Introducing Director Hamdi Mohamed!

Greetings! I am so proud to be serving as the director of the Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs (OIRA). The opportunity to serve as Director (technically “Acting Director” until I am officially confirmed by Council) and build upon OIRA’s legacy is a tremendous honor and responsibility. I also want to take this time to acknowledge the leadership of my predecessor Cuc Vu who helped navigate OIRA through an anti-immigrant federal administration, a global pandemic, and more. Today, the team is coming together to take a collective breath and to brainstorm our goals for these next few years. See below for more information on what we have been working on lately.

As I observe the Ramadan fast, I am personally taking this time to reflect on charity and my commitment to the community. And I am reminded of the importance of our responsibility to care for one another. As you may know, I came to the U.S. as a refugee from Somalia and have experienced the effects of governmental policy first-hand. Witnessing the impacts of decisions made by foreign governments strengthened my desire to gain expertise in the areas of organizational development, decision making, and public policy. I’m excited to bring my lived and professional experience as an immigrant rights advocate to the City of Seattle and OIRA. And I look forward to hopefully meeting you in-person in the community!

Sincerely,
Hamdi