By Taiwo AKINLAMI

On Saturday, January 13, 2024, Kawther Hersi Musa, a woman renowned for her community-driven initiatives and compassionate actions, officially launched her campaign at 3634 Soldana Boulevard, Columbus, Ohio. She is contesting for the position of representative for Ohio House District 6 under the Democratic Party’s banner.

The campaign kickoff event was graced by notable community leaders, elected officials, and representatives from diverse communities such as Somali, Asian, Haitian, Nigerian, Cameroonian, Afghan, and others. Among the attendees were Rep. Ismail Mohamed of Ohio House District 3 and Christina Vera, the president of the Columbus City Schools Board of Education.

The event was skillfully hosted by respected community leader, Imran Malik Awan. He rallied attendees to support Musa’s campaign, emphasizing that their financial contributions should be viewed as an investment in the values and ideals she represents.

The election is slated for March 17, with early voting set to commence on February 21.

During the event, Musa addressed all attendees in both English and Somali. She expressed gratitude for their support and presence, despite the cold afternoon weather. She also thanked the community leaders who endorsed her candidacy with their speeches at the campaign launch. Musa highlighted her manifesto’s key points, which include improving access to healthcare and enhancing the quality of education. She appealed to all attendees to contribute their time and finances as volunteers and encouraged them to exercise their voting rights.

Musa brings a wealth of experience in community engagement to the race. She holds a master’s degree in health science, specializing in Human Nutrition, a bachelor’s degree in food and nutrition, and a diploma in Pharmaceutical Drugs. She is a registered Community Health worker in Ohio and has previously worked with the CelebrateOne Community Connector.

In 2018, Musa was accepted as a Nisonger Center Diversity Fellow at Ohio State University and worked as a research assistant with Ohio State University’s Somali Integration USA. As a community activist, she led the organization of the Somali National Day in 2018 and participated in fundraising efforts to support victims of the Sobe bombing in Mogadishu, Somalia, and the flood victims in Qardho, Somalia.

Musa graduated from the New American Leadership Academy in 2019, a program focused on civic engagement for New American residents. Since February 2019, she has been a member of the Franklin County Sheriff’s Advisory Council.

Currently, Musa works with the Heart of Ohio Family Health Center as a Program Coordinator and volunteers as a community lay-leader for Islamic Trauma Healing, a mental health intervention for Somali refugees, in partnership with Case Western Reserve University. Fluent in Somali, Arabic, and English, Musa serves as a Federally Certified Health Care Navigator at UHCAN Ohio. Her diverse experiences and commitment to community service make her a strong candidate for Ohio House District 6.

Support the New Americans magazine to continue to serve our community with precise news that affect the new American, immigrant and refugee community. https://paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=8LHFS78NRNJJY&source=url