Adrien Matadi

Adrien Matadi was born in Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo, then known as Zaire. Adrien served under Mobutu’s regime as a Peace Officer in the Special Unit and was posted in Egypt and Sudan for 6 years.

Adrien was a Care Navigator at Denver Health for 9 years, and now is a Project Specialist. As a Care Navigator, Adrien focused much of his work in the Denver Health Refugee Clinic as a refugee intake and scheduling specialist. Now, he works in developing standard work for different projects such as Latent Tuberculosis Infection known as LTBI, linkage to care, Covid-19 Outreach, etc. Adrien has been in Colorado for 17 years and has been working with refugees since his arrival in March 2006. Adrien started working with refugees in 1997 when he became a refugee himself. Back in Ethiopia, Adrien earned different positions in the refugee communities such advisor to field director of Jesuit Refugee Service, Urban Refugee Coordinator with UNHCR, ARRA (Administration for Refugees and Returnees Affairs), and all NGOs dealing with refugees. While in exile, Adrien earned a law degree in Humanitarian and Human Rights Law and associate degree in Auto-Mechanics in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Adrien also holds a CCNA certificate in Computer Science and several other public heath related certificates.

Adrien just received another degree in Theology and is pursuing the Master’s degree in the same field with Ministry Maker University in conjunction with Nation-to-Nation Christian University. Adrien also serves as secretary and elder in a pastoral board in two Denver churches.

Adrien is fluent in several languages, including French, Arabic, Lingala, Amharic, and Swahili. Adrien can also understand some Ethiopian dialects and Kikongo, his native language. Adrien is married and has 6 children.

Adrien likes advocating for refugee, immigrant, and newcomer populations to have equal rights and treatment regardless of their status or background. Adrien has travelled around the state of Colorado to advocate with different civic organizations like CIRC (Colorado Immigrant Right Coalition), RAP (Rights for All People), Servicio de la Raza, Colorado African organization, etc.