The Refinery provides refugee and immigrant women the opportunity to achieve economic independence and build social capital through business education and professional mentorships. We focus on serving women who are still in the process of learning the English language.
The Refinery selects the brightest and most resilient women of Lincoln, Nebraska, to attend a 4-month intensive business education course and participate in a community-driven learning environment, wherein they build relationships with other business owners and broaden their professional network.
We seek women who…
are still in the process of learning English;
own a business or have an idea for a business;
were born outside the United States.
Ready to begin? Click below to apply.
Cecilia Vargas owns Best Knit. She combines the vivacious colors of Mexico with the durability of Nebraska products. Contact: bestknitco@gmail.com
Sakeena Nazari is the owner of Sakeena Tailoring. She uses her previous experience in Afghanistan to provide unique design and high quality products. Contact: sakeenatailoring@gmail.com
Sharistan Haji brings the luxe fashion of the Middle East to Lincoln, Nebraska with formal gowns, gold belts, and other formalwear accessories. Contact: sharorashofashion@gmail.com
Shadia Angelo owns Shadia Events. She specializes in planning traditional Sudanese weddings in the Midwest of the USA. Contact: shadiaeventsne@gmail.com
Jello Artesano was founded by Olga Mendez and Kathia Ortiz: a mother-daughter team from Mexico. Their exquisite floral desserts bring beauty to any occasion. Contact: jelloartesano@gmail.com
Khokhi Rashawka brings her eye for design and sewing talents to Lincoln, Nebraska, through her business, Shingal Design. Khokhi specializes in making Yezidi formalwear but can create designs for any person. Contact: shingaldesign@gmail.com
Susa's Sweets & Balloons was established by Bia Wilber as a way to offer her delicious and beautiful desserts and designer balloon bouquets to her community in Lincoln, Nebraska. Her business is named in honor of her late mother, who found opportunities to celebrate every moment of life. Contact: susweetballoon@gmail.com
Blu Law La loves to sew and weave for her Karen community in Lincoln. She enjoys designing new clothing and also creates traditional apparel and accessories to honor her heritage. Contact: blugratitude@gmail.com.
Elevina Sein is on a mission to preserve the Karen culture in Lincoln, Nebraska, through her business, K'nyaw Modern Tradition. She works with Karen artisans in Myanmar and Thailand to blend traditional apparel and accessories with the modern style of the United States. Contact: veeknyawtradition@gmail.com.
August Thaw designs dresses for girls and women of all ages that combine the traditional Karen fabric of her culture and modern dress design. Contact: pureaugustdesign@gmail.com.
Marcela Medina brings a decade of fitness experience to Lincoln, Nebraska. She is passionate about serving women and helping them feel their very best: mentally, spiritually, and physically. Contact: marcemovement@gmail.com.
Carmen Castillo is the co-owner of RC Party Accents. She designs the balloons and retail products, and her husband, Rene, builds the rental props. Carmen wants your every moment to feel special! Contact: carmen@rcpartyaccents.com.
Saja Kinani is the Chief Creator behind Saja Craft. Saja custom designs functional art, inspired by her customers, by woodburning home decor. She loves to infuse the beauty of her home country of Iraq in every product. Contact: saja.craft.usa@gmail.com
Jasmine Azazi is a designer and illustrator. She has extensive experience in Iran, studying the textile traditions of women in each region of the country. Jasmine is working on a book to describe these women's stories. Stay tuned!
Margarita Ortiz Vasquez is the owner of KG Embroidery & More. She specializes in free-motion embroidery, creating detailed designs with her own hands. Margarita can customize any product! Contact: kgembroiderymore@gmail.com
Kimhour Ramage has 20 years of experience in the research and consulting industry. She managed a very successful business in Cambodia, and now she wishes to use her research talents in Lincoln, Nebraska, through Amatac Research & Consulting. Contact: amatacresearch@gmail.com
Alktra Farhan is the artist behind Art by Alktra. After studying painting in Syria, Alktra honors your religious and cultural traditions by creating customized glass paintings. Contact: art.by.alktra@gmail.com.
