Join us in celebrating community member and CLT homeowner, Zenebech Aly, who received the 2024 Heart of Community Honor award after being nominated by fellow community members.
Formerly the Unsung Hero Award, the Heart of Community Honor award presented by the McKnight Foundation honors “everyday champions” across Minnesota “whose compassion and contributions serve as the heartbeat” of their communities.
On recipient was chosen from each of seven regions of Minnesota, with Aly representing the Southeast region.
Nominated by members of the community, Aly was touched by their recognition and humbled to win the award.
Creating Community During COVID-19
After emigrating from Ethiopia, Aly struggled to find the same sense of community she had back home.
“In Ethiopia, your neighbors check on you; it’s a very connected community. If you have a problem, you call your neighbor, not 911,” Aly explained. “It’s not like that in the United States.”
Aly began building her own sense of community through her work as an interpreter with Intercultural Mutual Assistance Association (IMAA) and later as the Impact Operations Associate at United Way of Olmsted County, assisting other immigrants and refugees settle in Rochester, MN.
Working with people of different backgrounds, religions, and countries of origin showed Aly that her search for community wasn’t unique. Feeling isolated and displaced was a shared sentiment.
“We needed to create community in the United States; community outside of religion or place of origin,” Aly recalled.
Enter in the Ethiopian Community of Rochester (ECRM)– a community dedicated to fostering a vibrant and supportive environment for the Ethiopian community through preserving and promoting Ethiopian culture, providing resources for community members, and empowering individuals through education, social engagement, and economic development.
As a dedicated volunteer and member of the leadership team for ECRM, Aly has worked to help people find employment, housing, support, translate materials, and navigate an unfamiliar space.
The COVID19 pandemic only exacerbated existing challenges.
According to a study by Boston University, “the pandemic has had a disproportionate impact across different socio-economic groups in the U.S.” across health, employment, education, and more.
“COVID taught us a lot,” said Aly who witnessed these struggles first-hand in Rochester, MN.
It started with phone calls.
“We started calling people, asking how they were doing and if they needed something.”
Aly began coordinating grocery deliveries, supply drops, helping people complete the census, and offering an attentive ear to those who were feeling isolated.
Transportation and language also proved to be barriers for community members. To combat this, Aly worked to translate and explain information from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) so members of the community could make informed decisions.
These barriers extended beyond the pandemic, impacting people’s ability to navigate available services, information, and voting. Many of those Aly worked with were intimidated by government officials due to experiences they had in their countries of origin. Participating in the electoral process was overwhelming.
Empowering the Next Generation
Aly’s efforts have continued to grow and evolve to meet the community’s needs. The latest endeavor is a youth group. Made up of middle and high school students, the youth group focuses on nurturing leadership potential, teaching students to advocate for themselves, how to turn their ambitions into reality, and growing their intrapersonal skills.
Sharing their cultural heritage has been integral to the youth group’s activities.
“We have our own alphabet, our own way of counting time,” explained Aly, adding that over 80 languages are spoken in Ethiopia alone.
Students have been excited to explore their cultural heritage and share it with their peers, organizing a fashion show and other cultural exhibitions.
Dream of Homeownership
In 2021, Aly purchased her own home through the First Homes Community Land Trust (CLT) program.
First Homes has been serving the greater Rochester, MN area since 2000, dedicated to creating and preserving affordable homeownership opportunities. Using the CLT housing model makes this possible.
First Homes acquires or builds a house. First Homes subsidizes the house and sells it at a lower cost to an income-qualified buyer. When the owner sells the home, the increase in appraised value is shared between the seller and the home itself. This builds on First Homes’ original subsidy, allowing the home to be sold to another income-qualified buyer at a more affordable price. This cycle of affordability means that the 300+ homes in First Homes’ program have the potential to be affordable forever.
Homeownership has been incredibly influential for Aly.
“For me, homeownership is more than just having a place to live; it’s about creating a space where my family can grow, create memory, connect to the neighborhood, and continue contributing to the community,” Aly explained.
Owning a home has only reinforced Aly’s commitment to the community. “It has given me a deeper understanding of the housing challenges many families face and has motivated me to be more involved in initiatives that support affordable housing and homeownership opportunities,” explained Aly. “It also provides a stable environment that allows me to focus on my work and values I am passionate about.”
Her experiences have also allowed her to better educate others on the homebuying process.
Aly provides education to buyers on how to access downpayment assistance, financial literacy, and the importance of a credit score, and more “so people can make the best decision for themselves,” she explained.
Quantifying the Impact
Aly’s work shows just how important communication is as a workforce skill.
When asked what winning the Heart of Community Award, meant to her, Aly replied, “It means so much to me.” She is honored by the time and effort that her colleagues put into nominating her and thrilled to be recognized by them and Minnesota.
Aly’s work is far from complete. “There’s an information gap in our community,” she said. Using her experience and skills, Aly continues to work to connect people with the resources they need, saying, “ask your question and I will be here.”
It is impossible to quantify the impact that Aly’s work has had on the community. It lives and grows in each person whom she interacts with- even those who just needed a listening ear.
