If you are conversant with the political atmosphere in Africa especially as it pertains to female participation and representation, then you must have heard about Ilhan Omar, Ayanna Pressley and Rashida Tlaib
Somali-American politician from Minnesota- Ilhan Omar just became the first ever Somali- American to be elected into Congress in the United States, having won the primaries as the Democratic Farmer Labor nominee for U.S. Representative in Minnesota’s 5th congressional district. In addition, both Omar and Palestinian-American Rashida Tlaib, both have become the first Muslim women elected to US Congress. Omar, is the Director of Policy and Initiatives of the Women Organizing Women Network; an association which advocates for women from East Africa to take on civic and political leadership roles.
Having begun her professional career as a community nutrition educator at the University of Minnesota, from 2006 to 2009, she served as a campaign manager from 2012 to 2015.
In 2014, Omar was named a rising star in the Democratic Farmer Labor Party’s Women’s Hall of Fame. In 2015, she received the Community Leadership Award from Mshale. In 2017, Time Magazine named Omar among its “Firsts: Women who are changing the world”.
Rashida Tliab a brilliant and highly fascinating woman made history in 2008 by winning a seat on the Michigan Legislature, becoming the first Muslim woman to do so, the first Palestinian-American woman in Congress and the second Muslim woman in history to be elected to any U.S. state legislature.She supports domestic reforms including Medicare For All and a $15 minimum wage.She was also a very strong proponent in the movement to Abolish ICE, and supports the right of illegal immigrants to remain in the United States.
Ayanna Pressley is an American politician and member-elect of the United States House of Representatives for Massachusetts’s 7th congressional district. She just became the first African American woman to be elected into congress from Massachusetts unchallenged by a republican. She currently serves as the first woman of color in the 100-year history of the Boston City Council. The only woman in a field of 15 candidates. As a survivor of sexual violence,Ayanna hopes to make advocacy for sexual assault a priority in her work among healthcare, immigration etc. Her numerous awards includes, Aspen-Rodel Fellow in Public Leadership, Greater Boston Chamber of Commerce: 10 Outstanding Young Leaders (2015), Boston magazine: 50 Most Powerful People (2016), The New York Times: 14 Young Democrats to Watch, 2018 Boston magazine: 100 Most Influential People in Boston.
