Haki Community News
Supporting, encouraging, and promoting East African immigrants.
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Haki Community News
Supporting, encouraging, and promoting East African immigrants.
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Contact
Southwest Neighborhoods: West Portland’s HAKI Community Organization
MARCH 2024
Thank you Southwest Neighborhoods, Inc. for publishing our story (page 9 & 10) about HAKI Community Organization! And many thanks to Metro for funding the Holly Park Multicultural Fair!
You can read the article here.
Metro News: HAKI multicultural fair raises support for a permanent multicultural center
FEBRUARY 13, 2024
An article by Maia Wiseman for Metro News.
“HAKI multicultural fair celebrates diversity and raises support for a permanent multicultural center in Southwest Portland”.
Our First Multicultural Fair Was a Great Success
October 7, 2023
We had such an amazing time at our first Multicultural Fair at Holly Park as hundreds of attendees came to enjoy food, vendors, and art performances from communities representing a multitude of cultures from around the world.
We give special thanks to Metro for our funding and to Multnomah County Library for providing space. And thank you so much to all of our amazing vendors and artists that made this a successful first event.
At HAKI, we play an essential role by bridging communities together and encouranging safe and fun spaces for cultures to interact and celebrate. We are excited for opportunities to put this event on again next year.
Check out this article from Metro News.
HAKI Presents at Planning & Sustainability Commission
november 16, 2021
This past October, HAKI Founder Mohamed Bahamadi spoke at Portland’s Bureau of Planning & Sustainability Commission Panel. He shared HAKI’s vision for the West Portland Town Center as a place that supports the local economy through affordable commercial spaces for BIPOC-owned businesses. He also addressed the panel about the center serving as a multicultural hub with services for people of all ages, such as healthcare, office training and childcare. Play the video to learn more.
HAKI Hosts COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic
September 29, 2021
This Saturday, October 2nd, 2021 HAKI will be hosting a community COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic in partnership with APANO, Community Alliance of Tenants (CAT), Centro Cultural, and Unite Oregon.
Come to HAKI’s office to get a free Pfizer vaccine, no appointment required. Children ages 12-14 will need parent/guardian consent to receive a vaccine. Anyone who gets a vaccine will receive a $100 Visa gift card.
Questions? send us an email
HAKI Partner Feature: AB Cultural Drivers
MAY 10, 2021
In late 2020, HAKI spoke with our partners at AB Cultural Drivers to talk about the work they do with us and the ways they use research to identify and support the needs of marginalized communities.
As experts in research, evaluation, and program development, AB Cultural Drivers specializes in cultural and linguistic adaptation of projects, particularly with Latino communities in the United States and Latin America. We had a blast talking with Principal Nelda Reyes, a bicultural, bilingual (Spanish and English) consultant and cultural advocate. Many thanks to Nelda and AB Cultural Drivers for their incredibly important work!
Read the full interview here
Our community celebrates Ramadhan again this year
April 14, 2021
While the COVID-19 pandemic still effects our community both economically and emotionally, we’re very greatful to have opportunities to celebrate Ramadhan again and be supported by one another.
Our food box program is starting up again now. Please follow updates through our site and on social media to stay up to date on when pickup is available.
We’re so thankful to the support we’ve been able to receive this year and pass along to our community, and we’re thankful for the opportunity to continue growing now in 2021.
February 17, 2021
Reach CDC is currently planning to build over 350 units of affordable housing on Dartmouth Street between 68th and 69th.
In these plans, they are also looking to provide a curbless street to provide a walkable pedestrian oriented festival street on Clinton (intersects the project as shown on the project map).
HAKI Community Organization and our partners at SWEC have been asked to give feedback on the the safety of this project and on opportunities to create a community driven space for greater placemaking and community development in the neighborhood.
There is more information here: Transportation System Plan Update | City of Tigard (tigard-or.gov)
We want to hear feedback from our community members, please help us by filling our the survey below.
Fill out the survey
january 4, 2021
HAKI’s community advocacy was highlighted in the Southwest Connection in a collaborative op-ed with community partners at Unite Oregon, Community Alliance of Tenants, APANO, Neighborhood House, Willamette Partnership, and Tryon Creek Watershed Council. The article discusses our participation in the broader SW Equity Coalition with a particular focus on anti-displacement and community development investments in the town center.
HAKI Featured in Oregon Food Bank’s annual special appeal
October 30, 2020
Some highlights of HAKI Community Organization’s partnership with the Oregon Food Bank were highlighted in this year’s Oregon Harvest Dinner event.
Watch the video here! We are so thankful to have had the opportunity to work with Oregon Food Bank over these past few months and help us provide food boxes to hundreds of families in our community.
video produced for Oregon Harvest Dinner 2020
We support the Library Bond Measure 26-211
October 20, 2020
A letter from founder, Mohamed Salim Bahamadi
As community leader, immigrant and parent I wanted to write in and express my support for the Multnomah County Library bond and the Oregonian’s endorsement of this important measure.
video produced for Vote Yes for Our Libraries
As the founder and director of the HAKI Community Organization, I see everyday how important the library is to my community. Through ESL classes, computer classes and accessible meeting spaces, the Library provides intercultural learning and engagement opportunities for the East African Swahili speaking community to prosper.
I heavily rely on the library for internet access and to host community meetings and training for my small non-profit. But oftentimes, there isn’t enough space for everyone who wants to come and I hate having to turn people away who need us most.
As a parent, I’ve seen how instrumental the library is in teaching my children digital skills. My son for example, volunteered at the library and received a free computer from Free Geek after completing his hours, one he uses today during distance learning.
