Afrikan Post
Ilhan Omar, Somali-American, Seeks Seat in Congress
Ilhan Omar is a Somali-American politician who escaped from Somalia as a child, grew up in a Kenyan refugee camp, and later immigrated to Minnesota.
Years after immigrating, she became the nation’s first and only Somali-American lawmaker when she won a seat in the Minnesota House of Representatives. Now, she is ready to become the first Somali-American member of Congress. Aside from the hate she receives, she also has gained a lot of support, especially from other minorities, because of her commitment to public service and to hopefully serve as a voice to fight against Donald Trump’s travel ban.
“My success is not only for me, but for every Somali, Muslim and minority group, particularly the young girls in the Dadaab refugee camp, where I lived before coming to the U.S.,” Omar told the Daily Nation.
The withdrawal of Democratic Rep. Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to the U.S. Congress, from seeking a re-election bid was what prompted Omar to run. She is confident in winning, and on Aug. 14, an election will take place to choose the Democratic Party’s nominee for the seat.
“I have proven myself to be someone who shows up, takes on the hard fight and delivers, and I am ready to do that for the people of the 5th Congressional District,” Omar said.
Whether or not Omar wins, she is continuing to break barriers and remain a role model for women and people of color. Montana Couser
Source: https://www.theroot.com:
June
2018
Page 5
Chef Francis Otoo presents Embassy Chef Challenge Awards to Ambassador Adjei-Barwuah
Executive Chef Francis Otoo has presented his double-silver trophies won at the 10th-anniversary edition of the annual Embassy Chef Challenge to Ambassador Barfour Adjei-Barwuah, Ghana’s Ambassador to the United States.
Chef Francis Otoo made the presentation at the Embassy of Ghana in Washington, DC, barely a week after he won second-place prizes in the categories of the jury and public choices awards for cooking lamb Jollof as he represented Ghana at the Embassy Chef Challenge on May 17, 2018. This year’s event was the fifth time the Chef represented Ghana at the culinary competition.
While admiring the trophy, Ambassador Adjei-Barwuah in the company of embassy personnel said to Chef Otoo: “Your commitment to lifting high the flag of Ghana over the years as an Executive Chef is greatly appreciated and has eventually brought you this remarkable milestone.”
A letter of appreciation from the embassy signed by the Ambassador in part read, “We wish you every success in all your endeavors and pray for the good Lord’s continuous blessing on you and your family.” Chef Otoo said to TheAfricanDream.net that the letter was indeed a pleasant surprise.
He thanked the Ambassador and entire embassy staff for their support over the past half-decade when he began competing at the Embassy Chef Challenge and said outside the meeting to TheAfricanDream.net,
” I also want to thank everyone at Events DC and The Culinary project, TCMA, Cultural DC, and all who put this great event together as well as all who have supported me.
” Both the Judges’ Choice and People’s Choice first place awards at this year’s Embassy Chef Challenge was won by Chef Sincioco-Mateo of the Embassy of the Philippines in Washington, DC, but Chef Otoo’s second place awards ensured that Africa was well represented on the medals table.
Find the multi-award-winning US-based Ghanaian Chef on Twitter as @cheffrancisotoo to catch up with what’s latest with him, he is also on Facebook by his name. Written by Oral Ofori