Community Changemakers.
Somali Youth United is proud to honor community changemakers on a monthly basis. This page is dedicated to those individuals who strive to make a difference in the lives of the Somali community. These individuals deserve a show of gratitude for their contribution to better the lives of our children. Thank You from the bottom of Somali Youth United hearts' we salute you . Please feel free to nominate people for these awards via email to Info@somaliyouthunited.org Based on the number of nominations and the impact they made will determine their selection for the Monthly Youth or Community Hero award.
Youth Changemakers of the Month.
November 2010
Ahmed not only provides his time but he also contributes his professional skills in social networking our youth as well as our elders in the community to bridge generational gaps. For example, Mr. Hassen, surprised me when he relayed to me the importance of the mother, and son bond ship, plays in shaping the lives of the young male adolescents in the community. It is with his great insight and unwavering support and assistance, that Somali Youth United implemented the East African Mother Appreciation program, this annual celebration, gathers mothers and sons in an ceremonial setting allows for the young men to profuse how their mother has played an important role in their lives. This shows Ahmed takes it upon himself to bring about change within his surroundings, he not only brings about useful ideas, but implements and executes them with minimal supervision, all this as a volunteer.
October 2010
Mohamed is currently attending a student at a local college. He has been part of Somali Youth United for the past three years. He volunteers his time to help our young community members achieve a level of unity that he so vividly remembers back in Somalia. We would like to take this time to honor Mohamed as our youth hero of the month for his volunteer and assistance in ensuring that every Somali Youth United project is a success. He takes the time to commute one hour from orange county to assist our community members whenever he is called upon without any hesitation, and for that we are greatly appeased for his loyalty and assistance. Thank You Mohamed, and we look forward to working with you on our future endeavors.
September 2010
Samira has been nominated for the youth hero of this month for demonstrating the proper attributes of good character and ability to encourage self expression from the community from the elders to the young generation of middle and high school students. She has been working with Somali Youth United for the past few months, and we have been grateful for her assistance in continuing to provide an an venue of hope and pride for the young female and male generation in our community. Thank You Samira, and we hope to continue to grow with you in pursing a meaningful life of giving back your time and efforts to those in need in the community.
August 2010
Mar wa is currently a freshmen at a local San Diego high school, she has been involved with Somali Youth United for the past 8 months. In that time span, Mar wa has allowed us the opportunity to gaze into her pure love for her home country. She has been a keen note speaker about the unity and peace the homeland Somalia one day holds for the people, through her poems and scholarship essay, Somali Youth United is proud to be working with someone who can invoke some much passion at such a young age, and do it with grace and respect. Somali Youth United would like to thank Marwa for being part of it fabric of being, it is youth like her that gives Somalia hope for the future. Marwa is being nominated for the youth of the month for powerful ability to convey so much through her poems, and ability to share and inspire Somali Youth United to achieve more everyday.
July 2010
Nimeo is currently a student at San Diego City College. She is pursing a career in political science. Nimeo has been involved with Somali Youth United for the past four years, and in that time span has been one of the most outspoken articulate young females in our organization. She understands the importance of standing up for what she believes in regardless of the public paranoia that many speak of. Somali Youth United is honored to know and work with Nimeo as she pursues her career in college and in life. At our most recent 6th Annual Somali American Cultural Fest, Nimeo spoke her mind when she said, "Unity, Peace, & Prosperity in Somalia starts here in our back yards, it starts now, it starts with us. We need to step up as one people, as one nation, and end tribalism, end hate, and lets end division. " She speaks like this as she is draped in our traditional Somalian outfit, one can not ignore the pride and hope Nimeo embodies for the Somali Community here in San Diego and back home. Somali Youth United would like to say Thank You Nimeo.
June 2010
Mohamed is currently a student at san diego community college. He has been involved with Somali Youth United for the past 3 years. Mohamed exudes a high level of nationalistic pride and a civic duty to be inv loved in the progression of Somali to one day rise from the ashes of warfare to peace and unity. Mohamed is an outgoing gentleman who can relate to our youth, and has single handily recruited many of the young Somali Youth United active community members we have today. Somali Youth United is proud to have Kamil represent us for June as our Youth Hero of the Month. He is reliable, patient and has an uncannily ability to motivate you to do better, to do more, to aspire one to get involved and represent. Somali Youth United Salutes you Mohamed, Thank You.
