About Us

Who We Are

In 2014, two compassionate women from different parts of the world came together to inspire positive actions and peaceful resolutions. Ahlam Mahmood arrived in 2008 with her two young children to the United States from war-torn Iraq by way of Syria. Ahlam was blessed with many generous and compassionate people as she and her family resettled in Chicago. One of those people was Lori Lucchetti, a Glenview resident. Lori began hosting groups of interfaith women in her home. She would invite neighbors and friends. 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.

Our Mission

Building Peaceful Bridges is a nonprofit organization supporting people of all faiths whose mission is to foster multicultural relationships by assisting in the integration of refugees into American society and educating communities on the challenges facing refugee populations through their stories.

Building Peaceful Bridges carries out its mission by:

Assisting legal refugees 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 refugees face during resettlement and fostering multi-cultural relationships that provide the foundation for a deeper understanding, acceptance, and support

Get Involved

Values in Action

COMPASSION bridges to TRUST

HOPE bridges to COURAGE

INTEGRITY bridges to RESILIENCE

INCLUSIVENESS bridges to SAFETY

RESPECT bridges to INSPIRATION

KNOWLEDGE bridges to ACHIEVEMENT

Building Peaceful Bridges is a 501(c)(3) organization. EIN: 83-2282738.

Your donation is tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law. Up to 91% of funding goes directly to help refugee families.

Form 1023 including all attachments and Form 990 are made available to the public upon request.