1. Minnesota is home to over 100,000 (est.) Somali people from various backgrounds and
traditions. While some are emerging as social, political and business leaders, the majority of
Somalis in Minnesota suffer from experiences of oppression including 63% poverty rate, last in
health and wellness demographics, racism and Islamophobia and unemployment. These
experiences create unhealthy conditions, especially as it relates to ill-health, discrimination and
violence.
In response to these experiences of oppression, a young refugee Somali American Muslim
woman named Saciido Shaie co-founded a non-profit organization called Somali Youth Action of
Minnesota in 2007 (renamed “Ummah Project”). The growing injustices as well as the
increasing violence, ill-health and disappearances of Muslim youth needed a community
response. The Ummah Project (ummah is Arabic for community) formed an interfaith leadership
board whose initial work was to listen to grassroots people to determine the real causes of ill-
health, discrimination and violence here in Minnesota. At the same time, the City of
Minneapolis issued their 2008 “Blueprint for Action: Preventing Youth Violence in Minneapolis”
and the Department of Homeland Security increased their counter-terrorism in Minneapolis.
From their initial work, the Ummah Project learned that there are very few health and justice
programs or resources in Minnesota that are culturally and religiously appropriate for Muslim
communities. For example, there are no health and wellness facilities consistent with Islamic
ethics, nor are there enough community centers welcoming to Muslim people. This can
sometimes force people to choose between practicing their religion and healthy living. In
response to these findings, the Ummah Project worked closely with Muslim and non-Muslim
leaders, and with grant money from LISC, Mortenson Construction and Perkins and Will
Architect, created blueprints and cost estimates for building a truly unique Health and Recreation
Center in Minneapolis that would be consistent with Islamic ethics and inviting to Muslims and
non-Muslims. This Ummah Center would be a place of empowerment for Muslim and non-
Muslim people to increase health and recreation, build social relationships, access educational
resources, find jobs and, in general, be a symbol of Minnesota as a just and welcoming place for
Muslim people. For example, the Ummah Center would have gender-specific pools and facilities
so that Muslim women can exercise in a female-only environment, building their health and
autonomy. The response from community members, non-profit organizations, city, state and
federal leaders about the Ummah Center has been extremely positive; unfortunately, with the
recent 2009 Recession and high poverty and unemployment rates in Muslim communities, the
Ummah Center has yet to be built. The blueprints and estimated costs appear on this website.
In addition to raising money for the Ummah Center, the Ummah Project is involved in a number
of current programs and initiatives while in partnership with Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota.
For example, in 2015, the Ummah Project has partnered with the City of Minneapolis to create a
Somali Youth Future Leaders program designed to build knowledge, skills and social power for
Somali youth. Currently, Saciido Shaie is a member of the Minnesota Juvenile Justice Advisory
Committee, the Minneapolis Neighborhood and Community Engagement Commission and sits

2. on the steering committee for the Parent Leadership for Child Safety and Permanency with the
Minnesota Department of Human Services and Prevent Child Abuse Minnesota, as well as the
National Coalition of the Juvenile Justice known as CJJ’S National Ethnic and cultural Diverse
Committee for the Midwestern Region. Through these trusting relationships and many others,
we look forward to building new programs in line with the mission and values of the Ummah
Project and the Ummah Center. We invite you to join with us as well.
Accomplishments:
● Perkins and Will Architect: donation of $32,000 for design plans for Muslim Youth and
Recreation Center (MYRC)
● Mortenson Construction: donation of $25,000 for budget estimates for MYRC
● Established working relationships with the mayor’s office, local mosques, local and
national Somali and Muslim organizations and Keith Ellison’s office.
● LISC: granted $5,000 to hire a “WEBSITE” Builder
● Hired Stylefish , a Web-site developer organization to build a Website for Ummah
Wellness Project
● Solomon Porch as a Fiscal Agent
● Ramadan Dinner collaborating with the U Of M Muslim Student Association
● Henna Fundraising at MCTC Muslim Student Association
● Ummah Wellness Center Introduction night with Rep. Keith Ellison and members of the
Somali Community and other non-profit organizations
● Engaging in Somali youth Organizations such as KAJOOG and SYL
● introducing the project to the States Cultural Ethnic Communities Leadership Council:
http://www.dhs.state.mn.us/CulturalEthnicLeadershipCouncil
● Adding the council’s recommendations to the Commissioner of the DHS to create a
gender specific fitness programs for the Somali/Muslim population of the state of
Minnesota
● Apr 22, 2015 H. F. No. 2086: 2015 - 2016 Regular Session: Short Description: Ummah
Project, Inc. funding provided for a workforce development, crime prevention, and
leadership skill building pilot program for Somali youth; and money appropriated.
● On Mar 25, 2015 in the Senate: MN - SF1978: UMMAH Project, Inc. workforce
development, crime prevention and leadership skill building program appropriation

3. ● An amendment sponsored by Rep. Karen Clark (DFL-Minneapolis) to appropriate
$200,000 to the UMMAH Project, Inc. for Somali youth development and crime
prevention. It was added to the Omnibus Jobs and Energy Bill
● Working with a group of student Graduates from University of MN’s School Of Public
Health to put a Business plan together that can help our project solicit funding and
become sustainable.
● Another privilege for Ummah Project is communicating and receiving advice from Anne
Barry, the assistant commissioner of MN’s Dept. Of Health and Human Services as well
as an adjunct faculty for the School of Public Health in the Academic Health Center at
the University of Minnesota. She provides advice, guidance, faculty support, health-
related academic and research program support, and teaches a public health law course.
Because of that connection, Anne linked Ummah Project team with a group of her
students to work for the Ummah Project and create a business plan that can help the
project solicit funding and become sustainable.
● Communicating with the Center for Restorative Justice’s local office at the University of
Minnesota twin cities and Duluth!
● These among many other Accomplishments, Ummah Project would like to connect with
your organization in helping the local Somali Youth and their families.
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