[Congressional Record Volume 166, Number 47 (Wednesday, March 11, 2020)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E297]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO MEYMUNA HUSSEIN-CATTAN--28TH CONGRESSIONAL DISTRICT WOMAN OF 
                                THE YEAR

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. ADAM B. SCHIFF

                             of california

                    in the house of representatives

                       Wednesday, March 11, 2020

  Mr. SCHIFF. Madam Speaker, I rise today in honor of Women's History 
Month. Each year, we pay special tribute to the contributions and 
sacrifices made by our nation's women. It is an honor to pay homage to 
outstanding women who are making a difference in my Congressional 
District. I would like to recognize a remarkable woman, Meymuna 
Hussein-Cattan of the Echo Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, 
California.
   Meymuna Hussein-Cattan is an executive, social entrepreneur and 
world traveler dedicated to shifting the narrative around refugees in 
the United States. Born in an Ethiopian refugee camp in Somalia, Ms. 
Hussein-Cattan's childhood gave her a first-hand view of the struggles 
of refugee children. In 1983, Meymuna's father moved to San Diego when 
he was resettled by the International Rescue Committee. Young Meymuna 
and her mother, Owliya Dima followed the next year.
   Growing up with a passion for human rights and advocacy, Meymuna 
went on to receive her bachelor's degree in Social Sciences from the 
University of California, Irvine and a master's degree in 
Organizational Management from Antioch University. Hussein-Cattan wrote 
her Master's thesis about Tiyya, which proposed creating a nonprofit 
organization that supports refugees starting a new life in Southern 
California. Tiyya means ``my love'' in Oromo, which is one of the 
languages spoken in Ethiopia. Over the years, Tiyya has improved the 
lives of refugees in the greater Los Angeles area through the arts, 
education and recreational activities.
   With generosity and public service as core principles and the help 
of her mother, Meymuna made it her mission to assist refugees to find 
stability and navigate the similar complex challenges that her family 
went through. As co-founder and CEO, Ms. Hussein-Cattan has played a 
vital role in Tiyya's successes over the past decade, which include 
impacting the lives of hundreds of people each year with a variety of 
programs. As funding sources dwindled, Meymuna expanded the 
organization's mission by launching Flavors from Afar, a program that 
helps refugees develop culinary careers in their new country and build 
connections within the neighborhood.
   Apart from her work at Tiyya, Meymuna is committed to broadening her 
scope and reaching other advocates with her expertise. A speaker at 
many organizations and universities, she enjoys sharing her insights 
and experience to motivate and inspire the future wave of human rights 
activists. The Los Angeles refugee community has greatly benefited from 
the generosity and dedication of Meymuna Hussein-Cattan.
   Meymuna and her husband, Shukry live with their daughter, Suraya in 
Echo Park.
   I ask all Members to join me in honoring this exceptional, well-
respected woman of California's 28th Congressional District, Meymuna 
Hussein-Cattan.

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