It is estimated that there are 51 million persons displaced persons worldwide. Out of this, 16 million are refugees. This is the highest number of displaced persons since World War II.
Somali Family Service of San Diego in the College Grove area hosted its third annual OceanLeaf Awards Celebration, an event that distinguished individuals and organizations that contributed and advanced opportunities for East African immigrants and other refugees. Honorees were chosen on their efforts in leadership, innovation health, and wellness and economic development.
It is estimated that there are 51 million persons displaced persons worldwide. Out of this, 16 million are refugees. This is the highest number of displaced persons since World War II.
Somali Family Service of San Diego in the College Grove area hosted its third annual OceanLeaf Awards Celebration, an event that distinguished individuals and organizations that contributed and advanced opportunities for East African immigrants and other refugees. Honorees were chosen on their efforts in leadership, innovation health, and wellness and economic development.
2015 OceanLeaf award winners
Volunteer of the Year Award
Liban Ali, San Diego Somali Autism Awareness Initiative
Born in Mogadishu, Somalia, Ali finished his second year of university before the Somali government collapsed and civil war began. He married in a Kenyan refugee camp. He was granted asylum status but it resulted in a nearly a decade of separation from his wife and daughter, who was diagnosed with autism at 4-years-old. With no resources to rely on, he took the task of educating himself, which led to the beginning of the Somali San Diego Autism Awareness Initiative supported by Somali Family Service.
“I have two daughters with autism. There is a lot of stigma still when it comes to autism,” he said. “And many families are in denial. The new families with children diagnoses with autism really do not know where to go.
Health and Well Being Award
Dr. Maria Lourdes Reyes, MD – U.S. & Border Programs, Project Concern International
Reyes is the project director of Project Concern International’s U.S. & Border programs. She volunteers hundreds of hours giving lectures on cancer and advocates for changes in the way cancer diagnosis and treatment on the local, state and national level. Her affiliations with many of these organizations have made headway into cancer treatment for patients. From the Philippines, she is founder and facilitator of One Vision, One Voice: A Filipino American Movement.
“I care because I came to this country as an immigrant,” she said. It was a wonder to me. We are helping the East African community and other refugees by creating by empowering women, helping them understand better their role in the community and how to bridge the gap between their culture and how their children are reacting in this community. I believe it is important for every member of the community to helping others.”
Opportunity Award
Wendell French, Wells Fargo Bank
Given to an individual or organization involved with the economic development of the community, this year’s recipient, French worked in the financial services industry form the past 35 years. He is responsible for managing community relations and economic development activities and represents Wells Fargo in all aspects of community outreach. He said his greatest joy is derived from involvement in local charities that support the elderly and youth and serves on several community outreach boards, assesses community and company credit needs in order to help them achieve the goals to make them successful.
“Refugees don’t have access to our credit, education, information, nutrition and those kind of things,” he said. “”Eventually the stress from that lack of access will begin to stretch and tear at the heart of the family, and the family is the basic building block for success, for stable communities, and without support from these organizations, many of these families would not be able to tap into that network, that resource and lay down that foundation.”
Innovation Award
Lenore Lowe, Nonprofit Management Solutions
Executive director of Nonprofit Management Solutions, Lowe provides professional development programs, consulting and information and referral services for the nonprofit sector. With more than 25 years of nonprofit management and governance, she partnered with Somali Family Service in 2009 providing leadership development for the staff and volunteers of organizations serving the San Diego East African community.
“All of the groups integrate to help the community,” she said. “Without collaboration it is a lot of little organizations doing little work. I think we all help by just plugging in. There are 42 languages living on University Avenue and every single language spoken represents someone that’s taken a journey to get to the United States.”
Spirit Award
Imam Taha Hassane, Islamic Center of San Diego
An award for an individual that meets the needs of the humanity of an individual as well as the community Imam Hassane has worked and advocated for the human rights of refugees. He is currently the Imam of the Islamic Center of San Diego and the director of interfaith, public relation and youth program. He is a religious advisor to UCSD’s Muslim Students Association, works with the San Diego Police Department and District Attorney’s Office along with several other organizations.
“As the Imam, always the refugee community reaches out to the Islamic Center to reach out to the Imam,” he said. “He is the spiritual leader of the Muslim community. Never underestimate what you can do. A little time to offer your advice, talent, your expertise to these people will help them change their lives.”
Leadership Award
Bob Montgomery, International Rescue Committee
Retiring a week after the ceremony, Montgomery also served as the keynote speaker for the evening. Since 1976 he worked with the International Rescue Committee, becoming executive director in 2001. He is an expert in refugee resettlement, immigration, advocacy and fundraising. In his tenure in advocating for immigration and refugee reform, he is an author, works with the Board of Immigration Appeals and represents immigrants before the Department of Homeland Security.
“I want to thank you for all of your support, not for me, not for Somali Family services, but for supporting refugees,” he said. “They are the ones we are all here working for and they are the ones we are trying to help become successful here in the United States.”
Emerging Leader Award
Mohamed Ahmed, Communities United Reviving East Africa
Ahmed is founder/president of Communities United Reviving East Africa (CURE), a San Diego based nonprofit promoting educational opportunities for students of East African descent. CURE San Diego raised more than $180,000 for the American Refugee Committee. He also worked as a readiness instructor for the International Recue Committee, supporting refugees resettling to San Diego and finding employment. He is considered a leading voice in East African business and community circles providing guidance to leaders and organizations both locally and internationally.
“The reason why I care is that I also come from a refugee family and my parents wanted me to concede in education, but it has been a schedule,” he said. “On a local level we work with many high schools and middle schools. We have the East African Fellowship program where we work with 60 high school students and we pair them with mentors and tutors that come from their background so they can be prepared for entrance into a four-year university.”
Emerging Leader Award
Ismahan Abdullahi, Muslim American Society of San Diego
Abdullahi is known as one to stand up for the ideals of democracy and empowering a new generation of youth. Her escape from war-torn Somalia in 1992, lead her to become educated, serving as president of the Muslim American Society and board member for Masjid Huda and Islamic Center of San Diego. She is a teacher, writer, speaker and advocate in empowering young people, especially young women and in these youths she finds her passion.
“I am here today because of sacrifices my mother and father made in order to get us here,” she said. “We witnessed so much death and destruction around us with my father being killed and watching individuals from our own family drowning while trying to cross the river. We travelled by night, and slept by day trying not to be discovered. They sacrificed their lives for me and my siblings to be able to come to America and have a better life.”
Lemon Grove Mayor Pro Tem attended the event and said that the work that the Somali Family Services does is incredible and a valuable asset to the community.
“And let me tell you. There is a small but growing populations of Somalia families living in Lemon Grove and I really appreciate the work that you do. Not just in Lemon Grove, but throughout San Diego County.”
