About Me

I first moved to North Minneapolis when I was 12. My mother brought me and my siblings to Minnesota in search of a better life. We found it. That’s not to say it was easy. My mother raised us on her own. We didn’t have much money, and programs like Section 8 and food stamps provided a much-needed lifeline. From an early age, my mother taught me the importance of civic engagement. She never let a single election day go by without reminding us that people died for our right to vote. I owe my passion for politics to my mother.

In 2017, I ran for Minneapolis Park Board. It was an incredible honor to serve the people of Minneapolis in this role, and it was a very tough decision to leave my seat on the Park Board. That said, I am proud of my accomplishments on the Board. During my tenure as chair of the Intergovernmental and Legislative Committee, I worked with other elected officials and Northside community members to secure $5 million in funding for North Commons and an additional $3 million for the 26th Avenue North trail connection. I spearheaded the creation of the Walt Dziedzic Innovation Fund which fosters thoughtful, innovative recreation programs in Minneapolis Parks. The fund prioritizes programs serving the Somali community, girls and young women (aged 21 and younger), children or teens (aged 17 and under), and adults (aged 55 and older).

Today, I live in Ward 4 and my mother, brother, and sister still live in North Minneapolis. My nieces and nephews also live close by. Being an Auntie is one of my favorite things in the world. I also enjoy gardening, seeing the city on my scooter, traveling, and taking advantage of all the amenities our beautiful city has to offer. My story in Minneapolis is just getting started and I can’t wait for what is to come and watch our city grow and strengthen for together we can make Minneapolis soar!

I paid my way through school by working a variety of jobs like food service and assembly line. I was the first member of my family to graduate from college. Twenty years ago, I decided that I wanted to pursue my passion for public service. I left the corporate world, and started working in community health. I worked in North Minneapolis at NorthPoint Health & Wellness, Inc. for15 years. I served as the Director of Health Policy and Advocacy. In this role, I brought together coalitions of hundreds of community members and young people to push for real public health policy change at the state and local level.

In 2021, I had the honor of Ward 4 residents electing me to represent them on the City Council. It has been the most challenging and the most rewarding experience. Getting to come to City Hall to advocate for the Northside’s needs is what gets me up in the morning every day. I am proud of what I have been able to accomplish and the relationships I’ve made in the time I’ve been in office. I have been able to bring millions of dollars of investment to the Northside from local, state, federal, and private partners for improved infrastructure, public safety, and economic opportunities. It has been an honor of my lifetime to represent Ward 4 at City Hall and I have not been able to do it without you.