Ban Al Dulaimi is the creator behind Hello Bana Resin. She captures your forever memories by creating custom resin art pieces. Ban's aesthetic is playful and free, and she often incorporates themes of the ocean in her work. Contact: hellobanaresin@gmail.com.
Mayra Aguirre is the Co-Owner of Arteaga Produce. She imports the freshest cactus, peppers, and other traditional Mexican produce for sale in Hispanic grocers in Nebraska, Iowa, and Minnesota. Contact: arteaga.produce01@gmail.com.
Shaymaa Alsiraj created Tailoring by Shaymaa in order to bring her detailed tailoring expertise to Lincoln, Nebraska. She spent many years designing and altering wedding dresses in her home country of Iraq, and she hopes to add formal wear tailoring to her services after her internship completes in 2023. Contact: tailoringbyshaymaa@gmail.com.
Shokhan Tofiq has been creating exquisite Kurdish dresses and modern American formal wear for decades. Now she has formally established House of Shokhan to open her business to the entire Lincoln community. Shokhan has strong attention to detail and is well-known for her beautiful designs. Contact: shokhantofiq6272@yahoo.com
Zhenya Vodolazskaya is the artistic force behind Luna Creative Studios. She envisions a space where all artists can connect and create with skills like photography, textile design, and classic art. Send her a DM on Instagram by clicking her logo.
Candy Alvarez is the creator and baker behind Candy’s Cookies. Candy has been baking since she was a teenager and is now baking traditional Mexican desserts for all of the Lincoln community to try. Contact: candys.cookies402@gmail.com
Enas Mahdi is a multi medium talented artist with a passion for creating beautiful items for your home and your wardrobe. She established Designs by Enas to share her talent of sewing and design. Contact: designs.by.enas@gmail.com
Marilu Reyes is the founder of Merry’s Cleaning Service. She offers reliable residential cleaning to the residents of Lincoln to refresh your space and your mood. Contact: merrys.cleaning.service@gmail.com
Fatemah Saleh is cooking up great things at M. Family Food Truck where she serves a fusion of Arab American food. Her goal is to feed all food enthusiasts with her great cooking. Contact: m.family.foodtruck@gmail.com
Yana Armoot is the creative eye behind Armoot Flowers, leveraging her creative expertise to craft exceptional dried floral arrangements and bouquets that endure the test of time. With a distinguished degree in landscape architecture, Yana possesses the skill to design both expansive and intimate floral pieces, catering to the discerning tastes of floral enthusiasts. To explore her designs follow Yana on Instagram @armoot_flowers.
Azucena Adame is the skilled artisan and proprietor behind Dulce Azahar, specializing in the creation of traditional Mexican sweets and desserts, with a particular passion for cakes. With aspirations to establish a bakery in the near future, Azucena is committed to sharing her delectable creations with the residents of Lincoln. For inquiries and orders, contact Azucena at dulce.azahar.lnk@gmail.com.
Farah Alkahachi, the talented fragrance designer behind Farah's Fragrances, is passionate about creating beautiful scents for both men and women. She finds inspiration in popular fragrances and can also make customized perfumes. You can discover her products at the ECHO Shop, 2124 Y St. Ste 106, Lincoln, NE. Follow her on Instagram @farah.fragrances for updates and to explore her unique creations.
Diana De La Vega stands as the visionary founder of Fiesta Fashion, a retail establishment catering to special events, with a focus on providing quinceañera dresses and accessories to the Lincoln community. Diana is actively engaged in establishing a brick-and-mortar location in Lincoln. For dress or accessory inquiries, interested parties are encouraged to follow on Instagram @fiesta.fashion.dresses or reach out via email at fiestafashiondresses@gmail.com.
Khamisa Abdalla serves as the co-owner and co-founder of Mendy Market & Kitchen, an establishment dedicated to offering a diverse array of convenience foods from around the world. Through her family's efforts, Khamisa endeavors to introduce the flavors of Sudan and beyond to the community of Lincoln. Mendy Market & Kitchen is conveniently located at 3031 O St Ste 105A. Email: mendy.market.kitchen@gmail.com.