Samatar recently served as a mental health practitioner at St. Paul Youth Services and a school-based therapist for Watercourse Counseling. She also worked for Hennepin County as a Somali-speaking domestic violence advocate. In addition to Somali and English, Samatar is fluent in Swahili.
“Hawa brings a richness and depth of experience in working with the East African population as well as the general older adult population,” said Chris Rosenthal, Aging and Disability Services Director. “The agency will be able to learn so much from her.”
Samatar brings 20 years of experience working with immigrants and refugees. Her passion for helping these populations comes from her childhood in Kenya. “My parents always took in children and families in need,” she said. “I’m very excited to work with the local Somali population. I know the language, the culture, and the unique challenges they face in our country.”
