Krish O’mara Vignarajah

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Krish O’mara Vignarajah

President & CEO
Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service

As an immigrant herself, Krish O’Mara Vignarajah takes her role as president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Services to heart. Vignarajah came to Baltimore as an infant when her family fled ethnic strife in Sri Lanka. Her parents came to the United States with no jobs and $200 in their pocket. Because Baltimore has provided her and her family immense opportunities, Vignarajah has dedicated herself to giving back through mentorship and connection building through her work.

“I am lucky to live my passion for local service through my work. LIRS is the largest faith-based national nonprofit dedicated to serving immigrants and refugees, headquartered right in the Inner Harbor. While our reach extends across the country, we are passionate about furthering our local impact,” Vignarajah said.

In the last year, Vignarajah said, the organization launched a new direct mental health program for immigrant children released from government care in Baltimore. It also expanded the New American Cities initiatives to the city, which helps refugees secure higher-skilled jobs.

With refugees pouring in due to economic and political strife from across the world, the work of LIRS is increasingly important. With that in mind, Vignarajah is committed to the work of diversity, equity and inclusion and belonging, because that is the inherent work of LIRS, she said.

“But our commitment to justice for the most vulnerable extends well beyond our clients. Improving diversity, equality, and inclusion at LIRS is by no means a destination but an ongoing process, and I’m proud of our team for embracing the challenging yet transformational journey,” Vignarajah said.

Before serving as the president and CEO of Lutheran Immigration and Refugee Service, Vignarajah served in the Obama White House as policy director for First Lady Michelle Obama and at the State Department as a senior adviser under Secretaries of State Hillary Clinton and John Kerry.

“I am lucky to live my passion for local service through my work. LIRS is the largest faith-based national nonprofit dedicated to serving immigrants and refugees. . .”

— Krish O’Mara Vignarajah