Abdi Abdi, Executive Director of the Somali Bantu Association of Tucson, Arizona (SBATA), is connecting communities and creating partnerships in a way that has caught the attention of community organizations and Tucson, Arizona at large.  In late 2009 he was honored as one of Tucson’s Top 40 Leaders Under 40.

 In 2003, at the age of 23, Abdi arrived in the United States as a refugee. He learned English while attending school in Kenya after fleeing his native Somalia.  Within 24 hours of his arrival in the US, Abdi set up English classes from the living room of his apartment.  When asked why, at such a turbulent moment in his life he chose to set up these classes, he simply stated, “It was an immediate need of the Somali Bantu community and I was motivated to share my knowledge.” 

Abdi began working for Jewish Family and Children’s Services and enrolled in college. Upon obtaining his Associate’s degree in 2004, he formed the Somali Bantu Association of Tucson Arizona.  Abdi’s work has revolved around strengthening the Somali Bantu community in Tucson and creating partnerships with the greater Tucson community to generate opportunities and strengthen awareness about refugee issues.

Currently, Abdi is working to strengthen his own organization as well as assisting other Somali Bantu leaders in the U.S. looking to create their own nonprofits.  When asked what he saw as the most important tasks of SBATA, Abdi replied, “… assisting all members of the community to gain citizenship and promoting education for youth, with a particular focus on university attendance.”  SBATA is well known in Tucson for reaching both the mainstream and refugee communities as well as having a profound understanding of community issues and responding to those issues in a culturally appropriate manner.  SBATA also focuses on building strong relationships with local government and law enforcement so that they understand the needs and traditions of refugee populations, as well as how these populations can best assimilate into their new communities.

Abdi says he is happy and proud to be recognized as one of Tucson’s Top 40 Under 40 amongst hundreds of leaders in the city.  For his community, he hopes that he embodies what hard work and perseverance can do and that he can be a role model for up-and-coming leaders.  He also hopes that his work clearly illustrates that refugees can be positive contributors to their communities.

Abdi Abdi, who currently resides in Tuscon, Arizona with his wife and two children, is proud of SBATA and the Somali Bantu community at large. Project SOAR congratulates Abdi and SBATA on their achievements. For more information on the Somali Bantu Association of Tucson, visit their website www.sbata.org.