Minneapolis, MN (August 16, 2023): ORAM – Organization for Refuge, Asylum & Migration, is thrilled to announce the appointment of a new member to its Board of Directors, Nicki Hangsleben, based in Minneapolis, Minnesota.
Nicki Hangsleben (she/they) is the Executive Director and Founder of QUEERSPACE collective, an organization committed to creating space for LGBTQ+ youth to feel safe and empowered to be their true selves. She has been providing leadership in for-profit and non-profit spaces for over 20 years and has a diverse background in strategic partnerships, business development, program oversight, and financial management.
Before launching QUEERSPACE collective, Nicki worked in the field of International Development, designing and implementing system-focused agricultural programs across the globe.
Acquiring a unique set of skills from her experiences in international development, LGBTIQ advocacy, and leadership in both corporations and non-profit organizations, Nicki brings key strengths to ORAM’s growing Board of Directors.
“We are thrilled to welcome Nicki to the Board of Directors at ORAM,” said Steve Roth, ORAM’s Executive Director. “Nicki brings a wealth of experience in international development at a time when ORAM is expanding its economic empowerment programs for LGBTIQ refugees in places like Kenya. She has a deep passion for helping LGBTIQ people globally, and I’m looking forward to working with Nicki and having a new board member based in Minneapolis, home to ORAM’s U.S. headquarters.
When asked what it means to serve on ORAM’s Board of Directors, Nicki said, “I’m beyond excited to join ORAM’s Board of Directors. I’ve been admiring the work of this organization for a few years and am grateful for the opportunity to contribute in meaningful ways. I look forward to working with the board and team on reaching annual goals and growing the organization’s impact for some of our most vulnerable members of the global LGBTQIA+ community.”
Nicki will join existing members: Board Chair Rajiv Desai, Board Vice Chair Elodie Sampere, Board Secretary Ari Bilici, Board Treasurer Perry Witkin, and Krishna Omkar, Arjun Nagarkatti, and Enrique Torre Molina.
Interviews are available on request. Please email KyleK@ORAMRefugee.org.
About ORAM
ORAM protects and empowers LGBTIQ asylum seekers and refugees globally, creating sustainability and systematic change. Founded in 2008, ORAM is one of the first international nongovernmental organizations to advocate for and assist people fleeing persecution based on their sexual orientation and/or gender identity and expression (SOGIE) and has since become a thought leader in LGBTIQ migration. To learn more about ORAM’s other work, visit www.oramrefugee.org and Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn.