Posted by Ben Lowry

President Don Zillman introduced our own Portland Rotary member Abdullahi Ali as our speaker. For those who didn’t get the chance to read the Windjammer or haven’t had the distinct opportunity to speak in any detail with Abdullahi, he was born in Somalia, raised in Kenya, and resettled in Maine in 2009, after spending his younger years in a refugee camp. He has spent his career helping those less fortunate – and is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Gateway Community Services.

As described on its website, Gateway Community Services “was founded in order to help improve the mental health status of people in Maine, with a specialized concentration of practice for new Mainers who have recently immigrated to the United States. Gateway was formed to support and empower all people who are suffering from mental anguish, trauma, emotional distress, and other evidence of social instability. Our service delivery platform is tailored to meet the needs of individuals and their families from all walks of life, including specially designed service delivery for refugees who have suffered deeply in their countries of origin and in their journey to America.”

Having fled Somalia when civil war broke out and seen mass killings and inhumane treatment of others, Abdullahi is committed through Gateway to providing personal care services for the elderly and those with disabilities. Abdullahi spoke movingly of how refuges and those people living in other countries are mistreated when suffering from mental health issues. He described how they are often given little or no support unless they are harmful to themselves or others. And if intervention is needed, they are sometimes locked up without any diagnosis or treatment – and the government can even take away their children.

Through Gateway, Abdullahi shows clients that treatment for mental health disabilities is different than what they may have heard or experienced in the past. Gateway provides home support services to Maine families – including refugees who may speak different languages – so that they are given access to needed resources to help them become independent and contributing community members. He indicated that for many this begins with education about the services available and advising trust for the service providers. 

It was clear after his presentation, that looking for guest speakers who make a positive impact on our community can be as simple as asking some of our own Rotary members.
 

Photo L-R: 1st Vice-President John Curran, Abdullahi Ali and President Don Zillman.