Call Me American, One Somalian Man’s Journey from Somalia to American Citizenship

Abdi Nor Iftin, author, advocate for refugee rights and community navigator, will speak on the topic Call Me American, One Somalian Man’s Journey from Somalia to American Citizenship.  As a child in war-torn Mogadishu, Somalia, Abdi learned English by watching action movies.  When U.S. Marines landed to take on the warlords, he cheered their arrival.  Sporting hip-hop clothes and dance moves, he became known as “Abdi American.”  When radical Islamists took control in 2006, it became dangerous to celebrate Western culture.  Instead, Abdi risked his life posting secret dispatches to NPR.  As life in Somalia grew more dangerous, he fled to Kenya, and won entrance to the U.S. in the annual visa lottery.  Abdi tells his journey, ending in his naturalization ceremony which took place in Portland, Maine, Jan. 17, 2020, when he became a U.S. citizen.

After services, from 11:30 AM – 12:00 PM, we will open Zoom for informal general discussion, as well as an opportunity to join a conversation group with Abdi Nor Iftin.

Please note: this service will be hosted via Zoom. Subscribe to our Sunday service mailing list below to get this service’s Zoom information. We will send you an email one week prior.