Bush Leadership Fellows Program Names 9 Minnesota Women as 2009 Fellows
Jennifer E. Breen, Minneapolis—Breen is a passionate chef who expresses her reverence for the earth and its creatures through cooking. She foresees a coalition of local food organizations that can promote a nutritional, sustainable local food system and influence local/national food policy. In order to participate as a leader in this coalition, she will complete a master’s degree in public health nutrition at the University of Minnesota and pursue self-study with experts in the field. In addition to working as a caterer, Breen is an educator at the Minnesota Landscape Arboretum.
Farhiya M. Farah, Minneapolis—Farah fled the civil war in her homeland of Somalia and has since been inspired to work to improve conditions for immigrants and refugees, particularly Somalis. She will use her fellowship to pursue a Ph.D. in environmental policy at the University of Minnesota. Farah hopes to bridge the gap between the Somali community and the institutions that serve them.
Joellen M. Gonder-Spacek, Wayzata—In her role as executive director of the Mentoring Partnership of Minnesota, Gonder-Spacek knows how powerful mentoring can be in the life of a student. She hopes to bring mentoring services to more students across Minnesota. She will pursue a master’s degree in public affairs at the University of Minnesota and conduct site visits to other successful mentoring organizations.
Anab A. Gulaid, Blaine—At the insistence of her mother, Gulaid pursued a bachelor’s degree in environmental health even though that was unique in her Somali refugee community. In 2003, she created Eftin, a nonprofit dedicated to enriching the lives of immigrant and refugee families through outreach, advocacy, education and resources. Gulaid hopes to continue her service to this community by pursuing a master’s degree in public affairs at the University of Minnesota.
Miriam Duchess Harris, Vadnais Heights—Harris strives to be a change agent in higher education by diversifying curriculum, faculty and students. She will complete a law degree at William Mitchell College of Law and plans to open a center at a law school to serve women leaving prison that focuses on the many challenges they will face. Harris is associate professor of American studies at Macalester College.
Shvonne L. Johnson, Columbia Heights—Johnson is the multicultural outreach coordinator at the College of St. Catherine. She foresees a future where education students who are studying to be K-12 teachers have a stronger understanding of how historical oppression can play a significant role in their own students’ achievement, particularly for low-achieving students of color. Johnson will attend Howard University to pursue a master’s degree in history, specializing in the African diaspora.
Johara A. Mohammed, Brooklyn Park—Mohammed is an Oromo Muslim woman from Ethiopia. Because of her work as an interpreter for the Center of Victims of Torture and as an elder in the broader Oromo community, she appreciates how mental health services can help those who have experienced violence. Mohammed will complete a master’s degree in marriage and family therapy at Adler Graduate School and study at the Center for Spirituality and Health at the University of Minnesota. In addition to reaching out to the African community about the importance of mental health treatment, she hopes to find ways to integrate traditional ideas about healing with Western practices.
Heather A. Schoonover, Minneapolis—Schoonover has learned about the importance of strong local food systems by living in a Mexican village and by organizing small farmers markets in an urban setting. She will obtain an MBA from the University of Washington to position herself as a leader to work for food systems that strengthen local economies, improve public health and enhance the environment. Schoonover is a senior program associate at the Institute for Agriculture and Trade Policy.
Jody L. TallBear, Minneapolis—Native tribes in Minnesota and the Dakotas have the opportunity to develop their considerable renewable energy resources (such as wind power). TallBear plans to stand by them as an expert on federal renewable energy projects and as an advocate for tribal interests. She will embark on a self-directed study of the current and historical practices of developing federal Indian policies, as well as of the work of the U.S. Congress subcommittee devoted to renewable energy. TallBear is a part-time law clerk in the Hennepin County Attorney’s Office.
Congratulations to all nine women. To see the full list of fellows, click here.
To learn more about the Bush Foundation, click here.
