Samia's Journey: Strength, Service, and Success

Samia and her husband arrived in Lincoln in 2000 as refugees from Egypt. As a Sudanese woman in Cairo, Samia earned a master’s degree in psychology and enjoyed a career as an English teacher. But her husband’s job as a journalist put the couple in political crosshairs, so they fled to find a safer place to raise their growing family. It took about two years of vetting and interviews from the time of application before the couple could come to the U.S.  

Adjusting to life in Lincoln was a challenge. While Samia spoke English very well, the American dialect and accent differed from her British English education. More than that, she had to navigate an entirely new culture with a young baby in tow. But Samia quickly found that she preferred Lincoln's small city charm and slower pace to the bustling streets of Cairo. She found work with Community Action Partnership and continued to seek additional ways to add to the family’s income.

In 2010, everything changed when her husband decided to leave the U.S. and return to Sudan, leaving Samia alone to raise their two young daughters. She was suddenly a single mother and sole provider for her family.

“It was very hard, and a very big responsibility,” says Samia.

She worked three jobs to make ends meet, juggling schedules to ensure she could be available when her daughters needed her. Understanding the struggle to adjust to life in the States, Samia was drawn to work that supported newcomers in Lincoln. She naturally built deep connections in the community, helping new arrivals with myriad questions and finding important resources.

In 2016, when the Asian Center needed a Middle Eastern advocate, our staff suggested approaching Samia for this role. It was a perfect fit! Samia embraced her new position, leaning into the skills and connections she had already cultivated to help new arrivals navigate cultural differences, find work, understand the housing rental process and medical systems, and much more.

As an advocate at the Asian Center, Samia has received training in community health work, domestic violence support, and mental health first aid - among many other skills.

“I know how hard it is to adjust to a new culture where everything is different. For so many people, the language barrier makes that adjustment even harder. I love that I can use my skills and knowledge to help newcomers understand how things work in Lincoln, to make connections and begin to feel at home here,” says Samia.

One of the greatest challenges in her work has been educating new immigrants on the importance of proactive healthcare. In many Middle Eastern cultures, people only visit the doctor when they are already quite sick. So, the American emphasis on preventative care like vaccinations and routine checkups can be difficult to grasp. Samia patiently explains the benefits, knowing that changing mindsets takes time.

Recently, a woman who attended one of her health workshops discovered she had dangerously high blood pressure. Thanks to the intervention, she sought medical treatment before it was too late and is now on medication to help manage her blood pressure, and she is learning more about essential healthy habits.

“Samia is an invaluable team member at the Asian Center,” says Executive Director/CEO, Sheila. “Her commitment to the community and her expertise as an advocate have served hundreds of immigrant neighbors over the years! She is a wise woman and a respected voice in the community.”

As her daughters grew, they followed in Samia’s footsteps pursuing education and career paths of service to others.  Her older daughter is a registered nurse and considering becoming a nurse practitioner. The younger is studying radiology at UNL.

“I want my daughters to be successful. There is so much opportunity for them here to do well and to help others,” says Samia. “I am so proud of them!”

Samia’s generosity of spirit takes many forms, from serving as an advocate to even feeding her family at the Asian Center. Most weeks, she brings in a home-cooked meal to share with the team after our Tuesday morning team meeting. Believe us when we say, it’s delicious!

We are grateful for Samia’s legacy of dedication and compassion, which enhances our work and is shaping the future of our community, one immigrant neighbor at a time.