Tag: Somali-Americans

Politics

Amal Torres | Somali-born Air Force veteran says Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal sparked her run for Congress

By Joshua Q. Nelson | Fox News

A Somali-born immigrant and Air Force veteran is running for office as a Republican in the Baltimore area, explaining that the “Defund Police” movement and the Biden administration’s withdrawal from Afghanistan motivated her to run for Congress.

“The military service and government service brought me to Maryland,” Amal Torres told Fox News Digital. 

Continue reading “Amal Torres | Somali-born Air Force veteran says Biden’s Afghanistan withdrawal sparked her run for Congress” →
Uncategorized

America’s first Somali mayor Deqa Dhalac hopes to inspire immigrants, youths and women

By Brooke Anderson | The New Arab

When Deqa Dhalac became mayor of South Portland, Maine at the end of last year, making her what is believed to be America’s first Somali American mayor, it was after many years of working to make a difference, starting with her upbringing in her country of origin.

She was raised in an educated family that encouraged her to learn languages, history and politics, skills that would be useful after she left for a new life in the United States in 1990, just prior to the civil war.

Continue reading “America’s first Somali mayor Deqa Dhalac hopes to inspire immigrants, youths and women” →
Communities

The University of Minnesota is conducting research to increase cervical cancer screenings among Somali women


By Ava Kian | MinnPost

Screening rates for cervical cancer are low for first-generation American Somali women in Minnesota, with only about 25 percent to 30 percent of Somali patients participating in cervical cancer screenings in most urban clinics. That’s significantly lower than the national average of 79.9 percent. 

These low human papillomavirus (HPV) screening rates make Somali women at high risk for cervical cancer. Rebekah Pratt, an assistant professor in the Department of Family Medicine and Community Health at the University of Minnesota, is working on an HPV self-sampling method to address the low rates. She is collaborating with certified nursing midwife Nimo Ahmed. 

Continue reading “The University of Minnesota is conducting research to increase cervical cancer screenings among Somali women” →
Appointments

Lewiston pharmacist to be first Somali American on Maine Board of Pharmacy


BY JOAQUIN CONTRERAS | SUN JOURNAL

LEWISTON — Inspired in part by his time in a refugee camp in Kenya, a Lewiston man last month was the first Somali American appointed to the Maine Board of Pharmacy.

Abdifatah Ahmed, a pharmacist who works in Gardiner and is co-founder of Lewiston-based Maine Community Integration, was appointed to the board Feb. 23 and will be formally inducted April 1.

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African Politics

Rochester man running for president of Somalia

By Megan Zemple | KTTC

ROCHESTER, Minn. A Rochester man has decided to run for president of Somalia.

Abdi Maahaay came to Rochester over 20 years ago as a Somali refugee. He received a bachelor’s degree is psychology, got married and raised a family. He has dedicated much of his life to helping others. He worked as a behavioral health case manager, and as a humanitarian.

Continue reading “Rochester man running for president of Somalia” →
Politics

Deqa Dhalac Makes History as Maine’s First Black, Muslim Somali-American Mayor

 by JACKIE ABRAMIAN | MS

In December, Deqa Dhalac became the U.S.’s first Somali American mayor, chosen by the South Portland City Council to lead a city that’s 90 percent white.

Continue reading “Deqa Dhalac Makes History as Maine’s First Black, Muslim Somali-American Mayor” →
Uncategorized

Somali American running star Abdi Bile is a world-champion mentor

By Laura Yuen | Star Tribune

In Mohamed Abdi Mohamed’s childhood, Abdi Bile was like a folk hero.”My mom told me all these stories,” says Mohamed, 26, who was born in Somalia and grew up in a refugee camp. “She told me there’s a Somali who went to America and basically conquered America.”

Bile was a world champion runner, dominating the 1,500-meter race in the late 1980s. He’s also a national legend and the most decorated athlete in the history of Somalia, where a certain make of pickup truck has been dubbed the “Abdi Bile” for its speed.

Continue reading “Somali American running star Abdi Bile is a world-champion mentor” →
Immigration

How Two Columbus Nonprofits Help New Americans

Immigrants and refugees from Africa often face a difficult transition, navigating disparate cultures and questions of identity.

By Chris Gaitten | Columbus Monthly

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African Food

Afra Grill | A place for Somali gourmet, with characteristics of Indian, Mediterranean, and Ethiopian food.

By G.A. Benton | Columbus Monthly

Few new eateries embodied the spirit of Columbus in 2020 like Afra Grill on the city’s North Side.  It’s a pandemic-practical operation that’s inexpensive, offers an easy online ordering system, a handy drive-thru window and a sparkling dining room with a starkly impactful design scheme. 

