Liza Philipo is an Oakridge Neighborhood team member whose journey from refugee to community advocate is truly inspiring.

Liza’s parents are originally from Eritrea. She was born in Sudan and then moved with her family to Ethiopia, before ultimately coming to the United States to escape the war in Eritrea. In Ethiopia, her family lived for a time in a refugee camp before settling in the capital city, Addis Ababa. In December 2009, they arrived in Houston, Texas, when she was 13 years old.

Liza credits her resilience and success first to God, and then to the unwavering support of her parents.

Education Key

“My parents didn’t have the opportunity to go far in school, but they always made sure education was important for us. My mom, for example, would look at our report cards and remind us that anything below average wasn’t good enough, while my dad encouraged us to keep striving. Even if they couldn’t always help directly with homework, they stayed involved, asked questions, and kept us motivated. I believe that’s what helped me keep moving forward,” Liza says.

In Houston, Liza completed high school and went on to graduate from the University of Houston with a bachelor’s degree in Humanities and Social Sciences.

Liza moved from Houston to Des Moines in September 2023. Just two months later, she began working at Oakridge Neighborhood.

Advocating for Others

In her role as a case worker, Liza works primarily with refugees, helping them navigate everything from job applications and resumes to securing food stamps, Medicaid, Social Security applications, immigration paperwork, and more. She’s deeply involved in maintaining records and reports on the refugee community served by Oakridge, and helping new arrivals integrate as smoothly as possible. Her work also includes coordinating with community resources like DMARC for food distribution. She’s uniquely suited to this role, given her own background.

“I love my job,” Liza says. “I love helping people. I know where I came from. I was a  refugee, so I know the struggle, especially if you don’t speak the language.”

One story, in particular, stands out for Liza – a client who arrived with nothing, struggling to care for a very sick child while living with relatives. Liza and a colleague worked tirelessly to help secure housing, benefits, and employment for the mother, who is now living independently in an Oakridge apartment, working, and receiving the support she and her child need.

She’s passionate about continuing to support refugees and hopes for more resources to educate and empower families – from job training workshops to parenting classes that could bridge cultural gaps and help families thrive.

Liza’s journey, courage and unwavering dedication to lifting others are proof of how powerful one person’s impact can be, and why her work at Oakridge Neighborhood matters so much to our community.

Families in need turn to Oakridge Neighborhood for support. From secure housing to youth programs nurturing potential, to workforce and family services building brighter futures, our reach has expanded because the need has grown. Your support ensures that hope, opportunity and belonging remain within reach for thousands of Central Iowans who count on us every day. Learn more.