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Mohamed Malim discusses nonprofit work in fashion industry

Malim seeks to redefine, affirm refugee narrative in age of Trump through nonprofit companies

Social entrepreneur Mohamed Malim spoke at the Watson Institute for International and Public Affairs Monday afternoon at the behest of the Center for Latin America and Caribbean Studies about how he strives to reframe the refugee narrative in the United States by spreading social awareness through fashion and storytelling.


In February 2017, Malim founded Dream Refugee, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that aspires to combat racism, xenophobia and stereotypes often encountered by refugees. To foster a connection between refugees and the greater American public, success stories that are often swept under the rug. Otherwise, 鈥渨e don鈥檛 hear a lot of success stories,鈥 Malim told The Herald. 鈥淲e don鈥檛 hear (how) refugees come to America, contribute a lot financially, bring values and contribute diversity.鈥 Each story is accompanied by a photographed portrait. Malim was inspired to create the organization during his junior year of college after President Trump spoke at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota where he insulted 鈥渢he whole Somalian refugee community with negative stereotypes (and) negative rhetorics.鈥


Malim founded Epimonia, a for-profit fashion company based in Minneapolis in December 2017. Epimonia directs 50 percent of its earnings toward supporting refugees in obtaining citizenship and scholarships. 鈥淲hat you wear is what you support,鈥 Malim said in his talk.


All Epimonia products are made by refugees. The company uses life jackets worn by refugees to create bracelets that serve as symbols of solidarity.


鈥淭here are over 70 million refugees around the world who are currently displaced,鈥 Malim said. As a former refugee from Kenya, Malim added, 鈥淚 was one of those kids.鈥


鈥淭he civil war in Somalia, which seems like a never-ending war, has been going on for about 25-plus years,鈥 he said. 鈥淒ue to the civil war, I wasn鈥檛 able to see the homeland of my parents. Fearing their safety, my parents fled 鈥 landing in what became my birthplace, Kenya.鈥 Malim and his family spent three and a half years in a refugee camp before coming to the United States.


Malim described growing up as a Somalian-American and 鈥渘avigating stereotypes,鈥 as well as the 鈥渃ulture shock鈥 of adjusting to a predominantly white high school in Minnesota. When Malim struggled, he emphasized that he would always remember his 鈥渕other鈥檚 resilience when the odds were against her,鈥 he said. 鈥淓ven though it wasn鈥檛 great at first, I knew I couldn鈥檛 let her down. I had to make her dreams come true.鈥


Malim later attended the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he studied business management and entrepreneurship in the Opus College of Business on a full scholarship. He also ran varsity track and field. Malim credits his time at the University of St. Thomas as an integral factor in his success with entrepreneurial pursuits. 鈥淗aving their support system helping me guide my entrepreneurship journey was huge.鈥 Malim said. 鈥淲hen I started Dream Refugee and Epimonia, they helped me participate in business competitions, helped me connect with journalists 鈥 to get my story out there.鈥


Malim encouraged University students to reach out to refugee communities in any way possible. 鈥淚 want college students to be involved in the refugee crisis,鈥 Malim said. Students 鈥渃an have an impact whether it鈥檚 taking time off, visiting at a local refugee non-profit organization 鈥 (or) being empathetic. It might be a small impact, but (it鈥檚) a long-lasting impact in the eyes of refugees.鈥


Clarification: This article was updated at 10:33 pm to clarify that the Center for Latin America and Caribbean Studies within the Watson Institute brought Malim to speak.
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