May 2010
Hodan is student at Grossmount Community College. She has been involved with Somali Youth United for the past six months and in that time span has proven to be a great asset. Hodan is skilled at problem solving and connecting the dots to complex social barriers that hinders our Somali community members from excelling to a more harmonious level of peace and understanding. She embodies the future of our youth, she is able to connect with our young generation as well as traditional conservative elders. Somali Youth United would like to take this time to thank Hodan for her loyal support and sparkling energy reflective of the infinite possibilities that our youth can achieve in Unity, peace and prosperity. Hodan is the Somali Youth United hero for her problem solving, teamwork oriented and positive attitude. Thank You Hodan.
April 2010
Kafey is senior at San Diego State University.She is attending college to purse a path in mentoring and helping our youth. Somali Youth United is mesmerized with her efficiency in getting things done. She has been with Somali Youth United since 2004, and in that time, she has help shape Somali Youth United to what it is now. She believes in the organization, and has never questioned any task. Kafey is an inspiration to her peers and to our community as a whole. We thank Kafey for your unconditional loyalty to Somali Youth United. We nominate her as the youth hero of the month, due to her character. She embodies a sense of pride in her culture, and is always eager to motivate our youth to do better, and reach higher, she inspires teamwork, she values education and she is a Somali Youth United Youth Hero of the month. Thank You Kafey.
March 2010
Muna, a student, Crawford High, is an outspoken Somali Youth United youth ambassador leader. She takes it upon herself to assist her peers and fellow community members. Muna has been involved with Somali Youth United for the past two years, and within that time frame, SYU can attest to her unmatched dedication to empower the Somali community to stand up for something as one nation and one people. It is with great honor that we take this moment to thank Muna for her involvement with SYU and for being part of the greater cause of unity , peace & prosperity within our community.
February 2010
Ayan, is current student at Mesa college. Ayan is known for her sincere efforts in being the go to person. She takes it upon herself to help people she comes across. She is always eager to lend a hand to friends and family members and community members without being asked to. She has been part of Somali Youth United for few years now, and has truly blessed SYU with her presence. Ayan is the Somali Youth United Youth Hero of the month for dedication to community service and assistance to Somali Youth United efforts. Please be sure to thank Ayan for making our community a better place by helping a person in need one day at time.
January 2010
Mulki, is currently a senior at Crawford High School, San Diego, CA. Mulki exudes confidence in everything she does. Mulki was involved in the inception of Somali Youth United since 2004, in the past six years, Somali Youth United has been blessed to have her be part of the team. Being raised in Somali, she recalls the joy of playing with her peers during her childhood. She feels that Somali Youth United gives her the opportunity to connect to her past in Somali, as well mentor young teens in her community for the future. Mulki is being honored by Somali Youth United as Youth of the Month, for her compassion to unite the somali community members as one nation, one people for a better tomorrow. Mulki aspires to continue her community service to the san diego community as she prepares to apply for college to continue her education and cultural understanding of life. It is people like Mulki that are the future of Somali, she is one more hope for peace, unity and prosperity for the Somali community, and global community.
December 2009
Ahmed Ahmed, is an aspiring biology student. Raised in Somali, Ahmed knows first hand the complex journey to higher education. Ahmed is being honored by the Somali Youth United as Youth of the Month , for his sincere effort to engage Somali college students at San Diego State University to get involved and untie as one people. He is sincere about his efforts, always smiling and encourages his peers to flourish and work together. Being one the co-founders and current president of the Somali Student Council at San Diego State University, Ahmed envisions a campus in which the Somali college students can mingle and work together to achieve a new level of bondship. As an easily approachable president, feel free to express a since of gratitude to Ahmed, for his efforts to unite the people of Somali.
Somali Youth United Hero of the Month
November 2010
Carlos Pelayo has been a tremendous help to Somali Youth United, and its growth. He has volunteered his time and creative thinking for the past few years. We our honored to nominate him for the hero of the month. He is man of character, he cares and enjoys aspiring the youth in the community to work together and keep the dream alive. Thank You Carlos for your sincere efforts in making our community a better place.
Carlos Pelayo has over forty years of activism in service to the community. As co-founder and director of Peace and Dignity Project/Proyecto Paz y Dignidad, he works to promote spiritual and cultural traditions within tribal communities. Through this organization, a Kumeyaay Children’s Shelter, Wa’Talus Kuatei, in Tecate, Baja California, Mexico, was established to provide a safe home for Kumeyaay children neglected by parents that have become victims to substance abuse. Carlos works as a Chicano activist to empower the people to organize, educate, and activate to have control in their communities and lives to affect positive change for themselves and future generations. His work in fostering intercommunity dialogue contributes to the celebration of our common humanity.
