Name & Position       Biography
Abdirahman Dhore – Chair Abdirahman Dhore (Chair) is a Civil Engineer with a Bachelor’s of Engineering degree from Ryerson University. Abdirahman has professional affiliations to the Association of Professional Engineers, Geologist and Geophysics of Albert’s (P.Eng) as well as being a member of the Canadian Welding Bureau. Abdirahman has over 17 years of experience and has worked on projects from Chicago to Alberta.
Fowzia Muhamed – Director Fowzia has over 10 years’ experience working in Higher Education Institutions in Toronto, Dubai, UAE and London, UK. Most recently she worked as a School Trustee with the Toronto District School Board with responsibilities to oversee 600 schools in Toronto. In this capacity, she provided leadership in the following areas:
Lead and support transformative changes in schools through the implementation of effective models of inclusion to close access, opportunity, achievement and participation gaps.She has worked as a researcher with youth-based organizations, such as Pathways to Education, where she helped students from inner city communities with high dropout rates achieve their full potential, and Delisle Youth Services, where she was a youth counsellor for mental health services.Fowzia gained invaluable domestic and international experience in the education sector in various capacities, including but not limited to working as a: professor; a health promoter at Community Health Centre; a student equity program advisor; a central coordinator for parent and community involvement; an applied researcher; and an entrepreneur.
Ayan Omar – Treasurer Ayan Omar (Treasurer) has extensive experience in community counselling and program development and community development. She facilitates workshops and seminars on working with at-risk youth, and the challenges faced by these youths. She is passionate about serving the needs of disadvantaged youth and adults, and special-needs populations. She is a dedicated advocate for at-risk youth in concern to education, policing, court systems and employment. Ayan also works in the Settlement Services, creating needs assessments for clients, advocating for her community regarding issues such as mental health, poverty, unemployment, substance abuse, rehabilitation, social adjustment and child care.
Zahra Abukar – Director Zahra has an academic background from Seneca College as Social Service Worker, majoring in Immigrant and Refugee studies. She is currently pursuing her Bachelor Degree in Social Work from York University part time. She successfully completed her Field Placement at SIAO, which has allowed her to see first-hand the needs that our vulnerable community requires. This includes specializing in homelessness, mental health, settlement and housing. Her experience gained from Rexdale Women’s Centre and Homefirst Shelter as a Support/Settlement Worker has helped develop skills in information and referrals services, working in diverse cultural, ethnic, age and socioeconomic backgrounds. She is fluent in English, Somali and Swahili.
Ilias Warsame – Director Ilias Warsame is a York University graduate with Specialized Honours Bachelor of Science- Kinesiology and Health Sciences. Ilias was instrumental as a Research Assistant at York University where he compiled comprehensive summaries of work, later published, on gender and race as it relates to sports performance. He has organized community-based leadership, mentorship programs and workshops for youth with Khalid Bin-Al Walid Mosque and WE HELP. Ilias is currently working towards attending Law School.
Malcolm Hassan Zoraik – Director Malcolm Hassan Zoraik is an experienced personal injury lawyer with extensive trial and appellate skills. He graduated with Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree at Simon Fraser University in Vancouver, B.C before doing his Bachelor of Law (LL. B) at the University of Victoria in B.C. He later completed his master’s in law (LL.M) degree at York University’s Osgoode Hall Law School in Toronto, ON. He is currently a member in good standing at the Law Society of Ontario as well as a member of the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association. He also served as a member of Canadian Bar Association, Victoria Bar Association, British Columbia Trial Lawyers Association and the British Columbia Law Society. He has been practicing law as a Barrister and Solicitor in both B.C and Ontario. Previously, he worked as a policy analyst with the Ministry of Human Resources, Health Services Branch in Victoria, B.C. Malcolm served as Vice President of Board of Directors of both Victoria Immigrant & Refugee Centre Society and West Shore Arts Council in Victoria, B.C. He was also a member of the Executive Council of Victoria Bar Association. He is fluent in English, Arabic and Somali languages.
Arlene Wallace – Director Arlene Wallace is an educator, employed with the Toronto Catholic District School Board for approximately nine years, a member of the ACCO (African Canadian Community Organization) as an advisory board member with the TCDSB and also aligned with the community organization Midaynta in the mentorship program. She chooses this career path, because the edification of children and youth is her passion and purpose. Passion and purpose allows her to change and effect lives for her the way in doing that is to continue to educate, as well to advocate. Bringing an awareness through self identity.
Joel Mukweneya – Director Joel Mukweneya is an English and Dramatic Arts teacher with over 10 years of quality experience in teaching listening, speaking, reading, and writing through literature, grammar, and communication. He has a Master of Education from OISE/University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Education Degree, Worcester College of Higher Education, Worcester, UK. Currently working as, a Director of Development/Teacher/Tutor at Total Tutoring for the past 16 years, he also volunteers at OISE/University of Toronto, OISE Alumni Association conducting collaborative research, working with staff to recruit staff, and compiling data base of committee members. Joel did his Comparative & International Education Practicum at Midaynta Community Services and collaboratively complied the 2nd annual Youth Radicalization Report– New and Emerging challenges. Worked as an Employment Advisor at TDSB and an Employment Counsellor at YMCA.
Selma Hussein – Director Selma Hussein is a registered nurse with over 15 years of experience working in different hospitals. Currently she is working at Toronto General Hospital specializing in Pancreatic and liver surgery. Selma is an educator, educating nursing students, and new graduates. She is an advocate for her patients, her team and provides immediate care to patients who have had various types of surgeries. Selma has received multiple teaching awards from Toronto General Hospital’s Department of Surgery. She is dedicated to the Somali Community, she conducted several small health promotion sessions, educating them on the importance of hand hygiene, diabetes and hypertension. Selma has a Diabetic Educator certificate and a bachelor degree in nursing.