Our Journey of Empowerment
For over a decade, MAWA has been a beacon of hope for African women and families.
MAWA was founded in March of 2002 and serves African women and girls annually through two main programs: the African Girls Initiative for Leadership & Empowerment (AGILE) and the African Women’s Empowerment (AWE) Network.
MAWA went into a 2-year hiatus in 2017 following the Executive Director’s sabbatical leave. During this time, in order to respond to ongoing community needs, MAWA provided volunteer services to its participants and the community on a smaller scale, mostly one-to-one service. In 2019, the organization resumed its services on a full-time basis.
At this time MAWA found former participants and new referrals anxiously waiting and requesting that the full range of MAWA’s services like the girls’ After-school program, AGILE, be reinstituted as the need for college attendance programming and health education has increased within the target community. The current set of African High school girls express a need for the additional support from MAWA to assure they gain the college education opportunities and newly arrived African immigrants still need the cultural orientation that MAWA gives them in understanding new concepts and American ways especially with employment, financial literacy, environmental issues and more.
Our Mission
At MAWA, our mission is to promote the health and well-being of African refugee and immigrant women and their families in the Twin Cities. We achieve this through research, education, advocacy, and programming that addresses the unique challenges they face.
Our Vision
We envision an organization that nurtures and draws strength from African refugee and immigrant women, working with their cultural experiences and values to find solutions to the issues they encounter in a new culture.
Our Founder
Meet the Visionary Behind MAWA
Nyango Melissa Nambangi is the Founder and Executive Director of the Minnesota African Women Association (MAWA). The association was formed to promote the health and wellbeing of African refugees, immigrant women and their families in the Twin City area through research, education, advocacy and programming. Its vision is to create an organization that works with the cultural experiences and values of African women in seeking solutions to their issues in a new culture. Her work has and continues to influence hundreds of immigrant Africans in Minnesota and has led to numerous recognition and awards from Minnesota and beyond.
Ms. Nambangi is a former TV reporter and News Anchor for Cameroon TV (CRTV), a Hubert Humphrey International Fellow and a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a Masters in Journalism and Mass Communication. Her awards include the 2005 Woman of Distinction, 2008 Immigrant of Distinction, 2011 Humanitarian of the Year and the 2013 Champion for Women’s Health Award. Under her leadership, MAWA has received various awards including the 2015 Torchlight Awards’ African Non-profit of the Year, 2014 Voices Magazine African Non-profit of the Year Award, 2011 Mshale’s African Non-Profit of the Year and the Women’s Foundation of Minnesota 2013 Community Impact Award.
MAWA’s perspective and experience is often requested by local media. Videos below show some of these TV and Video interviews of Nyango Melissa and other MAWA staff persons.
Recognition
Nyango Melissa Nambangi awarded Immigrant of Distinction Award, Receives Mayoral Proclamations
In a ceremony on May 1, 2008 attended by the mayors of Minnepolis and St. Paul, Nyango Melissa Nambangi was given the Immigrant of Distinction Award, which she shared with Leonid Hurwicz, co-recipient of the 2007 Nobel Prize in Economics. The mayors of Minneapolis and St. Paul each declared May 1, 2008 Immigrants of Distinction Day in their respective cities to recognize the many achievements and contributions of immigrants in their communities.
Our Impact
Stories of Transformation
Over the years, MAWA has touched the lives of hundreds of women and families, providing them with the tools and support they need to succeed. From skill-building workshops to cultural advocacy, our programs have made a lasting impact on the community.
Independence Day
One Immigrant’s Perspective Nyango Melissa Nambangi’s interview with Carissa Wyant, channel 12 News. July, 2014
Amazing Motivational Speech on Resilience and the Power Within
LaBelle Nambangi speech “Holding on to anger is like grasping a hot coal with the intent of throwing it at someone else: you are the only one who gets burned”
Sept, 2012
It's A Woman's World" TV episode: Immigrating and Strategizing
Nyango Melissa Nambangi’s Miinnesota African Women’s Association’s interview on immigration and strategizing
Oct. 2013
Minnesota African Women's Association Second Hand Smoke Summit
International Institute of Minnesota
Collaborated with Wilder
July, 2009
Nyango Melissa Nambang