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W W W. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z 25 M A R C H 2 0 , 2 0 2 3 H assan, a graduate of Lewiston High School and the University of Southern Maine, also tutors high school students. is year, the 29-year-old aims to focus on fundrais- ing, add to the six-person team she leads from a cramped office and move to a bigger space, and return to school this fall to pursue her master's degree. Mainebiz: What was your childhood like? Amina Hassan: I was born in Kenya, but I'm Somalian in my nationality. As the oldest of six siblings, I'm more like the second mom. Growing up, I remember women didn't go to work and didn't have a lot going on for them. I knew from a young age that once I get to America, I'm going to be changing things around because I don't want to live that way. MB: When you first arrived in Maine, how long was it until it felt like home? AH: Immediately. It felt like home because it was similar to where I came from — not a big city like Houston, but a little community where you can walk to the grocery store. It felt like home right away, and I've been here ever since. MB: At USM, what prompted you to major in social and behavioral sciences? AH: When I was back home, in the refugee camp, I always wanted to be an OB-GYN doctor — the reason being that a lot of young women in childbirth were dying in the hands of inexperi- enced doctors. When I came here, the more I realized that people, especially immigrants, are experiencing a lot of mental health issues, and the need also changed in the community. MB: Later as a caseworker at Gateway Community Services, what did your job entail? AH: You help people navigate day-to- day basic things like the health care system and immigration and connect them to resources. It's a kind of advo- cate, and at the same time helping them through that process. It opened my eyes to different communities, and I learned to be a better leader. MB: Once you decided to start a nonprofit, what was the first step? AH: You begin by figuring out your pur- pose. My purpose was to help and sup- port and advocate for and educate women and youth. en you file the paperwork. MB: What can you say about the people you help – Are they all im- migrants or refugees? AH: at's what I was thinking at first, but actually everyone comes here for help – including the homeless, the elderly. Last year, we provided social support to rural Oxford County. MB: And the immigrants you work with and support? AH: Mostly they are women who are experiencing domestic violence or have experienced some kind of mental health [issue]. ey are having a hard time adjusting to this new life, and we provide a safe space. ey come here for help, advice, someone to help them through this, and to settle down in Maine. We also have a monthly support group, and we help victims get out of a bad situa- tion. Sometimes they never actually tell us what happened, so we might not take legal action against whoever is abusing them, but we help them get out – and what's what matters. MB: Is helping women achieve fi- nancial independence part of that? AH: at's where I come in! I actually helped 150 people, if not more, last year, to get a job, and most of them were women. I've gotten to know a lot of employers in the area. MB: Is there no other place for these women to go? AH: ere are not a lot of resources. I only know of one other agency that does the work I do, but the commu- nity is much more than that. MB: What do you find most reward- ing about the work that you do? AH: Helping people and seeing them succeed. R e n e e C o r d e s , M a i n e b i z s e n i o r w r i t e r, c a n b e r e a c h e d a t r c o r d e s @ m a i n e b i z . b i z a n d @ r s c o r d e s Amina Hassan, born to Somali refugees in Kenya, founded Lewiston-based nonprofit Her Safety Net in 2021 to provide advocacy and well-being services to women and youth, many of whom are immigrants and victims of domestic and sexual violence. NonprofitMaine.org/PowertheCommonGood #NonprofitsWorkForME 1 IN Maine workers 100,000 100,000 6 employed Maine nonprofit jobs in Maine That's over by a is Nominate an outstanding young Maine leader today! Mainebiz seeks to honor the young professional and rising stars of Maine's business community for our second NextUp: 40 Under Forty Awards. M A I N E B I Z . B I Z / N O M I N AT I O N S N O M I N AT E BY J U LY 2 1 ! S PONS OR ED BY F O L L O W U S @ M A I N E B I Z #MB40u40

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