Discover how Refugee Artisan Initiative (RAI) is weaving sustainability and opportunity together right here in our local community. This presentation will introduce you to RAI’s mission to create employment pathways for refugee and immigrant women through innovative cycling initiatives. By transforming discarded corporate materials into beautiful, functional products, RAI offers a powerful example of the circular economy in action—reducing waste, creating jobs, and building a more inclusive, sustainable future for all.
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Ming-Ming-Founder & Executive Director
Ming-Ming Tung-Edelman is a Taiwanese immigrant and community organizer who founded RAI in 2017 to help refugee and immigrant women overcome barriers to employment. Since then, she has served as the Executive Director of RAI, overseeing its journey from a one-person venture to a brick-and-mortar, zero-waste training center providing income-generating opportunities for dozens of refugee women.
In 2011, after working as a pharmacist for over a decade, she founded the Chinese American Citizens Alliance, where she continues to serve as Vice President and advocate on behalf of the Chinese American community on issues ranging from civil rights to immigration reform. In 2017, she founded RAI to merge her passion for fashion and apparel design with her desire to help improve the life and career outcomes of refugee and immigrant women. Ming-Ming has received numerous awards for her leadership at RAI, including the MLK Medal of Distinguished Service from King County (2021), the AARP Purpose Prize (2023) and Recycler of the Year from the Washington State Recycling Association (2024). She holds a certificate in Fashion and Apparel Design from the University of Washington.
https://refugeesarts.org/