United Women of East Africa Support Team - UWEAST

Join us on December 3rd and beyond to brighten the futures of refugee and immigrant children in our community! This #GivingTuesday, United Women of East Africa Support Team - UWEAST committed to helping refugee and immigrant children thrive through literacy. Our program provides one-on-one tutoring and digital learning tools, helping young learners build confidence, excel in school, and discover a love for reading. With your support, we can expand our program, hire more tutors, and ensure every child gets the resources they need to succeed. Together, we can create brighter futures for these children and their families. Donate today to make an impact: https://bit.ly/uweast2024 #GivingTuesday #BrightFutures #ChildrensLiteracy

Did you know UWEAST's Baraka and Bilal Catering is ready to cater your next event, meeting, or gathering? Our team specializes in delicious, authentic East African cuisine that brings people together and creates unforgettable moments. We’ve proudly catered a variety of occasions, including university events, foundation gatherings, giving circles, weddings, corporate meetings, community events, author showcases, and special celebrations. Why partner with us? By partnering with Baraka and Bilal Catering, you’re not only offering exceptional food to your guests but also supporting employment opportunities for refugee women and helping to build meaningful connections within our community. Take a Look at Our Menu! Pay special attention to our office menu option—perfect for meetings and corporate gatherings. Let’s make your event extraordinary! Contact us today for more information or to place your order—we’re excited to help make your next event truly special.

Excited to see United Women of East Africa (UWEAST) featured in SDSU CEAL Center for Excellence in Aging & Longevity's issue brief! Our partnership has trained over 250 caregivers from refugee communities, providing support, meaningful employment, and taking care of our seniors with culturally competent care. Grateful to be part of a solution! #Caregiving #RefugeePartnerships

Congratulations, Amina Sheik Mohamed, MPH, on joining the Board of Directors for San Diego Foundation! ?? Your leadership as a refugee/immigrant advocate brings invaluable perspective to philanthropy, ensuring the refugee community of San Diego's diverse needs are met. Here's to creating a more inclusive and vibrant San Diego together! #SanDiegoFoundation #CommunityImpact #Philanthropy #BoardMember #SanDiego #RepresentationMatters #RefugeeLeaders #ImmigrantLeaders https://lnkd.in/eYfPbA6n

Absolutely crucial. During #BlackMaternalHealthWeek, let's confront the disparities facing Black women in healthcare head-on. It's time for equitable access to culturally sensitive, affordable healthcare for Black women, mothers, and communities. This isn't just about disparities; it's about recognizing the inherent dignity and rights of every individual to the care they deserve. As an organization that has dealt with these challenges firsthand, UWEAST understands their impact. #HealthEquity #BlackMaternalHealth Sahra Abdi, San Diego Refugee Communities Coalition

We’re excited to share that we've received a $2 million gift from the Yield Giving Open Call, Thanks to God! The?#YieldGivingOpenCall?- managed by?Lever for Change?- focused on elevating organizations working with people and in places experiencing the greatest need in the United States - and United Women of East Africa does just that, through providing linguistically and culturally responsive health services, education and advocacy, which leads to improved outcomes and economic self-sufficiency for the East African community. Learn more here:?https://lnkd.in/gD-pCnEZ #YieldGiving?#socialimpact #opencall

As we reflect on Black History Month, it’s a time to honor the remarkable resilience, achievements, and contributions of black leaders and trailblazers who have shaped history and inspired change. Thank God! It’s very exciting to shine a spotlight on one extraordinary individual in our midst: Irene Bwayo. Life presents countless challenges, especially for Irene—a refugee, black woman, and a single mother navigating the world far from her immediate family. Despite these obstacles, Irene’s approach is nothing short of remarkable. With a humble voice and unwavering determination, she tackles each hurdle with grace and resilience, uplifting those around her in the process. As the Center Director of the Small Business Development Center, Irene works tirelessly with refugee and immigrant entrepreneurs to help them establish and realize their dreams of owning a business in their new country. Through this line of work, Irene champions economic advancement in our refugee and immigrant communities, demonstrating her unwavering commitment to challenging negative stereotypes surrounding black, refugee, and single women. Her identity and strength shine through her humble demeanor, serving as a beacon of hope and inspiration to everyone she encounters. Irene boldly asserts that given equal opportunities and freedom from the shackles of racism, we are all capable of leading and making a profound impact. Every day, Irene exemplifies resilience and perseverance, demonstrating that while challenges may arise, it’s crucial to seek support and uplift others in return. This is the essence of creating inclusive spaces—ensuring everyone has a chair at the table and inviting the uninvited to sit and participate. Irene, what an honor to have you in our community. #blackhistorymonth?#celebratingblackexcellence?#communityleader?#businesswomen?#changemaker?#shineonIrene Of course, we stood and stand on the shoulders of many amazing people! ??

