America Here I Come

America Here I Come: A Somali Refugee’s Quest for Hope brings you the moving story of Hamse Warfa. It is a heartrending narration of his escape from a civil war that ultimately claimed the lives of more than two million people in Somalia to his becoming a leading light here in the U.S. The author takes us back to his difficult life as a refugee in the camps in Kenya and the trials of adapting to life as a New American. The book is candid about the kind of challenges that new immigrants face seeking education and integration in the U.S. The cultural shocks that Hamse faces in the new land of opportunity are as funny as they are thought-provoking. Hamse is determined to make an honest and meaningful existence, and he openly shares what really goes on in the back of an immigrant's mind throughout the process.. Hamse’s personal story is helpful for Americans to understand their neighbors (New Americans) and the intricate web of global affairs that often lead people to seek refuge in distant lands Hamse talks of his struggle with education, partly for the feeling of alienation that he suffers in a foreign land, and second due to his poor language skills. But he confronts the language barrier and eventually gets the breakthrough he has always yearned for. He earns a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from San Diego State University, and later Masters of Science in Organizational Management & Leadership from Springfield College. Currently, Hamse is pursuing his doctoral degree in Public Administration at Hamline University.

America Here I Come: A Somali Refugee’s Quest for Hope brings you the moving story of Hamse Warfa. It is a heartrending narration of his escape from a civil war that ultimately claimed the lives of more than two million people in Somalia to his becoming a leading light here in the U.S. The author takes us back to his difficult life as a refugee in the camps in Kenya and the trials of adapting to life as a New American. Challenges: The book is candid about the kind of challenges that new immigrants face seeking education and integration in the U.S. The cultural shocks that Hamse faces in the new land of opportunity are as funny as they are thought-provoking. Hamse is determined to make an honest and meaningful existence, and he openly shares what really goes on in the back of an immigrant's mind throughout the process.. Hamse’s personal story is helpful for Americans to understand their neighbors (New Americans) and the intricate web of global affairs that often lead people to seek refuge in distant lands Breakthroughs: Hamse talks of his struggle with education, partly for the feeling of alienation that he suffers in a foreign land, and second due to his poor language skills. But he confronts the language barrier and eventually gets the breakthrough he has always yearned for. He earns a bachelor’s degree in Political Science from San Diego State University, and later Masters of Science in Organizational Management & Leadership from Springfield College. Currently, Hamse is pursuing his doctoral degree in Public Administration at Hamline University. Successes: Certainly, Hamse is no longer the naive boy of mixed identity he was close to 20 years ago when he first landed in the United States. This book is not an appeal for pity. Rather, it is a living proof that with persistence you can conquer the tallest barriers standing between you and your success. Today, Hamse serves as an advisor to philanthropy working with foundations. He also is an expert in peacebuilding serving as a board and executive committee member for Alliance for Peacebuilding, a global membership association of more than eighty peacebuilding organizations, 1,000 professionals, and a network of more than 15,000 people developing processes for change in the most complex, chaotic conflict environments around the world. Hamse is also a motivational speaker on conquering adversity, building resilience, and the importance of education and academic success for low-income children. America Here I Come: A Somali Refugee’s Quest For Hope is both a memoir as well as a view on leadership for people in positions of authority both in private and public sectors. It is a must-read for students of political science, leadership, history, as well as immigration. For New Americans facing the challenge of integration and needing to redefine their new identity, this is the book you need to understand your situation better and chart your way forward towards success

Hamse Warfa is the author of, 'America Here I Come: A Somali Refugee’s Quest For Hope', (Sunshine Publishing, 2014), detailing his personal tribulations escaping war in his native country of Somalia and his zeal to turn challenges in his life into opportunities for growth. Born in Somalia, Hamse moved with his family to the United States in 1994, after escaping Somalia’s civil war and spending three years living in refugee camps in Kenya. With no knowledge of English, Hamse’s journey to integrate into U.S. culture was a challenging one. Today, Hamse serves as an advisor in philanthropy working with foundations. He also is a strategist on conflict resolution and peacebuilding, serving as a board and executive committee member for Alliance for Peacebuilding, a global membership association of more than eighty peacebuilding organizations, 1,000 professionals, and a network of more than 15,000 people developing processes for change in the most complex, chaotic conflict environments around the world. Hamse is also a motivational speaker on conquering adversity and building resilience. He regularly speaks on the importance of education and academic success for low-income children and youth. As an organizational consultant, presenter and program officer managing grants worth millions of dollars, Hamse is committed to improving the lives of the most underserved communities around the world. To refugees and new immigrants in the U.S., Hamse is a passionate crusader for education and easier integration into mainstream America. Prior to joining MAC Philanthropies, Hamse served as Senior Program Officer managing grants worth millions of dollars at Alliance Healthcare Foundation, a San Diego-based foundation working to improve access to healthcare for underserved communities. In 2008, Hamse helped founded the Institute for Horn of Africa Studies and Affairs (IHASA), a think tank working to help end/reduce the persistence violence in the Horn of Africa region while providing accurate information on the socio-economic and political situation of the region and the Diaspora community. Hamse is a doctoral candidate at Hamline University. He earned an undergraduate degree in political science at San Diego State University and Master of Science in organizational management and leadership at Springfield College. Hamse also holds graduate-level certificates in Foundations of Conflict Analysis and Preventing Deadly World Conflicts from the United States Institute of Peace, a congressionally funded institution that works to prevent and end conflicts. From 2006 to2010, Hamse was member and the chair of the San Diego Refugee Forum, a professional association serving people fleeing violence and persecution. In 2009, San Diego Metropolitan Magazine selected Hamse as one of 40 of San Diego’s outstanding young business and civic leaders’ awards. In 2010, San Diego’s Channel10, an ABC NEWS affiliate, presented Hamse with its 2010 Leadership Award. Hamse’s personal story was also included in the book, The TRY: Reclaiming the American Dream(New York: Skyhorse Publishing, 2010). The book contains a dozen stories of ordinary people who’ve overcome adversity and have done extraordinary things across varied fields of endeavor.