Congratulations to former LCS Northwest employee Kayse Jama for being named to the Oregon State Senate representing Multnomah County, East Portland and Clackamas County. Kayse is a Somali immigrant who fled his war-torn country to become a prominent community organizer in the Portland area.

Senior District Director Salah Ansary and a former employee Debbie Fisher helped Kayse to obtain asylum when he arrived in the Portland area several decades ago. Kayse then worked for us in our refugee services before moving on to train immigrant and refugee community leaders through the New Voices Fellowship.

Kayse is the co-founder and former executive director of the non-profit organization Unite Oregon, which supports and advocates for social justice. In the Oregon Senate, Kayse is the chair of the Committee on Housing and Development. Commissioners in Multnomah and Clackamas counties recently selected Kayse to replace Shemia Fagan, who left the Oregon Senate to serve as the Oregon secretary of state.