We are truly blessed to witness our leaders Amina Sheik Mohamed, MPH and Blanca Melendrez (She/Her/Ella) being recognized for their outstanding contributions. A heartfelt thank you to James Irvine for spotlighting our unsung heroes, who consistently support our communities and actively bridge the gap between academia and the community. Their efforts are instrumental in fostering positive change and breaking down barriers that sometimes exist between communities and universities. #LeadershipAwards?#HealthEquity?#CommunityLeadership?#UCSD?#UCSDHealth

In our unwavering commitment to preserve the legacies of our heroes and celebrate the successes of our community members, we recognize that the journey is not without its challenges. Overcoming obstacles requires considerable effort and determination. Allahumma Barik. Dr. Abdimalik Buul Ed.D has exemplified this resilience, overcoming numerous hurdles to become an inspiring figure in our community. From his humble beginnings as a young Muslim refugee a black boy, he has risen to become an icon, inspiring hope and aspiration. He was the first Somali ever to be hired as a tenure track faculty member at southwestern college where he served as Umoja coordinator and chair of the black alliance from 2015-2018. The first Somali Vice Chancellor for the California Community Colleges Chancellor’s office overseeing the largest system of higher education in the nation with over a 116 colleges and 73 districts and a $20 million dollar budget.??He is also an adjunct professor at SDSU where he teaches in the masters program for counseling and restorative justice. Despite facing biases and discrimination while growing up in South East San Diego, and City Heights, Dr Buul’s unwavering determination, guided by the will of God, has allowed him to rewrite the narrative and set a positive example for young boys everywhere. Our community is truly blessed to have such an inspiring role model among us.? #blackhistorymonth ?#celebratingblackexcellence ?#changemakers #communityleadership ?#education ?#mentalhealth ?#counselor Of course, we stood and stand on the shoulders of many amazing people! ??

In our unwavering commitment to preserve the legacies of our heroes and amplify the triumphs of our community members, it’s evident that numerous leaders strive to champion inclusivity and create pathways for the Black community. However, securing rightful spaces and meaningful involvement in decision-making spheres remains a daunting challenge, particularly for Black Muslims. Maa Shaa Allah, Maryan Osman Usman’s participation in the City Council marks a significant advancement for our community, as she has paved the way for others. In the face of these challenges, Maa Shaa Allah, Maryan Osman has fearlessly forged paths for countless marginalized communities, ensuring steadfast representation for all. Through her radiant smile and open-hearted embrace, Maryan exemplifies the truth: Black Muslim women can hold government leadership positions and thrive within San Diego’s offices. Maryan, your unwavering commitment and resolute representation are deeply cherished. Despite the obstacles you face, your steadfast positivity and unyielding determination have ignited a flame of hope, inspiring countless individuals to believe in the transformative power of diverse voices in leadership. May you continue to lead by example, tirelessly advocating for the improvement of our community. We are truly blessed to have you among us. Maryan, what an exceptional leader you are! You have opened doors and inspired the first East African generations to aim higher and aspire to leadership. Your encouragement has instilled comfort and motivation, inspiring dreams of holding office in San Diego and California. Thank you for illuminating the path of hope and guiding us toward brighter horizon. #blackhistorymonth #celebratingblackexcellence ?#communityleadership ?#changemakers Of course, we stood and stand on the shoulders of many amazing people! ??