outcast united character list

31-year-old founder and volunteer coach of the Fugees; Jordanian by birth; decision to stay in U.S. following college alienated her from her family.

Mother of Jeremiah and Mandela; Liberian; because of refugee and resettlement experience, terrified to let her boys out of her sight

Beatrice's eldest son; plays for Under 13 squad

Board member of community center; wants center to focus programs for "real Americans" (55)

Plays for Under 13 squad; Congolese (DRC); father imprisoned in Central African Republic; last saw him when he was 5

Congolese woman (DRC); mother of Grace (a boy); forced to leave behind husband, Joseph, imprisoned in Central Africa Republic; works for Luma's cleaning company

Originally from Burundi; traveled through Mozambique; brothers: Alex and Ive; mother: Generose; excited to find Grace, who also speaks Swahili

Nigerian immigrant; legal U.S. resident for 15+ years; moved from NYC to ATL to open successful insurance business; clients mostly immigrants & refugees; attacked following traffic stop by Clarkston Police Officer Timothy Jordan

Mayor of Clarkston; in response to Lost Boys Club, forbids the playing of soccer at Milam Park/Armistead Field; in St. John's estimation, he fundamentally misunderstand the refugees: views them as a singular, monolithic group, rather than a collection of individuals and cultural backgrounds, and expects them to be willing and able to join into the local community.

manager and tutor for Fugees; holds MD/PhD, but realized that she doesn't want to pursue careers in medicine and research; with sister, volunteered with a Christian group who helps refugees with transition; finds connection with refugees, despite differences in culture and language; in this role, meets Paula Balegamire, and through her, Luma

Liberian; best player on U-15s, but dismissed for refusal to cut his hair

Liberian-born; forced to choose between Prince and the Fugees.

Jeremiah's brother. Initially makes fun of Jeremiah for joining the team—wants to fit in with African Americans and play basketball. However, eventually changes his mind. Like Fornatee, struggles with the dispute between Luma and Prince, his fellow Liberian.

ember of Under 15; Liberian by birth.

Lives with uncle and grandmother. Responsible for family's meals. No siblings; team provides family structure. Heartbroken by cancellation of season.

Member of Under 15; Mandela's close friend.

Owns and runs Thriftown, a grocery store. Saw opportunity in demographic changes, built store from conventional and failing supermarket to a thriving store that caters to culinary habits of a wide variety of cultures.

Vietnamese refugee and Thriftown employee; she suggests the Mehlinger rethink the store's business model and adapt to new customers.

Army veteran who helps saving his church by involving members of the immigrant and refugee community; Clarkston Baptist Church becomes Clarkston International Bible Church.

Clarkston police chief and native of Trinidad. Reform-minded and ambitious, he draws ire of many officers by demanding that they learn about newcomers and adapt their methods to better address cultural misunderstandings.

Kosovar by nationality; Albanian by ethnicity; Muslim by faith. Plays on U-13 team.

Grandson of once-famous goalie and author of soccer text. Extended family scattered "from Norway to England and to Australia"; father, Xhalal works at Decatur-DeKalb Farmers' Market.

Youth Services Coordinator for Refugee Family Services, an aid group in Stone Mountain. Macon native, earned MA in religion from UGA. Later converted to Islam.

defender on U-15; older brother of Bien, Alex cares for sister Alyah and handles domestic chores while their mother works.

Luma's "secret weapons," survivors of genocidal efforts launched on the Nuba Mtns. of central Sudan by an Islamist regime in capital, as well as a car accident that killed their mother and three of their siblings.

Coach of the Athens Gold Valiants; struggled to find direction, then found coaching