Our Stories
For over 55 years, Oakridge Neighborhood has been changing lives through stable housing and responsive programming for residents and others in the community.
There are many stories of success. Here are just a few of our #OakridgeStrong stories.
Get to Know Chibaloza
Chibaloza is an Oakridge resident. Her home country is Congo but she lived in a refugee camp in Tanzania for eight years before coming to America in 2016. She came to America with her five kids. She was shocked by her first impression of America. She was surprised by...
Our Neighbor Nini
In late 2025, Lutheran Services in Iowa (LSI)’s Childcare Partnership Appreciation Event recognized one of our neighbors, Nini Bicho. Nini is part of Oakridge Neighborhood’s Prepared to Care Program, which assists day care providers in the neighborhood to become...
From Refugee to Advocate
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...
Abubaker’s Story
Abubaker Mohammed and his wife Madina became U.S. citizens in 2019. Their five children became citzens in August 2020. It was an important achievement for the Mohammeds on a journey far from their beginnings in Sudan. The pair applied and moved to the United States in...
Dalia’s Story
My name is Dalia Elnour. I arrived in the United States in December 2024 with my husband and our six children. We had spent the previous three years in Eygpt after fleeing war in our native Sudan, where we'd been employees of the U.S. government abroad. When we first...
