About Liyah
Liyah Babayan, a beacon of resilience and commitment to vitality, creativity, and fulfillment, is guided by her indigenous Armenian traditions, ancestral intuition and wisdom gained in overcoming adversity as a refugee. A social entrepreneur, Liyah established a flourishing presence with Ooh La La Boutique promoting sustainable, eco-friendly fashion and MAKEPEACE, an Idaho potato-based skincare and bath line dedicated to the dignity of displaced humanity. Liyah is the author of “Liminal, a refugee memoir,” where she documents her family’s survival of the ethnic killings of Armenians in Baku, Azerbaijan. Introduced to readers as the “Armenian Anne Frank,” her memoir details a child’s perspective of war and genocide and explores the lasting impact of childhood adversity and generational trauma. As a coach and public speaker, Liyah continues to inspire others by sharing her transformative journey, methodology and valuable insights for recovering one’s true self, personal power and inner peace. Guiding both youth and adults to find that place inside themselves where nothing is impossible.
Liyah's Story
After surviving the anti-Armenian ethnic killings in Baku, Azerbaijan, Liyah Babayan and her family were resettled in Twin Falls, Idaho through the College of Southern Idaho Refugee Program. Liyah watched her educated parents tirelessly work two full-time jobs each and struggle to learn English, to rebuild their life in the United States. To help her family out, Liyah started working at the age of 13 until she graduated from Twin Falls High School in 2002. She began journaling at age 11, documenting her family’s survival story as she was learning English. She went on to receive a Bachelors in both International Studies and Political Science at Southern Oregon University. She received her Associates in Political Science and U.S. History at the College of Southern Idaho.
From a young age, she loved the hustle and free market spirit of the American Dream. An entrepreneur and humanitarian at heart, at 22 years old Liyah opened her first business in 2007, Ooh La La Boutique and her second business MAKEPEACE, in 2017, both located in Twin Falls Idaho. Following the atelier footsteps of her grandmother and Mama, Liyah’s sustainable fashion boutique, she styles and consigns with clients worldwide. Liyah is the founder of MAKEPEACE (an organic, potato skincare line) pledging to donate soap to displaced people for every product sold. With a passion to give back to her adoptive country, Liyah served on the Twin Falls School Board, and was the first refugee to run for City Council and State Representative in Idaho. Liyah was recognized as one of Idaho’s Women of the Year in 2015 and 2020, received the ACLU’s Civil Rights Service Award, the Hometown Hero award, the Governor’s “Extra Mile” award and was featured in The New York Times. Her book “Liminal, a refugee memoir” was published in 2018.
In 2019 Liyah was invited to present her book and testimony in Congress in support of recognizing the Armenian Genocide. The House of Representatives passed a resolution with broad support on October 29, 2019, and the Senate did the same by unanimous consent on December 12, 2019, making the recognition of the Armenian Genocide part of the policy of the United States. This historic recognition ended the longest censorship and lobby-imposed gag rule on the U.S. Congress, Presidency and academia in U.S. history.
In her free time Liyah enjoys oil painting, cooking, reading and reliving childhood with her three children Dominic, Angeli and Aza, the nectars of her life. Savoring every extra day, every single breath of life after what her family survived.
Liyah's Story
After surviving the anti-Armenian ethnic killings in Baku, Azerbaijan, Liyah Babayan and her family were resettled in Twin Falls, Idaho through the College of Southern Idaho Refugee Program. Liyah watched her educated parents tirelessly work two full-time jobs each and struggle to learn English, to rebuild their life in the United States. To help her family out, Liyah started working at the age of 13 until she graduated from Twin Falls High School in 2002. She began journaling at age 11, documenting her family’s survival story as she was learning English. She went on to receive a Bachelors in both International Studies and Political Science at Southern Oregon University. She received her Associates in Political Science and U.S. History at the College of Southern Idaho.
From a young age, she loved the hustle and free market spirit of the American Dream. An entrepreneur and humanitarian at heart, at 22 years old Liyah opened her first business in 2007, Ooh La La Boutique and her second business MAKEPEACE, in 2017, both located in Twin Falls Idaho. Following the atelier footsteps of her grandmother and Mama, Liyah’s sustainable fashion boutique, she styles and consigns with clients worldwide. Liyah is the founder of MAKEPEACE (an organic, potato skincare line) pledging to donate soap to displaced people for every product sold. With a passion to give back to her adoptive country, Liyah served on the Twin Falls School Board, and was the first refugee to run for City Council and State Representative in Idaho. Liyah was recognized as one of Idaho’s Women of the Year in 2015 and 2020, received the ACLU’s Civil Rights Service Award, the Hometown Hero award, the Governor’s “Extra Mile” award and was featured in The New York Times. Her book “Liminal, a refugee memoir” was published in 2018.
In 2019 Liyah was invited to present her book and testimony in Congress in support of recognizing the Armenian Genocide. The House of Representatives passed a resolution with broad support on October 29, 2019, and the Senate did the same by unanimous consent on December 12, 2019, making the recognition of the Armenian Genocide part of the policy of the United States. This historic recognition ended the longest censorship and lobby-imposed gag rule on the U.S. Congress, Presidency and academia in U.S. history.
In her free time Liyah enjoys oil painting, cooking, reading and reliving childhood with her three children Dominic, Angeli and Aza, the nectars of her life. Savoring every extra day, every single breath of life after what her family survived.
In the Community
In the Community
With a passion to give back to her adoptive country, Liyah served as a Trustee on the Twin Falls School Board and was the first refugee to run for City Council and State Representative in Idaho. Liyah’s public service extends beyond her businesses, as she served on various Twin Falls City and civic commissions, including the T.F. Park and Rec. Commission, the Urban Renewal Main Street Redesign Committee and the Culture for Change Foundation. Her dedication to education is evident in her seven years as a School Board Trustee for the Twin Falls School District. Liyah’s unwavering commitment to community engagement and her trailblazing efforts as a dedicated public servant truly embody the spirit of positive change and exemplify the impact one individual can make on the betterment of society.
