African Women’s Association president
Nasra Wehelie: Leading a “sisterhood” of African women
Nasra Wehelie: Leading a “sisterhood” of African women
By Laura Salinger
One of the main things that Nasra Wehelie finds so different about the United States from her native Somalia is the sense of community. She grew up in a
small Somalian city, only later moving to Kenya, with 20 siblings. Her father passed away when she was very young, but she had a large community support
system filled with family and friends. She describes her life in Somalia as “happy” and community orientated.
“It is not an individualistic society, like it is here,” Wehelie said when describing her native homeland.
Yet, Wehelie was blessed to find a community of “sisters” in Madison as a member of the African Women’s Association (AWA). After graduating from UW-Madison
with a BA in International Relations in 1993, working in both the private and public sector, and obtaining an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, Wehelie is
now heading up this notable organization. She is currently the president of AWA, an organization for women from Africa or for women with ties to Africa.
“The main goal [of AWA] is to foster sisterhood and build bridges with the rest of the community,” Wehelie said.
AWA boasts roughly 70 female members from all over Africa’s vast continent. When the group gathers for their monthly potluck, the food alone tells the story
of the continent’s vast culinary differences. Yet, the women find common ground in what binds them.
“When you meet, unwind with African food and laughter, you really feel you are home,” Wehelie said.
When Wehelie describes the relationship among AWA members, it is what many would define as family.
“We form a sisterhood,” Wehelie said. “We do not only help each other in times of crises but we are there for each other in weddings, graduations and birth.
We are a group of highly educated women and strive to instill in our kids the value of education.”
Aside from a monthly potluck gathering, AWA hosts business meetings and schedules professional development activities. They also head out into the
community to share African culture with Madisonians, as well as donating their time performing community service at homeless shelters and food pantries. This
year, they will “adopt” a child from Africa, donating the funds they raise to a child in need in hopes of improving that child’s quality of life.
In the future, AWA will continue their mission to address issues unique to African women. Wehelie said the organization also hopes to become more visible in
the local community, while forming more active relationships with other African organizations nationwide.
“The main goal will be to be more involved in the community,” Wehelie asserted. “We also want to connect with other African organizations throughout the U.
S.”
Aside from leading AWA, Wehelie is also reaching out to area youth through religion and sports. She is the founder of Muslim Youth of Madison, a program
providing educational opportunities and community building for Madison-area Muslim youth.
After 9/11, people developed different perceptions of Muslims,” Wehelie said. “We want to change these negative perceptions. The purpose of the program is
to carry out recreational, educational, spiritual, and charitable activities. In addition, we encourage our youth to become productive citizens in the outer
community. My main goal is to build bridges and to strengthen the identity of Muslim youth.”
The youth meet every other Saturday. The first Saturday of the month, youth hear from community leaders, both Muslim and non-Muslim, on a number of
different issues. The next time they meet, youth head out to a variety of activities including bowling or socializing at area restaurants.
With whatever time she has left over — after heading up these two organizations, raising four kids, recently obtaining an MBA, and working as a market research
consultant — Wehelie is also the program director for Madison’s Rising Stars Tennis Program, a program of the Greater Madison Tennis Association. The mission
of the program is to provide tennis lessons to youth who normally would not have access to these lessons.
“The purpose is to help kids get involved in sports and also stay out of trouble,” Wehelie said.
The program typically serves 40 to 50 children ages 8-17. They focus on serving youth of color and disadvantaged youth. They are currently looking to
recruit more African American middle school youth to this program that focuses on developing tennis skills and providing a venue to play competitively.
Wehelie knows that her many roles-mother, wife, AWA president, Rising Stars program director, business professional and community leader-make for quite a
busy life. Yet, drawing on the support of her “sisters,” family, and community, Wehelie is finding a little of that Somalian community spirit she grew up with right
here in Madison.
For more information on AWA, mail a request for information to African Women’s Association, P.O. Box 44672, Madison, WI, 53744. For more information on
Rising Stars Tennis Program contact Madison Rising Stars Tennis, P.O. Box 45717, Madison, WI, 53744-5717.
