About Us

Our Mission

Building Peaceful Bridges carries out its mission by:

• Assisting newcomers to integrate into American culture by financial and non-cash donations, sponsoring and mentoring families, and partnering with other organizations
• Educating communities on the challenges newcomers face during resettlement and fostering multi-cultural relationships that provide the foundation for a deeper understanding, acceptance, and support

Our Beginning

In 2014, two compassionate women from different parts of the world came together to inspire positive actions and peaceful resolutions. Ahlam Al-Jebory Mahmood arrived in the United States in 2008 with her two young children . They were refugees resettled from war-torn Iraq by way of Syria. Ahlam was blessed with many generous and compassionate people as she and her family made their new home in Chicago. One of those people was Glenview resident Lori Lucchetti, who began hosting groups of interfaith women in her home. She would invite neighbors and friends, and Ahlam would attend and bring other refugee women who were resettling in the Chicago area. Seeds of mutual respect, compassion, and love grew out of these luncheons and ultimately blossomed into Building Peaceful Bridges which became an official nonprofit in 2018.