Continue reading “Afra Grill | A place for Somali gourmet, with characteristics of Indian, Mediterranean, and Ethiopian food.” →
Uncategorized

Donald Trump deports 70 Somalis from America

By GAROWE ONLINE

At least 70 Somalis were on Friday deported from the US after failing in a lawsuit led
against the State Department of Immigration, in one of the most dramatic incidents which wrap up the unpopular administration of Donald Trump, who was overwhelmingly voted out in November as the US president.

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Communities

Rocky Mountain Welcome Center and East African Restaurants Team Up to Help Immigrants in Need


By MARK ANTONATION | Westword

Jennifer Gueddiche, chief operating officer for the Welcome Center, says it wasn’t enough to count on food banks and pantry donations to get food for the organization’s clients, since many of them come from cultures where American staples are either unfamiliar or unsuitable for their religious and cultural requirements. Orthodox Christians and Muslims from Ethiopia, Somalia, Djibouti and Eritrea form a large part of the Welcome Center’s clientele, so ensuring that halal meats, vegetarian meals and traditional ingredients made it to those in need played a critical role in temporarily switching from an education-based mission to focusing on food distribution.

Continue reading “Rocky Mountain Welcome Center and East African Restaurants Team Up to Help Immigrants in Need” →
Immigration

Biden Promises to End Trump’s Muslim and African ‘Travel Ban’. But Its Legacy Will Be Felt for Years

BY SANYA MANSOOR | Time

Afnan Salem’s father, a Somali citizen living in Malaysia, has been waiting three years for United States immigration authorities to allow him to come to Ohio to live with his family. But Trump’s severe travel restrictions on many visas for those with citizenship from more than a dozen predominantly African and Muslim-majority countries, including Somalia, means he is, at least temporarily, barred from entry.

Continue reading “Biden Promises to End Trump’s Muslim and African ‘Travel Ban’. But Its Legacy Will Be Felt for Years” →
Fashion

Halima Aden | Somali-American Model quits fashion shows over religious beliefs

By Yasmin Khatun Dewan| The Guardian

Somali-American model Halima Aden has said she is quitting runway shows because working in fashion has forced her to compromise her religious beliefs.

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Communities

Seattle’s African immigrants, refugees confront what it means to be Black in America

by | king5

King County has a large East African population. They are learning that America’s Black Lives Matter movement is for them, too: “We need to be visible.”

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Uncategorized

Abdulkadir Mohamed Mursal | veteran Somali journalist succumbs to Covid 19


By IBRAHIM HIRSI | SAHAN JOURNAL

If the Somali-language media landscape had a father, it would undoubtedly be Abdulkadir Mohamed Mursal. For nearly half a century, Abdulkadir brought vivid radio stories into the living rooms of Somalia, established newsrooms wherever he found a home, and trained hundreds of journalists, some of whom now work at radio services including  VOA Somali and BBC Somali.

Continue reading “Abdulkadir Mohamed Mursal | veteran Somali journalist succumbs to Covid 19” →
Immigration

Coming to America: It’s Not Like the Movie for African Immigrants

BY FRANCESCA BENTLEY | Pulitzer Center

Democracy, liberty, freedom, equality—these are the fundamental tenets Abdi Nor Iftin hoped would shape his life in America, after leaving Kenya. Upon miraculously winning a direct entryway into the United States via the annual visa lottery, Somali-born Iftin was rapturous over the chance to pursue his piece of the American dream. What he didn’t realize is that being one of the lucky few and becoming an American, particularly a Black American, comes with caveats, some more dangerous than others. 

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Culture

How to Experience and Appreciate the Vibrant East African Culture in the Twin Cities

By Becki Iverson | Qalanjo

‌STEAM RISES FROM A CUP OF CARDAMOM AND CLOVE TEA. Fragrant fish curry bubbles. Meat kebabs sizzle next to a half-dozen flaky, golden sambusas. This doesn’t sound like a typical meal you’d get in the Midwest, a region best known for hot dishes and casserole. But, in fact, this kind of cuisine is common in East African restaurants in Minneapolis, the new vanguard of global dining in the Twin Cities and the most visible element of a thriving immigrant community. 

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Politics

A mixed bag for African immigrant candidates in Minnesota races

By Tom Gitaa | President and Publisher of Mshale

The African immigrant community’s bid to expand its share of elected officials in the state had some bright spots and disappointing losses in equal measure. One of the bright spots was in the Minnesota legislature where the ranks of African immigrant legislators doubled to four from the previous two.

