Samuel Gebru
| Samuel M. Gebru | |
|---|---|
 Samuel Gebru speaks at the Embassy of the United States to Ethiopia, August 15, 2012 | |
| Born |
November 20, 1991 Khartoum, Sudan |
| Residence | Cambridge, Massachusetts |
| Nationality | Ethiopian American |
| Ethnicity | Ethiopian |
| Education |
Cambridge Rindge and Latin School Concordia College |
| Known for | Ethiopian Global Initiative |
| Religion | Ethiopian Orthodox Church |
Samuel Michael Gebru (Amharic: ሳሙኤል ሚካኤል ገብሩ) (born November 20, 1991) is an Ethiopian American social entrepreneur and founder and CEO of the Ethiopian Global Initiative.[1][2]
Early life
Samuel was born at the Palestine Hospital in Khartoum, Sudan on November 20, 1991. Samuel's parents are both Ethiopian with his father from Wukro, Tigray and his mother from Hawzen, Tigray.[3] His father co-owned a shoe shop in Khartoum and his mother was a homemaker for Arab and American businessmen.[3][4] In 1995, he moved to the United States with his mother.[4] Samuel's parents divorced in 1997, and he has continued to live with his mother.[3]
He earned his High School Diploma from the Cambridge Rindge and Latin School on June 4, 2009.[5] In 2007, Samuel founded his high school's student newscast, Youth View Cambridge, and served as its first Executive Producer.
Samuel spent much of his childhood attending programs at the Cambridge Community Center and the Willis D. Moore Youth Center.[6][4] He is currently earning a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science at Concordia College in Moorhead, Minnesota, graduating in May 2014.[7][8]
Political Involvement
Samuel has been recognized as a young leader in Ethiopia and the United States.[2][9][10] He is noted for demonstrating leadership abilities and broad experience in community organizing, cultural competency, youth and family advocacy and service in the public and private sectors.[1][11][12][13] He has worked with and consulted for various local and international nonprofit organizations and political campaigns. In addition to EGI, Samuel serves on the Board of Directors of Africans in Boston (AiB) to actively support the political engagement and social priorities of the African diaspora in Massachusetts.[1][14]
Samuel has worked for four election campaigns in Massachusetts. Additionally, he was a legislative intern for Massachusetts State Senator Steven Tolman in 2008. His first involvement was volunteering for Cambridge City Councillor Marjorie C. Decker's reelection in 2007. In 2009, he was Campaign Manager for Cambridge School Committee Member Marc McGovern's reelection bid. Decker asked Gebru to work for her again in her Massachusetts State Senate candidacy in 2010 as Volunteer Director.[15] She ended her candidacy by withdrawing prior to Election Day.[16] In 2011, Samuel served as Communication Director for Larry Ward's candidacy for Cambridge City Council.[17] Ward did not win a seat on the City Council but later was appointed to the Cambridge Election Commission.[18]
From 2007 to 2009, Samuel served as a Voting Member of the City of Cambridge Coordinating Council for Children, Youth and Families.[19] He was the first youth to sit on the Council's Executive Committee and the first African on the Council. Part of his achievements on the Council included formalizing the 2010-2012 Strategic Plan.[20] He was a member of the Council's Youth Involvement Subcommittee from 2006 to 2009. Through his involvement, Samuel has represented the City of Cambridge at three conferences of the National League of Cities and has advocated for greater rights for youth, including voting rights.[21][22]
Samuel was a leading force behind the Cambridge Public Schools District's decision to add a Muslim holiday onto the official district calendar, closing school for one day as it does with Jewish and Christian holidays. Working closely with Arab and Muslim students and teachers and with Cambridge School Committee Member Marc McGovern, Samuel organized a strong showing of support and advocacy efforts that led to the Superintendent's and School Committee's support for the Muslim holiday initiative.[11][23]
Ethiopian Global Initiative
Samuel Gebru is the Chief Executive Officer of the Ethiopian Global Initiative (EGI). He founded EGI in 2006 as a 14-year-old student and has been pivotal in its development and growth.[4] His responsibilities include directing the vision and management of the organization.
After watching the 2004 Oprah Winfrey Show program on fistula in Ethiopia and the work of Dr. Catherine Hamlin, Samuel was motivated to organize youth and raise funds for the Addis Ababa Fistula Hospital.[13] At age 13, he convened a meeting of 13 Ethiopian American youth in Boston and discussed how they could support the hospital. The group was known as the "Ethiopian Team."[4] The project’s 13 members raised funds to sponsor 11 women for obstetric fistula repair surgery. On October 22, 2006 the Ethiopian American Youth Initiative was formed as a successor to the Ethiopian Team.[4][2]
Under Samuel's direction, the Ethiopian American Youth Initiative embarked on a national expansion on August 16, 2007, recruiting members throughout the United States.[13] On February 12, 2010 the organization opened its headquarters in Cambridge, Massachusetts. After the 2010 Ethiopian American Youth Initiative Conference in Washington, D.C., the organization changed its name to the Ethiopian Global Initiative and launched operations internationally.[13][4]
Personal life
Samuel resides in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Baptized in the Ethiopian Orthodox Church as an infant, Samuel remains a devout member and has taught various religion classes.[3] Samuel maintains an active presence on social media including a personal blog.[17] He is multilingual and Arabic is his first language.[4][12]
References
- 1 2 3 The young diaspora, Retrieved September 29, 2012.
- 1 2 3 Interview with Samuel Gebru, a young promoter of Economic Development in Ethiopia, Retrieved October 20, 2011.
- 1 2 3 4 Community Profile: Samuel Gebru, 17, Retrieved March 5, 2009
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 A Conversation With Samuel Gebru, Retrieved February 8, 2011.
- ↑ Cambridge Rindge and Latin seniors graduate with 'amazing potential', Retrieved June 4, 2009.
- ↑ Two girls shot, one dead on Willow Street (updated), Retrieved June 3, 2012.
- ↑ Global Like No Other: Samuel Gebru, Retrieved September 19, 2011.
- ↑ Gebru is Global Like No Other, Retrieved October 26, 2012.
- ↑ Ambassador Battle Discusses People to People Relationships between the U.S. and Africa, Retrieved August 15, 2012.
- ↑ Ethiopia: A Youth Ambassador?, Retrieved February 2, 2008.
- 1 2 Letter: Student leadership allows Cambridge to celebrate Muslim holiday, Retrieved November 7, 2011.
- 1 2 Voice of America Tigrinya Program Features EGI, Retrieved October 26, 2012.
- 1 2 3 4 History | Who We Are | Ethiopian Global Initiative, Retrieved October 26, 2012.
- ↑ Africans in Boston Board of Directors, Retrieved October 26, 2012.
- ↑ Cambridge City Council and School Committee Campaign Finance Reports 2009-2011, Retrieved October 29, 2012
- ↑ Cambridge city councilor Decker withdraws from state Senate race, Retrieved March 1, 2010
- 1 2 Join Larry Ward's 2011 Cambridge City Council Campaign, Retrieved July 11, 2011
- ↑ Ins and Outs – Monday, Mar 26 City Council meeting and other news, Retrieved March 26, 2012
- ↑ Letter of Appointment from Cambridge City Manager to City Council, Retrieved March 19, 2007
- ↑ Cambridge Kids' Council Strategic Plan, Retrieved April 30, 2009
- ↑ Cambridge Kids' Council Visits Rep. Wolf, Retrieved March 13, 2009
- ↑ The Young Votes, Retrieved August 18, 2009
- ↑ School Committee considers adding Muslim holidays to calendar, Retrieved December 16, 2009.