Sasha Chanoff (born 1971) is an American humanitarian based in Somerville, Massachusetts who has worked for two decades in refugee rescue, relief, and resettlement operations in AfricaInspired by relatives, he’s doing a world of good for refugees, Accessed July 6, 2014, "...Sasha Chanoff spent the past decade rescuing recent victims of the world’s deadliest persecutions.Cynthia Rockwell, April 1, 2013, Wesleyan University, Chanoff '94 Garners National Attention for Sudanese Refugees, Accessed July 6, 2014, "...Sasha Chanoff ’94 and the organization he founded, RefugePoint,..." and the United States.

Chanoff is the founder and executive director of RefugePoint,December 24, 2013, Doug Moore, St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Daughter reunited with family in St. Louis after nearly a decade, Accessed July 6, 2014, "...On the train, Sasha Chanoff, founder and executive director of RefugePoint, ..."RefugePoint an organization that aids refugees and supports the humanitarian community to do the same. Prior to launching RefugePoint, he consulted with the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees in Kenya and worked with the International Organization for Migration throughout Africa, identifying refugees in danger, undertaking rescue missions, and working on refugee protection issues with the US, Canadian, Australian, and other governments.

He often enlists the help of the mass media to spread awareness about refugee issues, and has appeared on 60 Minutes. He has also been a featured teller on the popular public radio storytelling program The Moth Radio Hour.The Moth Radio Hour

Sasha Chanoff holds a B.A. from Wesleyan University and an M.A. in Humanitarian Assistance, from the Tufts University Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and Friedman School of Nutrition, Science, and Policy. He has received fellowships from Ashoka, the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, and Echoing Green, and is a recipient of the Charles Bronfman Humanitarian Prize, the Harvard Center for Public Leadership Gleitsman International Activist Award, the Schwab Foundation / World Economic Forum Social Entrepreneur of the Year Award, and the Obama White House Champion of Change award.

He is a Goodwill Ambassador for the million dollar Aurora Prize for Awakening Humanity. He is a board member of Network of Engaged International Donors (NEID) Global, and served as a human rights adviser to The Leir Charitable Foundations. He also recently served as an adviser to the film The Good Lie, starring Reese Witherspoon, and helped to establish its charitable initiative, The Good Lie Fund, which he advised.

Mr. Chanoff believes resettlement is a vastly superior alternative to refugee camps, since re-settled refugees can support themselves and "get on with their own lives".LARISA EPATKO, June 20, 2014, PBS Newshour, Meet ‘Claude,’ one of many displaced children seeking refuge in cities, Accessed July 6, 2014 He views his role as a humanitarian relief organizer to "attempt to help everyone in need."Ashoka, Forbes Magazine, 'The Moth' Teaches A Thing Or Two About Storytelling: Setting Up The Stakes, Accessed July 6, 2014, "...For example, Sasha Chanoff of RefugePoint ... recognized that his duty ... to help everyone in need..."

In 2006, he founded the organization called Mapendo, which was renamed RefugePoint in 2011. RefugePoint provides aid to at-risk and obscure African refugee groups.September 28, 2004, PBS, Interviews: In Search of a Durable Solution, Accessed July 6, 2014, "...June 2007 UPDATE: Sasha Chanoff founded Mapendo International..." Mapendo helped to evacuate more than 10,000 refugees from Sudan, Kenya, Burundi, and the Democratic Republic of Congo. He explained:

Early life Chanoff was born in Finland. His great grandparents escaped from pogroms in Russia. Many of his relatives were murdered in the Holocaust half a century later. He explained:

Chanoff is a dual United States and Finnish citizen and speaks English, Finnish, German, French, and Swahili.

Awards and honors Chanoff was awarded the Charles Bronfman Prize for his humanitarian efforts in 2010.2010, The Charles Bronfman Prize, Sasha Chanoff: Rescuing and Resettling At-Risk and Forgotten Refugees, Accessed July 6, 2014, "...Sasha Chanoff is the Founder and Executive Director of RefugePoint, a humanitarian organization..." In 2013, he was awarded the Gleitsman International Activist Award, given to an activist who has "improved the quality of life for others."DAVID J. KURLANDER, CONTRIBUTING WRITER, November 6, 2013, The Harvard Crimson, Sasha Chanoff Receives Gleitsman International Activist Award, Accessed July 6, 2014, "...Sasha Chanoff, co-founder and executive director of the refugee resettlement organization RefugePoint, received the 2013 Gleitsman International Activist Award..." It is an award given to a leader who works to challenge "injustices around the world and inspires others to do the same." Past recipients of this award have included Ralph Nader and Nelson Mandela. In addition, he received fellowships from Ashoka, the Draper Richards Kaplan Foundation, and Echoing Green.Echoing Green. In 2006, he was named a Waldzell Institute "Architect of the Future."

Books From Crisis to Calling, Barrett-Koehler Publishers, 2016From Crisis to Calling, Barrett-Koehler Publishers, 2016

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