NNAAC’s Transformative Leaders Fellowship Program develops crucial leadership skills in select university students and recent graduates across the country through an ongoing partnership with our various member organizations. These aspiring young adults learn more about the issues facing Arab American communities, see how nonprofits are managed, and work toward creating a personal professional growth plan.
Get to know Mohamed Farah, one of our 2018-19 fellows, in our interview with him below.
Mohamed Farah
Somali Family Services
Why did you join the Leadership Fellowship?
To make a difference in my community
What is your favorite quality about your host-site organization?
The amount of diversity. Even though it is a Somali family service, we tend to the needs of all races religions and ethnicities.
How does this program fit into your future plans?
It helps me because I want to some day open up businesses in my community and this organization will help me build these relationships with my Arab community.
What is a personal goal that you would like to achieve?
I want to build my communication and interaction skills.
What is a professional goal that you would like to achieve?
I want to be able to build and apply for a grant
Why do you think programs like this are important?
I think it is important because the lack of awareness of our Arab origins is really overlooked and that should not be the case in the 22 century.
Describe yourself in three words.
Ambitious, dedicated, reliable
The National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC) Transformative Leaders Fellowship Program increases the capacity of our member organizations to provide additional support to their communities, while at the same time develops crucial leadership skills in the fellows themselves. The program engages college students and/or recent graduates over a nine-month placement with a NNAAC member organization. Fellows are recruited by NNAAC members locally, and in partnership with universities. Learn more.