Sudarshan Pyakurel

Honorary Delegate
Written By Aleia Mariel

Sudarshan Pyakurel
Honorary Delegate (Ohio)
Resettled Refugee from Bhutan

Sudarshan Pyakurel is a Refugee Congress Honorary Delegate from Ohio. He is a former refugee from Bhutan who came to the U.S. in 2010.

Sudarshan is the Executive Director of Bhutanese Community of Central Ohio (BCCO), and community leader and advocate for social justice.

He actively works in the community for equity, advocacy, and empowerment of refugees and immigrants. He is a nationally certified Mental Health First Aid instructor and a member of Trauma Responsive Care through the CARE Coalition. He is also on the steering committee for the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration (SAMHSA) for Region 5 and a Migrant and Refugee Leadership Academy Fellow.

In 2018, Sudarshan was named to the State New American Advisory committee by Ohio Governor Kasich and was reappointed by Governor DeWine in 2021.

He has a master’s degree in English Literature and bachelor’s degree in Economics from India, as well as a bachelor’s degree in Cultural Anthropology from The Ohio State University and an associate’s degree in Philosophy from Cuyahoga Community College. He is currently pursuing a Master’s Degree in Social Work at The Ohio State University.

"No one was born a refugee, and anyone can become a refugee." 

In the News:

Featured
Refugee Congress launches National Refugee Leadership & Lived Experience Council (NRLLEC) program
Refugee Congress launches National Refugee Leadership & Lived Experience Council (NRLLEC) program

Refugee Congress is pleased to announce the launch of the National Refugee Leadership and Lived Experience Council (NRLLEC)™ .

The NRLLEC is a federal initiative of the Department of Health & Human Services’ Office of Refugee Resettlement, and is led by Refugee Congress in partnership with Refugee Council USA, Every Campus a Refuge, Church World Service, and USA Hello. The program will provide individuals with lived displacement experience the opportunity to directly impact ORR’s future policy planning while receiving access to a range of professional development opportunities.

Refugee Congress committed to amplifying voices, defending rights, and building bridges during second Trump administration
Refugee Congress committed to amplifying voices, defending rights, and building bridges during second Trump administration

Refugee Congress reiterates its firm commitment to refugees, asylum seekers, and all forcibly displaced people and communities in the United States and around the world. We remain dedicated to protecting the rights of displaced people, defending the safety and well-being of those seeking safety, and creating welcoming and inclusive spaces at local, state, national and international levels.

2024 Election Promise: Reaffirming Our Commitment to the Safety and Protection of all Newcomers
2024 Election Promise: Reaffirming Our Commitment to the Safety and Protection of all Newcomers

Refugee Congress and RCUSA shared values statement for the 2024 Elections.

Presidential Determination: President Biden Signs US Commitment to Refugee Resettlement, Sets Goal to Admit 125,000 Refugees in Fiscal Year 2025
Presidential Determination: President Biden Signs US Commitment to Refugee Resettlement, Sets Goal to Admit 125,000 Refugees in Fiscal Year 2025

On September 30th, President Biden signed the Presidential Determination on Refugee Admissions for Fiscal Year 2025, setting a goal of admitting up to 125,000 refugees to the United States over the next year.

Refugee Congress Alarmed by Further Restrictions on Seeking Asylum
Refugee Congress Alarmed by Further Restrictions on Seeking Asylum

On September 30th, the Biden administration issued new restrictions on the right to seek asylum at the U.S. southern border. These restrictions build upon the June 2024 ruling that already placed overwhelming barriers in front of those seeking safety and intensified the dangers faced by individuals and families fleeing persecution, violence, and instability in their home countries.

Refugee Congress Concerned by Escalating Violence in Lebanon
Refugee Congress Concerned by Escalating Violence in Lebanon
Nearly 500 Bipartisan State and Local Officials From All 50 States Welcome Refugee Resettlement in their Communities
Nearly 500 Bipartisan State and Local Officials From All 50 States Welcome Refugee Resettlement in their Communities

Today, 477 state and local elected officials from across the country sent President Biden a letter urging him to “strengthen the U.S. resettlement program to improve our capacity to welcome, enable our communities to more nimbly provide humanitarian protection, and preserve the United States Refugee Admissions Program (USRAP) for years to come.”

3 Years Later: Lawmakers Must Act to Fulfill Promises to Afghan Allies
3 Years Later: Lawmakers Must Act to Fulfill Promises to Afghan Allies

On the third anniversary of the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan, Refugee Congress reflects on the profound and ongoing impact on thousands of Afghan allies and their families. We acknowledge the challenges many still face—both those who remain in danger in Afghanistan and those who have resettled in the United States. We remain committed to advocating for their safety and sustainable pathways to citizenship.

Immediate Action on Work Permit Backlog Is Critical to Economic Growth
Immediate Action on Work Permit Backlog Is Critical to Economic Growth

Refugee Congress joins other organizations in submitting a letter calling on the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) and U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to swiftly issue work authorizations to as many eligible applicants as possible before the current administration ends.

Newly Introduced Destination Reception Assistance Act Provides Paths to Self-Sufficiency for Asylum Seekers
Newly Introduced Destination Reception Assistance Act Provides Paths to Self-Sufficiency for Asylum Seekers

Destination Reception Assistance Act aims to provide crucial federal funding to local efforts that assist asylum seekers in achieving self-sufficiency within their new communities.

Do you want to invite Sudarshan to speak at an upcoming event?  Please fill out this contact form (reporters, please call 202-905-6238 for time-sensitive requests).

Aleia Mariel
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