Here is the breakdown on how the results came in:

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Politics

Omar wins reelection in Minnesota House race

By Clare Foran | CNN

Somali-American Ilhan Omar, a member of the progressive Squad in Congress, will hold onto her US House seat in Minnesota after she won reelection and defeated a well-funded Republican challenger, CNN projects.

Continue reading “Omar wins reelection in Minnesota House race” →
Politics

Motivations Vary as African Diaspora Vote in US Election

By Salem Solomon | Voice of America – English

WASHINGTON – For most African immigrants in the United States, the right to vote is precious.  Ivo Tasong, a Cameroonian American who immigrated to the U.S. in 1986, said voting is something he will never take for granted. 

Continue reading “Motivations Vary as African Diaspora Vote in US Election” →
Politics

Why Somalis are closely watching the US elections

By Hamza Mohamed | Al Jazeera

Just as people across the United States will be waiting eagerly for the results of Tuesday’s voting, thousands of kilometres away, on the far eastern corner of Africa, Somalis will also be closely watching the hard-fought matchup between Donald Trump and Joe Biden.

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African Food

Hawa Hassan Shares the Spicy Somali Pasta Recipe From Her New Cookbook, ‘In Bibi’s Kitchen’

BY ELISE TAYLOR | Vogue

“Grandmothers are the ultimate home cooks,” says Hawa Hassan. That’s why, for her new cookbook with Julia Turshen, In Bibi’s Kitchen, she decided to make them the focus. Part cooking guide, part educational material, and part journalistic exercise, the book features the beloved recipes, and stories, of matriarchs from eight African countries that touch the Indian Ocean.

Continue reading “Hawa Hassan Shares the Spicy Somali Pasta Recipe From Her New Cookbook, ‘In Bibi’s Kitchen’” →
Politics

Ilhan Omar to Trump, “Why Are You So Obsessed With Me”?

By Sarah Al-Arshani | Business Insider

Rep. Ilhan Omar (D-MN) has delivered a pretty devastating comeback to President Donald Trump after his dog-whistle attack on her Somali origins at his Pennsylvania rally.

Continue reading “Ilhan Omar to Trump, “Why Are You So Obsessed With Me”?” →
Arts

Amoako Boafo | Ghanaian artist’s gestural portraits exude strength in times of crisis

BY PEI-RU KEH | | Wallpaper*

In a new show at Mariane Ibrahim Gallery, Ghanaian artist Amoako Boafo explores self-reflection, self-celebration and seeks to challenge existing beliefs about Black identity

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Uncategorized

Halima Aden | Meet the Somali-American Supermodel Helping To Drive Vita Coco’s Social Initiatives

By Tommy Williams | Forbes

Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is something more companies today are taking seriously as consumers become more conscious of how their products are being manufactured and sourced. However, many companies have received backlash in their attempts in part because it is inauthentic and they view it through a commercial lens first and social second.

Continue reading “Halima Aden | Meet the Somali-American Supermodel Helping To Drive Vita Coco’s Social Initiatives” →
Politics

Minnesota’s Black immigrants are running for elected office — and winning


Fifty years ago, lawmakers in Washington opened the doors to immigrants from Africa. Today, dozens of new Americans — from Liberia, Nigeria, Ethiopia, Somalia, and more — are running for office in Minnesota. And they’re winning.

By IBRAHIM HIRSI | SAHAN JOURNAL

Continue reading “Minnesota’s Black immigrants are running for elected office — and winning” →
Book review

Ilhan Omar’s book tells an inspiring story of her life but much Is missing

The Congresswoman, a Somali-origin Muslim, has fought many obstacles but has a long way to go in American politics.

By News Desk | Talmiz Ahmad

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Politics

Ilhan Omar | Somali-American Wins House Primary in Minnesota

By Astead W. Herndon | The New York Times

Representative Ilhan Omar of Minnesota fended off a well-funded primary challenger, ensuring a clean sweep of re-election fights for the group of first-term Democratic congresswomen of color known as the Squad and sending a message to Washington about the staying power of the party’s new progressive voices.

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Politics

Somali American is in the running for a St. Cloud City Council seat in November

By SHEILA REGAN | SAHAN JOURNAL

The former teacher who now runs a tax and immigration service finished third in Tuesday’s primary voting for the city council. In November, he will be among six candidates, including three incumbents, competing for three seats on the council. If he finishes in the top three, the city will have its first Black, and first Somali, council member.

Continue reading “Somali American is in the running for a St. Cloud City Council seat in November” →