Founders

Teddi Jallow, the Executive Director and Co-founder of the Refugee Dream Center, established the organization alongside her husband, Omar Bah. Having arrived in Rhode Island as a refugee from The Gambia in June 2009, Teddi possesses extensive experience in the refugee community and related work, including community organizing, case management, and interpreting. She is fluent in various languages spoken by Western African populations, such as Fula and Wolof. Additionally, Teddi holds certifications and expertise as a Certified Nursing Assistant and Medical Technician. Currently, she is a member of Rhode Island’s Equity Leadership Initiative (ELI).

Dr. Omar Bah, the Founder and former Executive Director of the Refugee Dream Center, is a survivor of torture, former journalist, and a refugee from The Gambia. He authored the book “Africa’s Hell on Earth: The Ordeal of an African Journalist.” Dr. Bah obtained a bachelor’s degree in Communications Studies with a minor in Political Science, a master’s degree in Public Administration, a master’s in Counseling Psychology in Global Mental Health, and a doctorate in Organizational & Leadership Psychology from William James College. He completed trauma treatment certification through the Harvard Program in Refugee Trauma (HPRT) at Harvard Medical School. Dr. Bah currently serves as an adjunct professor of Clinical Psychology at William James College and teaches Global Mental Health Fundamentals at Harvard Medical School’s program in refugee trauma.

Dr. Bah mentors around 150 refugee youth annually, focusing on leadership and community building. Through the Refugee Dream Center, his organization provides case management and English learning support to over 2,600 refugee individuals. They also engage with hundreds of additional families through health promotion activities. Dr. Bah has developed training materials on trauma-informed care, cultural intelligence in working with immigrant and refugee populations, and survivor leadership, which he has delivered nationwide.