Black History Month Blog Series: Zainab Mohamoud

Feb 15, 2024
Zanaib stands in front of a large rock formation, wearing a flowered dress and yellow jacket.

Meet Zainab Mohamoud (she/her), an alum who completed her Social Work Diploma in 2012 and the collaborative program with U of C majoring in Sociology in 2019. This knowledge prepared her to make a difference in marginalized communities for generations.

"As a role model for many Black community members, I ensure that everything I do daily exudes Black Excellence while focusing on how to do better than yesterday. I am proud of my achievements and Black background, and it is my pleasure to actively represent myself and the community in an empowered, positive light. My passions and gifts drive me to focus on people, humanity, the environment, justice, equal rights, advocacy, and doing the right things when no one is watching.

In order to help women and their families, I obtained a Social Work Diploma through RDP. Afterwards, I was hired by the Central Alberta Immigrant Women Association. In addition, I founded the Education for Somali Girls and Boys Foundation, which built a school in Somalia (2015) with over 100 students enrolled and raised funds across North America to pay teachers' salaries so that children can attend school without fees.

I am one of the current Executive Directors and founders of the African Caribbean Centre of Central Alberta. And in 2023, we successfully organized our 1st Afro-Caribbean Festival with over 5,000 attendees. I was moved when I heard how joyful the Black community felt. They said they never thought this festival could be possible in their lifetime in Red Deer. This festival celebrated Black culture, food, entertainment, clothes, art, and heritage performers in Red Deer. We are excited about organizing our 2nd Afro Caribbean Festival on Aug 17 and 18, 2024.

The ACCoCA has supported over 30 foreign workers impacted by layoffs and closed work permits by working with immigration lawyers and advocating for them with all levels of government to support the process. We are helping them with clothes, food, fee assistance cards, social gathering space, employment training, job search, and more.

I invite everyone to check out our events and festivals throughout the year on our website www.accoca.ca."

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Meet Rys-Ann (she/her), a proud graduate of the Social Work Program in 2020. Rys-Ann is from Jamaica, where she lived for 17 years. She then migrated to Canada in 2014 to attend Red Deer Polytechnic. "When I hear Black Excellence, I think about achievements by people of colour being highlighted and negative stereotypes being challenged. Black Excellence speaks volumes and represents the triumph and talents of people of colour. One prominently defining moment in Black History that I am proud of is the establishment of Historically Black Colleges and Universities in the early 1800s in the USA. Historically, people of colour were denied admission into post-secondary institutions. So, these Black Colleges allowed people of colour to be in safe/welcoming spaces while having minds nurtured and educated by people who shared the same experiences. When I think about this accomplishment, I am reminded of the courageousness in pursuing social justice and the right to education with the resilience to overcome racial injustices. I have experienced barriers of racism and discrimination in my journey. Despite that, I continue to be proud of who I am and what I have accomplished by earning my place in Social Work. My commitment is to walk