Denver Myself, But as a foodie, I’d take her to some of my favorite spots across town.
Kona Grill for sangrias, and great eats, and Cherry Creek Mall for shopping and a movie
Mimosas for a fun weekend brunch,
54thirty Rooftop for evening drinks with a view
Scatta Afrobeats for great Afrobeats music and a great community.
Little Man’s Icecream for ice cream and ride some scooters along downtown Denver
The best pizza is a hidden gem in Aurora called Ma Ma Olivia’s Pizzeria
I also love spending time at Confluence Park
for beginner-friendly walks/hikes, Red Rocks, and Clear Creek Park and trail, and for the fashion scene in September Colors of Fashion for the best fashion and community of people.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
The ECDC African Community Center (ACC) was the organization that started my career within the refugee resettlement space. I started as an intern and was allowed to later work as a case aide, supporting case managers in ESL enrollment and applying for public benefits. Through this role, I also support the current program I work with at the University of Denver, which has provided me with the space, resources, and platform to educate and advocate for refugees in Hospitality and employment. This journey would have begun without the ACC’s hard-working staff who work tirelessly to ensure refugees can rebuild their lives in Denver and become self-sufficient. The mentorship of the previous RAH program manager and his belief in my capabilities also encouraged me to feel confident in the work I could do here. His guidance and training have been monumental in cementing myself within the work I do.

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