October 2010
Maslah is currently the program director at the Neighborhood Unity Foundation in San Diego,CA. Maslah is being honored for Somali Community Hero of the month by Somali Youth United for his unmeasured contribution to the San Diego community. He has mentored and has guided thousands of high school students from Morse high school to reach for the stars, and stay away from negative influence when he was working there. He attends local Somali Youth United events and encourages and advises our youth to believe in themselves, through his candor and charms tic demeanor , it is obvious to see why Maslah is local community Hero. He embodies hope, and ambition to unite the somali community to become an active Somali american citizens within the San Diego community. Thank You Maslah for making our community a better place to live through your actions and words.
September 2010
Somali Youth United has been working with Rahmo since 2004. She been an important part of this organization from inception, with her brilliant assistance and enriched grasp of the community, Somali Youth United quickly developed a keen relationship with the community, mostly due to her influence. It is with great honor to nominate Rahmo Abdi as this month's hero of the month . She has been nominated for not only for the extraordinary level of assistance that she has provide to Somali Youth United from day one, but mostly for her ogling work of being a critical voice of the community as a whole. She speaks not just for herself, but represents a refugee community of many diverse east african cultures and dialogues. Rhamo is proficient in four east african languages, and implements them in her work and community volunteer services on a daily basis. She provides a bridging point between communities without the cultural stigma and borders that exist. She is a voice of hope and change for the community. Rahmo Abdi, is a community organizer at Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation.
August 2010
Somali Youth United has been working with Lissette for the past few years, and within that time frame, we can say without hesitation that Somali Youth United is greatly in debt for her scarifies and willingness to assist us in always excelling to new levels of community involvement. Thank You ,Lissette for believing in Somali Youth United, when we were merely a vision, and it is with sincere help and leap of faith bestowed upon us by fellow community members like yourself that we can proudly take this time to nominate you as the Somali Community Hero of the month on behalf of the San Diego Somali Community.
Lisette Islas is the Director of Community Organizing for the Jacobs Center for Neighborhood Innovation. Lisette has been with JCNI for over ten years and has 15 years of experience in community development and action research organizations. The focus of Ms. Islas’ work is on creating community- and capacity-building strategies. She co-developed and manages the Neighborhood Coordinators Program, an innovative approach to equip residents of a
community with the tools they need to strengthen and improve their neighborhoods. The Neighborhood Coordinators receive training in community building, organizing their neighbors to define and address community concerns. For these efforts, she received an official commendation from the City of San Diego in 2004. Ms. Islas leads the community arts program, which brings residents and artists together to design and create a collection of public art works for the neighborhoods of southeastern San Diego. Lisette has facilitated teams and artists to create the public art at Market Creek Plaza and the Joe & Vi Jacobs Center. She has worked with the Amphitheater Team since its inception, and has lead the Team in creating a year-long multicultural entertainment series of which the Arts & Culture Fest is the signature event. She also works with residents to establish the Neighborhood Unity Foundation (NUF), the first foundation in the country designed and governed by residents to serve and Support philanthropic efforts in their community. Lisette is a graduate of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) with a Master’s degree in urban planning.
July 2010
Somali Youth United has been privileged to know and work with Bonnie Copland for the past few years. She is worthy of this recognition, for her outstanding dedication to helping people in need of guidance and direction to succeed in life. Thank You Bonnie Copland for all you have done for our community.
Bonnie Copland has worked for The County of San Diego since 2001. Before managing Central Region PHC, She worked as a Generalist Public Health Nurse in El Cajon, much of that time at the Little House Family Services. Prior to joining The County of San Diego she worked at Children’s Hospital, now know as Rady Children’s, for 10 years, 7 of them in the emergency department.
"I selected this field of work because I am passionate about ensuring women and children have opportunities to be physically and mentally healthy. I believe that many children are growing up without positive interactions with their mothers and families. By intervening early with a family, Public Health Nurses have opportunities to make a difference and help change the trajectory of lives. I also enjoy working in the Central Region of San Diego because of the multi-cultural neighborhoods that bring richness to the community. My hobby is hiking and enjoying the stillness and beauty of the great outdoors, particularly the Eastern Sierras in California. I also love to read."
June 2010
Somali Youth United is honored to know and work with Peter Zschiesche, his dedication to community service is unmatched in the san diego community. Thank You Peter Zschiesche for all you do for our community.
Peter Zschiesche is the Founding Director of the Employee Rights Center, a non-profit program of Labor’s Training & Community Development Alliance, that provides all workers, especially disadvantaged and unrepresented workers, with education and advocacy regarding their workplace issues, including immigration status. Since 1999 the Center has been training law student volunteers to be advocates for workers combating wage theft, securing unemployment insurance benefits, and providing greater access to health care using their workplace benefits. These volunteers provide over 10,000 hours yearly to our low-income immigrant communities in need of legal assistance.
