Ilhan Omar
| Ilhan Omar | |
|---|---|
 Ilhan Omar in 2016 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born |
1982 Somalia |
| Political party | Minnesota Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party |
| Children | 3 |
| Residence | Cedar-Riverside, Minneapolis |
| Alma mater | North Dakota State University |
| Religion | Islam |
| Website | Official website |
Ilhan Omar (born in 1982) is a Somali American politician from Minnesota. She is the Director of Policy and Initiatives of the Women Organizing Women Network. In 2016, she was elected a Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party legislator in the Minnesota House of Representatives.
Early life
Omar was born in 1982 in Somalia.[1] She was the youngest of seven siblings, and grew up in an upper middle class household. Ilhan's father, Nur Omar Mohamed, is Somali, and worked as a teacher trainer.[2] Her mother was Yemeni, and died when she was a child.[3] She was thereafter raised by her dad and grandfather.[4] Ilhan's granddad, Abukar, was the director of Somalia's National Marine Transport, with her uncles and aunts also working as civil servants and educators.[2] After the start of the civil war in 1991, she and her family left the country and spent four years in a refugee camp in Kenya.[5]
In 1995, Omar and her family emigrated to the United States.[6] The Omars initially settled in Arlington, Virginia.[6] In 1995, they moved to Minneapolis, where Ilhan quickly learned English in only three months. Her father and grandfather inculcated in her the importance of democracy. She also began to accompany her granddad to caucus meetings at age 14, serving as his translator.[4]
Omar attended Edison High School, and volunteered there as a student organizer.[1] For her tertiary studies, she matriculated at North Dakota State University, where she participated in the Muslim Student Association.[3] She graduated from the institution with bachelor's degrees in political science and international studies.[7]
Career
Omar began her professional career as a Community Nutrition Educator with the University of Minnesota. She worked in this capacity from 2006 to 2009 in the Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area. In 2012, she served as a Campaign Manager for Kari Dzeidzik's bid for a legislative seat in the Minnesota State Senate. Between 2012 and 2013, Omar was a Child Nutrition Outreach Coordinator with the Minnesota Department of Education. She later worked as a Campaign Manager for Andrew Johnson, as he ran for a municipal seat in Minneapolis' Ward 12 in 2013. Following Johnson's successful election to the Minneapolis City Council, Omar served as the Senior Policy Aide in his office from 2013 to 2015.[7] During a contentious precinct caucus that became violent in February 2014, Omar was attacked and suffered a concussion.[2][8] According to MinnPost reporters, the day before the caucus Minneapolis City Councilmember Abdi Warsame had told Johnson to warn Omar "to stay away from the caucus or there could be trouble for her."[9]
As of September 2015, Omar is the Director of Policy & Initiatives of the Women Organizing Women Network.[7] The association advocates for women from East Africa to take on civic and political leadership roles.[10]
Omar's volunteer experience and areas of interest include politics, education, civil rights and social action, poverty alleviation, human rights, environmental issues, animal welfare, and economic empowerment.[7] She supports a $15 per hour minimum wage. With regard to scholastic affordability, she advocates free tuition for students with a family income below $125,000 as well as greater accessibility to student loan forgiveness programs.[11]
In 2016, Omar presented herself as a legislative candidate on the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party (DFL) ticket for the Minnesota House of Representatives. Her chief opponent in the general election was Republican Party nominee Abdimalik Askar, also an activist in the Somali American community. In late August, Askar announced his withdrawal from the campaign due to the death of his father and graduate studies.[12]
On August 9, 2016, Omar defeated Phyllis Kahn and Mohamud Noor in the DFL primary to become the nominee for the 2016 Minnesota House election for district 60B.[13] News articles containing unsubstantiated claims about Omar's marital history appeared shortly after she secured the nomination. According to Councilmember Johnson, the timing of the story suggested that the motive was to diminish her image. Omar herself speculated that the story was planted by previously elected officials within her community and singled out Abdi Warsame, saying that "I think the kind of power I was growing and cultivating was going to be too much for someone like him."[2] She won the general election in November 2016, becoming the first Somali American legislator in the United States.[14]
Awards
In 2014, Omar was named a Rising Star in the Democratic–Farmer–Labor Party's Women's Hall of Fame.[7]
She was also presented the 2015 Community Leadership Award at the African Awards by Mshale, an African immigrant media outlet based in Minneapolis. The prize is annually awarded on a readership basis.[15]
Memberships
Omar is a Policy Fellow at the Humphrey School of Public Affairs.[7]
Personal life
In 2002, at age 19, she began a relationship with Ahmed Hirsi (né Ahmed Aden). They were engaged to be married that year and applied for a marriage license, but the application was never finalized. The pair had three children together, before separating in 2008. In 2009, Ilhan wed Ahmed Nur Said Elmi. The couple had a faith-based divorce in 2011, and as of 2016, they are reportedly in the process of legally divorcing. In 2011, Ilhan reconciled with Hirsi and they were married in a traditional ceremony.[16] She, Hirsi (whom she refers to as her husband), and their three children live in the Cedar-Riverside neighborhood of Minneapolis.[10]
References
- 1 2 Duarte, Lorena (October 21, 2015). "'Done Wishing': Ilhan Omar on why she's running for House District 60B". Retrieved August 18, 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 Zurowski, Cory (November 7, 2016). "Ilhan Omar's improbable journey from refugee camp to Minnesota Legislature". City Pages.
- 1 2 "From Refugee to St. House Race, Ilhan Omar Looks to Break New Ground". Arab American Institute. Retrieved 13 November 2016.
- 1 2 Holpuch, Amanda (February 29, 2016). "'This is my country': Muslim candidate aims to break boundaries in Minnesota". The Guardian. Retrieved August 10, 2016.
- ↑ "Ilhan Omar elected first Somali-American legislator in the US". Al Arabiya. 9 November 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
- 1 2 "Former Somali refugee poised to win office in Minnesota". StarTribune. 10 August 2016. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 "Ilhan Omar". Linkedin. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
- ↑ Omar, Ilhan (February 13, 2014). "My side of the Cedar-Riverside caucus dispute". Star Tribune.
- ↑ Nord, James; Bierschbach, Briana (February 18, 2014). "Allegations of threats, bullying follow Cedar-Riverside caucus brawl". MinnPost.
- 1 2 3 "Bio - Ilhan for State Representative - 60B". Ilhan Omar. Retrieved 10 November 2016.
- ↑ Faircloth, Ryan (24 August 2016). "Debate spotlights veteran, newcomers". Minnesota Daily. Retrieved 6 September 2016.
- ↑ Liz Sawyer, GOP state House candidate to suspend campaign against Ilhan Omar, August 27, 2016, Minneapolis Star Tribune. Accessed 28 August 2016.
- ↑ Coolican, J. Patrick (August 9, 2016). "Next Minnesota Legislature won't have Reps. Phyllis Kahn or Tom Hackbarth". Star Tribune. Retrieved August 9, 2016.
- ↑ Olivia Blair (November 9, 2016). "Ilhan Omar: Former refugee is elected as America's first Somali-American Muslim woman legislator". The Independent. Retrieved 9 November 2016.
- ↑ Mugo, Kari (October 23, 2015). "African diaspora shines at the African Awards Gala". Retrieved August 18, 2016.
- ↑ "DFL candidate Ilhan Omar explains marital history in statement". Fox9. 17 August 2016. Retrieved 11 November 2016.