Name: Mehret Habte Mehanzel

Age: 29

Year of study / status in school: First year Masters In Social Work

Area of study and academic interests: Social Work, Refugees and Immigrants

Where you are from - brief description, locating yourself in context: I was born in Eritrea, left there when I was 12 years old and went to Sudan. Lived in Sudan for four years with my mother, two little brothers and little sister; and arrive in Seattle, Washington thirteen years ago. My father and two big brothers had arrived in Seattle in 1984, and sponsored us to come to the States in 1990. I now live in Seattle with my husband Yegizaw Michael and our one year old daughter Bilen.

Interests and hobbies: I love the arts. Music, dance, poetry…, and learning about different cultures. I currently play Capoeira, an Afro-Brazilian art form; it includes music, dance, singing, cultural education/history of Africans in Brazile.

Future career goals: Work with East African Immigrants in the States.

Describe your family: I come from a family of seven children. I have two big brothers and a big sister, two little brothers and a little sister and I am the middle child. My father and mother started as farmers in the highlands of Eritrea, but father got involved with the movement for the independence of Eritrea early on.

Share one childhood dream: To become Tegadalit just like my father.

How do you see yourself as useful in society: Through getting involved in my communities, helping build collations of people working against any form of oppresion.