The elderly find a sense of family at Hope Center

Amina Dualla, back turned, works as a Care Coordinator at Hope Center. She speaks with Anab Ahmed (left) and Amina Hawa Jama (right) about their plans for the day during breakfast. Photos by David Pierini

By Abdi Mohamed Staff Reporter

Hibaq Shill sits at a table near a group of women, smiling in silence as they hold a friendly debate over the current events in Somalia. Shill is one of many clients at Hope Center, an adult services provider on the Northside, who find joy in the company of others.

Four months ago, before she joined the center, Shill describes herself as lonely and in pain, unrecognizable from the jovial expression she wore that Monday morning. “I used to just be at home, by myself and in pain. But now, Alhamdulilah [thank God] I can be here and enjoy myself,” she said.

For two years, Hope Center has supported members of the Northside community who are either elderly or disabled by offering them a place that gives them a chance to escape isolation and reconnect with their community. Located in the River of Life Lutheran Church on 2200 Fremont Ave N, the Center provides adult day services to its clients, many of whom are Somali.

Coming from a culture centered around family, elderly Somalis are rarely found living alone due to having a culture that incorporates family in all aspects of life. However, while living in the United States and separated by family, Somalis find it difficult to foster that tight knit family dynamic. Hope Center serves as a close alternative.

Outreach worker Sahra Dirye, foreground, walks into Hope Center with executive director Abdiaziz Omar and Nagi, a client.

Hope’s founder Abdiaziz Omar has lived in North Minneapolis for nearly 16 years. He opened the center more than two years ago and currently serves as its director. He also operates a daycare for children on the Northside, Smiles Childcare. Before beginning his work in care services, he managed Parkview Apartments on 12th Ave N. There he helped Somalis who had moved to the Northside settle in and navigate resources that they might need. It was during this time he saw a need for the Hope Center.

“Being in the community for this long, I noticed a need for this kind of service,” Omar said. He says he has had many interactions with elderly Somalis on the Northside. “I’ve seen a lot of them sitting at home. It’s not good for their physical or mental health.”

He approached the church with the idea about the program. Although they continue to have congregants still worshipping, other portions of the building were open. He had heard about their past programming as a shelter and a school and thought it would be a good way to continue the church’s work. They were receptive to the idea and leased the space. Lutheran Social Services had bought the building and done some renovations to update the space in recent years.

The space is made up of a large community room with two seating areas and an activity area in the middle. There is a gymnasium down the hall where some clients go, a study room where they can have private conversations, and a large cafeteria that serves as a shared space.

Anab Ahmed and Amina Hawa Jama are two clients at the Hope Center. The two of them have been living in the Northside for the last year and heard of the services provided through a mutual friend. Ahmed and Jama are also neighbors in a nearby apartment complex.

“In Somali we say we don’t go to an open door but to an open face,” Jama said. “It means you support someone who is good. The people here are welcoming.” Jama has no family at home but enjoys the company she finds at Hope Center.

After arriving at the center, clients are given a light breakfast. A stack of anjeera, an East African crepe styled dish, rests near the coffee machine for clients to eat. Having eaten their meal, clients gather around a television in order to start their exercises. There they follow along with a YouTube video depicting light workouts consisting of leg raises and body twists. Once finished the clients choose to either go to the gym or do other activities.

“Staying at home you get tired. You go to sleep, you wake up, you just get drained. For the elderly, talking is good for them, walking, and reading the Quran,” said Ahmed. “Sometimes we listen to the BBC or we talk about religion. We chat among ourselves and have fun,” she added.

Funding for the program is provided through the Department of Human Services and each client’s participation is dependent on their need and referral from the county. Looking toward the future, Omar says he hopes to participate in the Adult Rehabilitative Mental Health Services program (ARMHS), a state driven program to provide mental health services funding in Minnesota. He also would like to provide housing and resources for those who are homeless who may be disabled or elderly.

Amina Dualla has been working as a Care Coordinator at Hope Center since May of 2019. She’s lived on the Northside for a year. She says Hope is like a second home for clients. “It’s not like back home. You go to your grandma’s home, at least five people are there with her. She won’t feel lonely. We’re not attached to the culture that we had back home. We’re losing it.”

With his continued involvement in the community, Omar looks to see Somalis in North Minneapolis gain the same economic and political footing of their counterparts in Cedar-Riverside or South Minneapolis. He sees places like Hope Center and other initiatives as community builders, ones that connect Somalis in need with one another to foster a sense of belonging and community.