Fatoun Ali is a leader, entrepreneur, and community advocate. She is the Founder and Executive Director of the Somali Youth and Family Development Center and the owner of Hayat Properties. An author, mentor, and coach, she empowers individuals to achieve their goals. Above all, she is a dedicated mother of four, balancing her passion for community development with her family life.

Mohamed Ibrahim is an attorney who practices business litigation, professional liability, product liability, and complex torts. He also serves as President of the Somali American Bar Association.

Mohamed is a 2024 graduate of the University of St. Thomas School of Law, where he served as Publications Editor for the Journal of Law and Public Policy, competed nationally in trial advocacy, and was a semifinalist in the 2024 Midwest Constance Baker Motley Mock Trial Competition. Prior to law school, Mohamed worked at the Mayo Clinic as a Senior Program Coordinator, where he co-authored a published medical article and received a departmental innovation award. He later served as Deputy Director of CAIR-MN. He holds a bachelor’s degree in political science from Augsburg University.

Malika Dahir is the Executive Director of Reviving Sisterhood, where she leads efforts to amplify Muslim women’s voices through advocacy, leadership development, and storytelling. She is a bridge-builder and organizer whose work spans gendered Islamophobia, educational equity, civic engagement, and confronting anti-Blackness. Grounded in a collaborative approach, she focuses on creating spaces where Muslim women can develop leadership, challenge systemic barriers, and strengthen collective power.

During Operation Metro Surge, Malika helped coordinate community response efforts supporting immigrant families and small businesses impacted by enforcement actions. Her work centers on building community resilience, advancing equity, and strengthening partnerships that support immigrant communities across the Twin Cities.

Mahad Ahmed is a Youth Program Coordinator, community organizer, and dedicated leader committed to empowering young people and strengthening communities. He is a founding member of Cedar Riverside Alliance, where he works alongside community partners to create opportunities and advocate for neighborhood growth.

Yusra Mohamud is the Founder & CEO of Yuspire, a brand strategy and business development/management firm dedicated to building generational wealth for small businesses. With over a decade of experience in economic development, she combines strategic advising with sharp policy advocacy and lobbying expertise. She currently serves as Campaign Manager for Betting On US, a purpose-driven non-profit organizing leaders, institutions, and communities to drive lasting economic and civic transformation across America. She also hosts the Eat and Talk MN Podcast.

Yusra brings a rare combination of deep cultural roots and a gift for storytelling that transforms corridors into living narratives of resilience, identity, and belonging. Yusra's work is rooted in the belief that economic power belongs in the hands of the communities who have been building it all along.

Dr. Mohamed Ahmed is a higher education executive, public policy professional, and global affairs leader whose work spans higher education, public policy, national and international security. He has held leadership roles across higher education, government, and nonprofit sectors, advancing initiatives that strengthen institutions, foster strategic partnerships, and address complex domestic and global challenges. His work is driven by a commitment to leadership, public service, and advancing solutions that promote opportunity, resilience, and human dignity. Dr. Ahmed earned his Ph.D. in Higher Education Leadership from Old Dominion University, his Master of Arts in Postsecondary Educational Leadership and his Bachelor of Arts in International Security and Conflict Resolution from San Diego State University.

Imam Abdulle currently serves as the Executive Director of the Islamic Association of North America (IANA). His distinguished career includes serving as the resident Imam at the Boston Islamic Center for over a decade and as the former Executive Director of the Humanitarian African Relief Organization (HARO).

Iqra Salah is a multimedia journalist, with bylines at Al Jazeera, BBC, CNN, the Pulitzer Center, and War on the Rocks, among others. She is a graduate of UC Berkeley's Graduate School of Journalism and is currently the host of IQ Index, a new podcast and video brand covering East African politics and the Minneapolis-to-East Africa diaspora pipeline.

Abdirizak Diis is an educator with Minneapolis Public Schools, a 2023 Bush Fellow, and the creator of the nation's first Somali Ethnic Studies curriculum. His work focuses on educational equity, culturally responsive teaching, and ensuring that immigrant students and families see themselves reflected in the classroom. Drawing from both lived experience and decades in education, he works to strengthen student achievement, elevate immigrant voices, and build systems that create opportunity for future generations.

Sacad Guled  is an entrepreneur, angel investor, and founder of Guled Ventures. He leads multiple businesses and a youth mentoring nonprofit, with a passion for business, leadership, and community impact.

Nasra Mohamed-Salah is the founder of HERD Impact, creator of the Health Care Is Housing model, host of Herd Talk, and a community advocate advancing policies that connect housing, health, and economic resilience.

Abdirahman is a respected community leader, nonprofit founder, and youth development professional with more than 20 years of experience serving communities through government, nonprofit, and professional sports organizations. He is the founder of Daryeel Youth, Tusmo Times Media, and Tusmo Connects.

Throughout his career, Abdirahman has held leadership and service roles with the City of Minneapolis, Hennepin County, and a professional soccer organization, where he has developed and implemented programs that create meaningful opportunities for young people and families. His diverse experience across public, nonprofit, and private sectors has equipped him with a unique ability to build strategic partnerships, lead high-impact initiatives, and deliver community-centered solutions.

Abdirahman is passionate about designing responsive, high-quality services that meet the evolving needs of youth and families while earning the trust and support of the communities they serve. His work has focused on youth development, community engagement, mentorship, violence prevention, workforce development, and family well-being.

A proud Somali American, father of five, and dedicated youth mentor, Abdirahman is committed to empowering the next generation of leaders. He is widely recognized for his integrity, collaborative leadership style, and unwavering dedication to strengthening communities and creating pathways for success.

Dr. Nadira Mohamed, PharmD, CPP, is a public health leader, pharmacist, and Certified Prevention Professional with 10+ years of experience advancing innovative approaches to substance use prevention, behavioral health, and community well-being. She is known for building strategic partnerships across healthcare, public safety, education, local government, and community organizations to develop sustainable solutions that address the root causes of today’s most pressing public health challenges. As a bilingual Somali American leader, Dr. Mohamed believes lasting public health impact is achieved through cross-sector collaboration that strengthens protective factors, advances policy and systems change, and creates communities where individuals, families, and future generations can thrive.

Mukhtar Abdulle is an educator and community leader dedicated to empowering youth through education, mentorship, and faith-based leadership. He serves in a public charter school and is the Co-Founder and Executive Director of Al Furaat Institute, where he leads initiatives that promote educational excellence, strengthen families, and equip young people to become compassionate, principled leaders who make a positive impact in their communities.

Farhia Budul is a recovery advocate and Licensed Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LADC). As a woman in long term recovery and a justice impacted individual, she understands the trauma associated with untreated substance use disorders and mental health challenges. Her lived experience fuels her passion for reducing stigma, advancing recovery, and creating pathways to healing for individuals and communities.

Farhia serves as a Community Engagement Specialist with the City of Minneapolis, where she works to strengthen relationships and build trust with diverse communities. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Human Services and Addiction Counseling and a Master’s degree in Advocacy and Political Leadership from Metropolitan State University.

As a 2023 Bush Fellow, she has strengthened the Recovery Oriented Systems of Care (ROSC) framework by adapting it to meet the cultural needs of her community through culturally specific outreach, education, and awareness. She has also shared her recovery story around the world to let others know that recovery is possible.