LEAF Board of Directors| Board Nominee Application

Date: 09/18/17

Name: Naima Dido

Address: 191 Lynn Cove Rd.

City, St, Zip: 28804

Best Phone: 828-458-5288

E-mail/website: naima1bdullahi@gmail.com

This inquiry is to give us a sense of your LEAF connection. The answers do not need to be long.

1. Please share with us about your involvement with LEAF Community Arts.

I live in a very musical household, and LEAF has been an important part of our lives. I consider many of the LEAF staff

members my family.

2. What is your perspective on LEAFs role in the community currently, and the potential of LEAFs role in our

local community?

I love that LEAF seeks out CUlture Keepers in our local community and globally. LEAF is a Culture Keeper The

reminder for all of that art is as important as oxygen and food to our survival. As long as LEAF is around to keep us

excited about cultural preservation and sharing of art and promoting cultural exchanges we are in good hands.

3. What have you heard about LEAF from friends- what is the word on the street among your colleagues, peers,

and friends?

EAF people love what they do! Its not a just a job its a passion the whole team shares, and this is true, I have

witnessed it many times myself.

4. LEAFs signature event and key fundraising tool is the LEAF Festival twice a year at Lake Eden, and now a new

tradition is growing creating a community gathering called LEAF Downtown AVL in the summer. What other

festivals/special events have you attended that you resonated with, and what aspects inspired you? LEAFs
 2017 Fantastic Voyage African Legends Was the best LEAF festival I have been to. Its probably because I

am African and was making friends from back home. But I would also like to point out that LEAF has given the

opportunity of a lifetime to many of the young artists who traveled to Asheville. I equate the experience to

winning the lottery because thats exactly what it is for many of those young people. It is because of

organizations like LEAF that a child from the slums of Nairobi can be in Asheville giving back to the

community. I am everything I am because of the people who saw the potential in and took the time and

invested in me.

5. What work does LEAF do that feels important enough that you are willing to give time, energy and financial

contributions to LEAF?

LEAF International breathes life into communities that have been robbed of cultures and were told their art is not

good or sufficient enough. LEAF is waking people up to what their culture can contribute inspiring love and in

peace from within. These are the Words of my good friend David Kwizera from Rwanda.

6. Please describe the following 4 areas of your life as they relate to your interest in the LEAF Board:

a. Education: I have BS in International Business and minor in community development from the

University of Washington.

b. Job experience: I have 20 years of work experience with international NGOs and Humanitarian Aid

organization both in the US and Africa.

c. Volunteer & community experience:

Founding member of Safe Hands for Girls, an organization focused on educating communities about

harmful effects of Female Genital Mutilation (FGM) in Africa and the US.

Refugee Womens Empowerment and Protection Case Manager SME for CDC on FGM

Lifelong Womens rights activists and Anti-FGM campaigner

Program Director at Seed Programs International

Member of Arts and Oromo Cultural Preservation Coalition

PFLAG group organizer for Refugee community in Clarkston GA

d. Personal experience:

I was raised in a home where music was considered evil, and the only art I had access to is religious art. Fast

forward to my adult life, and I can say with confidence that art, music, and recognition of the importance my
 own culture saved me. Music also saved my sons life. Music and art freed me. I want to make sure others

like me have access, and being part of the LEAF family will afford me that opportunity.

7. Are there any concerns you have about leading LEAF towards 2020 by being part of the Board of Directors?

No, I cant wait to get started.

8. How could your skills and talents be of help to the Board and where would you like to apply those talents? I

look forward to exploring grant opportunities as well as using my network to connect LEAF with other

opportunities. I am a people person, and I love to travel, I look forward to using my professional and personal

travel opportunities to spread the word and engage LEAFers globally.

9. Based on your passions and interests, what areas of LEAF appeal to you?

Its hard to pick because LEAFs work both locally and internationally are both amazing, but I think I can be of better

use in supporting LEAFs Africa projects- Rwanda, Kenya, Ivory Coast are very close to my heart. I would like to

specifically help with project development and sustainability.

10. What is your primary interest in serving on the board?

I want to be useful and put my skills to work. As I said before, I am here today because of the many individuals who

gave their time and guidance. It is important that I continue giving as it was given to me.

11. What makes you a good fit for the LEAF Board of Directors?

I live for music and art. I am grateful for Jennifer and her team for their superpowers of connecting us culture

keepers on a global scale! I am full of dreams and ambition for my people in Africa and here at home, and I want to

make something of this energy that's in me. Like you all, for me my roots are as important as the air I breathe every

day. With that said :) I am here ready, where do we start?