Peter has a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Bucknell University and an M.B.A from the University of Michigan. He served as an U.S. Army officer from 1967-1969. Since 2002 Peter has served as an elected Trustee of the San Diego Community College Board, representing San Diego’s urban core neighborhoods that are home to recent immigrants. Peter has won several local service awards, recently including “Voices for Justice” award from San Diego’s Interfaith Committee for Worker Justice (2007) “Visionary” award from the Cesar E. Chavez Commemorative Committee (2009). He is married to Pamela Clark, a “semi-retired” elementary school teacher at Promise Charter School.
May 2010
Shurki is certified Nurse in San Diego, California. Shukri has been involved with Somali Youth United for few months, within that time frame, she has educated and empowered hundreds of Somali girls through our woman's Health Seminars. She has taken it upon herself to ensure that our young generation of females have the knowledge to take of themselves and their family members as it pertains to women's health issues ranging from reproductive issues to dieting and exercise. Somali Youth United would like to take this time to thank Shukri for her outstanding dedication to helping our community members to enrich their lives for the better. She is proficient is both the english and the somali language, making it easier for the Somali parents to ask her questions in the Somali dialect, and she can easily convey her knowledge to anyone that dares to learn something. Thank You Shurki.
April 2010
Dr. Carol Wayman, Engineer, San Diego, CA, has been involved with Somali Youth United for the past six years. Mr. Wayman believes that our youth represent our roots in this world, and through proper nourishment and guidance that one day they will grow and prosper to provide a shade of peace amongst our community. He is has been our backbone of success through the years, SYU will forever be in debt for his support and loyalty for believing in the Somali Youth United cause. Somali Youth United Salutes you Dr. Carol Wayman for your outstanding dedication to the Somali youth community . Thank You.
March 2010
Aster Keleta, currently works at Mirmar college in San Diego, CA. Aster has been involved with Somali Youth United since 2004. Aster is known for her brilliant methods in engage the youth into being a productive thoughtful minds through various activities. She believes that our youth and community members have the answers to our most difficult problems facing mankind, and through proper nurturing, and guidance everyone can share their productive thoughts, resulting in positive collaboration effort.
Through the years, Aster has been an advocate for people from Africa, Asia, Europe and the US. she has received the "progressive Activist of the Year award by citizens Action in 1999 and the "International Living Legacy" award by women's International center in 2003 for her outstanding community service. Aster has a wealth of experience working with refugee and immigrant communities in various capacities locally, nationally and internationally. she holds a Bachelor in business from Huron University and a Masters in education from SDSU.
Aster sees a world in which our youth can only flourish through self expression, and that she is fortunate to have the opportunity to work with Somali Youth United, in reaching out to the youth community in San Diego, regardless of background, age, and lifestyle. Somali Youth United president, Abdisalam Farah, says "Aster has been a vital part of Somali Youth United's effort in reaching out to the community, she is what a community leader is all about. She cares about our community youth, women, and children, and anyone who has been fortunate to have been in her presence can see that." Somali Youth United would like to salute Aster as Hero of the Month.
January 2010
Pat Calloway is currently the Housing Director of Price Charities for the San Diego. Somali Youth United is honored to select her for the hero of the month. Calloway is being honored for her support and dedication to advance and help the Somali community. She has been involved with Somali Youth United since 2004, and is vital to the success of bringing together the san diego community members to achieve unity, peace and prosperity for all. She has tutored, mentored and also has judged essay scholarship contest for the Somali youth. Somali Youth United salutes Pat Calloway for her dedication.
January 2010
Jesse Mills, Ph.D. Assistant Professor, Ethnic Studies at University of San Diego, is a huge supporter of the Somali Community. Mills has dedicated himself to assisting immigrants from the Somali community since 1999. He is dedication to helping others is superbly unmatched. Mills has taught English Second Language course to Somali women, and collaborated with the International Rescue Committee to tutor and mentored elementary school Somali children in 2000. He was one of the judges that graded the scholarship essays written for the Somali Youth Scholarship contest in November 2009.
Abdisalam Farah president of Somali Youth United said " The Somali Community will forever be in debt to Jesse Mills for his uncannily, unnerving, and graceful support to educate and uplift the Somali people in San Diego. Mills truly is a man of great character, that takes it upon himself to help everyone he encounters to express their true character."
Somali Youth United is honored to award Jesse Mills the Somali Youth United Hero of the Month, a distinction given to individuals who are said to be Sons of Somali through the eyes of the Somali Community.
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