One of the main things that Nasra Wehelie finds so different about the United States from her native Somalia is the sense of community. She grew up in a
small Somalian city, only later moving to Kenya, with 20 siblings. Her father passed away when she was very young, but she had a large community support
system filled with family and friends. She describes her life in Somalia as “happy” and community orientated.
“It is not an individualistic society, like it is here,” Wehelie said when describing her native homeland.
Yet, Wehelie was blessed to find a community of “sisters” in Madison as a member of the African Women’s Association (AWA). After graduating from UW-Madison
with a BA in International Relations in 1993, working in both the private and public sector, and obtaining an MBA from Cardinal Stritch University, Wehelie is
now heading up this notable organization. She is currently the president of AWA, an organization for women from Africa or for women with ties to Africa.
“The main goal [of AWA] is to foster sisterhood and build bridges with the rest of the community,” Wehelie said.
AWA boasts roughly 70 female members from all over Africa’s vast continent. When the group gathers for their monthly potluck, the food alone tells the story
of the continent’s vast culinary differences. Yet, the women find common ground in what binds them.
“When you meet, unwind with African food and laughter, you really feel you are home,” Wehelie said.
When Wehelie describes the relationship among AWA members, it is what many would define as family.
“We form a sisterhood,” Wehelie said. “We do not only help each other in times of crises but we are there for each other in weddings, graduations and birth.
We are a group of highly educated women and strive to instill in our kids the value of education.”
Aside from a monthly potluck gathering, AWA hosts business meetings and schedules professional development activities. They also head out into the
community to share African culture with Madisonians, as well as donating their time performing community service at homeless shelters and food pantries. This
year, they will “adopt” a child from Africa, donating the funds they raise to a child in need in hopes of improving that child’s quality of life.
In the future, AWA will continue their mission to address issues unique to African women. Wehelie said the organization also hopes to become more visible in
the local community, while forming more active relationships with other African organizations nationwide.
“The main goal will be to be more involved in the community,” Wehelie asserted. “We also want to connect with other African organizations throughout the U.
S.”
Aside from leading AWA, Wehelie is also reaching out to area youth through religion and sports. She is the founder of Muslim Youth of Madison, a program
providing educational opportunities and community building for Madison-area Muslim youth.
After 9/11, people developed different perceptions of Muslims,” Wehelie said. “We want to change these negative perceptions. The purpose of the program is
to carry out recreational, educational, spiritual, and charitable activities. In addition, we encourage our youth to become productive citizens in the outer
community. My main goal is to build bridges and to strengthen the identity of Muslim youth.”
The youth meet every other Saturday. The first Saturday of the month, youth hear from community leaders, both Muslim and non-Muslim, on a number of
different issues. The next time they meet, youth head out to a variety of activities including bowling or socializing at area restaurants.
With whatever time she has left over — after heading up these two organizations, raising four kids, recently obtaining an MBA, and working as a market research
consultant — Wehelie is also the program director for Madison’s Rising Stars Tennis Program, a program of the Greater Madison Tennis Association. The mission
of the program is to provide tennis lessons to youth who normally would not have access to these lessons.
“The purpose is to help kids get involved in sports and also stay out of trouble,” Wehelie said.
The program typically serves 40 to 50 children ages 8-17. They focus on serving youth of color and disadvantaged youth. They are currently looking to
recruit more African American middle school youth to this program that focuses on developing tennis skills and providing a venue to play competitively.
Wehelie knows that her many roles-mother, wife, AWA president, Rising Stars program director, business professional and community leader-make for quite a
busy life. Yet, drawing on the support of her “sisters,” family, and community, Wehelie is finding a little of that Somalian community spirit she grew up with right
here in Madison.
For more information on AWA, mail a request for information to African Women’s Association, P.O. Box 44672, Madison, WI, 53744. For more information on
Rising Stars Tennis Program contact Madison Rising Stars Tennis, P.O. Box 45717, Madison, WI, 53744-5717.
Laura Salinger is a freelance writer based in
Madison, Wis.
Madison, Wis.