We Are Called to Rise: The Power of Refugee Women

A rousing, inspiring call-to-action that encourages us to embrace the economic potential of refugee women and break the invisible barriers that constrain their power

Every day, thousands of women are forced from their homes by armed conflict, persecution, and violence. Jina Krause-Vilmar has spent decades working around the world with these women, in some of the most difficult and dangerous conditions. Now, in We Are Called to Rise, she explores and celebrates the economic and social power of refugee women--the strength and opportunity that policymakers overlook, governments fail to harness, and stereotypes erase, but that also ultimately holds the potential for real change and progress. Presented through a compelling blend of storytelling and social science, Krause-Vilmar lays out a new plan for how we can think about and pursue change, from debunking the "bootstrapping myth" and setting new rules of engagement to presenting personal stories of women thriving against overwhelming obstacles in locations across the globe that put faces and intimate truths to passing headlines.

Inspiring, informative, and more timely than ever, We Are Called to Rise is a powerful testimony to the invisible threads that keep us from embracing one another--and how, despite the barriers, we can reweave those threads to create opportunity not just for these women, but for entire communities, everywhere.

Author: Jina Krause-Vilmar
Publisher: Flatiron Books: A Moment of Lift Book
Published: 09/15/2026
Pages: 192
Binding Type: Hardcover
Weight: 0.63lbs
Size: 8.55h x 5.66w x 0.81d
ISBN: 9781250828026


Review Citation(s):
Kirkus Reviews 07/15/2026

About the Author
Jina Krause-Vilmar is an executive, author, and former United Nations advisor who is leading a reimagining of sustainable migration, economic inclusion, and women's power. With two decades of global experience, she has advanced women's economic security in conflict zones and fragile states--conducting research and training in the humanitarian sector--and operates at the intersection of public policy, private sector engagement, and AI innovation. She is known for translating field-based insights into effective strategies that drive systems-level change. Jina currently serves as the executive director of the Family and Workers Fund, a philanthropic coalition advancing inclusive economic growth and reducing poverty. She also advises VOICE and Kizuna, women-led organizations supporting women and girls in crisis. Previously, she was the president and CEO of Upwardly Global, a nonprofit that supports immigrants and refugees joining the American workforce. Born and raised in Texas to an Indian immigrant family, she lives in Brooklyn with her husband, children, and Rottweiler.