My name is Abdi Gurhan Mohamed, and I am running for Minneapolis Park Board
District 3.
As we rapidly approach election day, I wanted to reach out one last time to ask
for your vote for Park Board and to share why advocating for parks is so
personally important to me.
Growing up I spent most of my childhood in a refugee camp, with little access
to education and no access to parks to play in. I remember making my soccer
balls out of garbage bags and writing the alphabet on an old wooden board.
Still, my mother always encouraged me to learn, no matter how limited our
resources. It was my mother’s encouragement that helped me decide to leave my
native country. I came to the United States of America when I was 17 years
old, with no knowledge of the English language, and a 4th-grade education
level. Despite my limited knowledge, I got my GED and eventually earned my
bachelor’s degree in business administration.
When I first began my campaign for Minneapolis Park Board District 3, I started
by going to park board meetings, to learn about how the system works, the
history of our beautiful parks, and our independent park system. I have sat
through many park board meetings, taking notes, listening to the real issues
and concerns of many residents who call Minneapolis home.
Although I am grateful that Minneapolis has been named the best park system in
the country, there are always challenges, and in order to fix those challenges
we must elect the right people—people who have the ability to listen, the
ability to learn, the ability to work with one another even if they disagree.
I believe I have those qualities.
I am a father who didn’t have access to a park growing up, and I want to give
the chance I never had to my son and to every child in Minneapolis, regardless
of where they live in the city. I believe our kids deserve access to great
sports programs, arts, and other forms of recreation. Our district is the most
diverse district in Minneapolis, and we should all celebrate the beauty of our
diversity and learn from one another.
In Minneapolis, we have great amenities, great lakes, great parks, great green
spaces and our amazing river. I vow to never take these for granted and to
protect and preserve these great assets for generations to come.
Sincerely
Abdi Gurhan Mohamed.