The Library bond (or Measure 26-211) will ensure communities like mine have the resources and spaces we need, especially as we too work to recover from the COVID-19 Pandemic.
Thank you,
-Mohamed Salim Bahamadi
Founder/ Director, HAKI Community Organization
A conversation with HAKI about SW Equitable Development
October 5, 2020
HAKI Community Receives Funding From City Grants
September 11, 2020
A conversation with HAKI about SW Equitable Development
September 2, 2020
Portland has a history of displacing low-income and black families for city projects and it’s important now to coordinate directly with community leaders, like HAKI, to discuss our perspectives on projects like this and their potential effect on these families.
PDX CARES Care Program for HAKI Community
June 28, 2020
https://www.portland.gov/omf/emergency-coordination-center-ecc-overview
Community Support for our Ramadhan Food Boxes
June 9, 2020
Mohamed Bahamadi spoke with the Portland Bureau of Planning and Sustainability about plans for a multicultural community center, a multicultural hub, the preservation and building of new affordable housing, small businesses owned by minorities, arts and cultures of muslim communities, and maintaining cultural identity.
Watch the video of his segment:
Community Support for our Ramadhan Food Boxes
MAY 20, 2020
Relief for the Mdowa Island Disaster
April 30, 2020
Community Donations for Ramadan
April 20, 2020
Stay Home, Stay Safe, Save Lives.
Many of our community members have been greatly effected by the COVID-19 crisis and have had a difficult time keeping up with regular access to food or have felt unsafe to go to grocery stores. For Ramadhan, we’re working to provide Ramadhan Karim for hundreds of families in Portland. Each package comes with essentials that can be used to feed a whole family for much of the month of Ramadhan.
Family Listening Session
April 15, 2020
In January 2020, a listening session with parents and caregivers was held at the HAKI. This listening session was part of a series of family listening sessions funded by the Preschool Development Grant as a part of a statewide early learning needs assessment. The listening session was co-designed, organized, and hosted by HAKI and AB Cultural Drivers, OSLC Developments, Inc., and Portland State University. The goal of the sessions was to include the perspectives of African immigrant and refugee families, to understand their early learning needs and experiences, and to ultimately inform the development of the state’s early learning plan.
See the full report here in English or in Swahili.
A Perfect Day
July 13, 2019
Another successful community bonding day at the annual Portland International Muslim Cultural Festival! Today’s festival was so much fun, meeting friends, fellow Muslims, community partners, and all the new faces that came with smiles and open arms. And the beaitufl sunshine topped it all off!
June 22, 2019
Over 70 HAKI community members of all ages joined Friends of Tryon Creek and Columbia Land Trust for “Get Outdoors Day.” After welcoming everyone to the Tryon Creek State Natural Area, there were three stations for community members to go through for environmental education facilitated by community translators. To finish the day off, we all joined together to share a delicious homemade meal. We were able to participate thanks to funding from the Community Watershed Stewardship Program through the Bureau of Environmental Services! To learn more, read Tryon Creek Watershed Council’s recent blog post.
SOAR Immigration Legal Services Client Spotlight
August 15, 2018
Mohamed Salim Bahamadi came from Kenya. His mom was Indian and his father from Yemen, but even the cultural diversity of his family and community didn’t prepare him for the culture shock he would experience upon arrival in the U.S. In an interview with Eric Dodson, citizenship instructor at SOAR Immigration Legal Services, Mohamed described what it was like learning that his time for resettlement had come. He says they chose Portland in order to join relatives in the area and to live in a community where he could receive guidance from his family and the great East African community.
Mohamed and his family were resettled through SOAR – Ecumenical Ministries of Oregon in 2012.
Mohamed and his wife Fatma attended English classes and applied for citizenship when the time came. “I felt comfortable coming back to SOAR to ask about citizenship.” Mohamed and Fatma were students in Eric’s class for nearly a year before they became citizens in their judicial naturalization ceremony in Portland, July of 2018.
Mohamed spoke fondly of the support he received from his family, SOAR, IRCO, and the local Bajun community, but what makes him truly amazing is that he didn’t stop reaching out and forming a network when the dust of his family’s transition settled. He decided to create his own non-profit organization—before he even became a citizen. Mohamed is the founding director of HAKI Community Organization which offers programs for intercultural learning and engagement to connect the East African Swahili speaking community.
“Since coming here, I have received a lot of help. I just sat back and thought one day that it’s time to give back to the community. I would drive them [newly arrived refugees] to places in case they needed food stamps and things like that. It’s just inside me. I felt like helping people, so that’s why I decided to start a non-profit organization, so I can help more people and help them reach their goals.” His work at HAKI is a true community-building effort. “We get a lot of discrimination especially from landlords, so that’s why I say, ‘let me stand here and help my people.’” And he’s not shy about encouraging others in his community. He tell them to go do ESL classes, Sewing classes, computer classes, the library and PCC College!’” These things certainly proved worthwhile for Mohamed. He did all of this while juggling his work in the Senior Services Program at Neighborhood House.
“The Citizenship class motivated me with the student and the teacher. Eric’s class has that welcoming atmosphere and you feel like going to class even when you are tired from work.” It should be noted that everyone in this class’ favorite part of the class might not actually be the learning, but the tea time and hospitality they share before beginning the lesson. A tradition started by none other than Mohamed and Fatma.
As a citizen now, Mohamed reflects, “I feel more confident. I stand with two feet on the ground. I stand upright [knowing] I’m a citizen now. I have more rights and more confidence.”
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