About Us​

Transformation, Social Change

Somali Family Services (SFS) is a story of transformation, resilience, and enduring women’s leadership. Founded in the early 2000s within the Somali diaspora community of Minnesota, SFS began as a community-based initiative helping Somali immigrants and refugees rebuild their lives through employment and skills training, housing support, childcare, health education, advocacy, and voter education. These efforts were made possible through the generosity of private donors, individuals, and the Minnesota Department of Human Services.

From its inception, SFS was designed to serve families, women, children, and marginalized communities, with women leading at every level. The majority of its Board of Directors were women, and key positions — including Treasurer, Vice Chair, and Secretary — have always been held by women, ensuring that women guided the organization’s direction and accountability. Among its distinguished former board members is Ilhan Omar, now a U.S. Congresswoman, whose service reflects SFS’s enduring legacy of empowering women leaders.

As Somalia began to rebuild, SFS transitioned from a diaspora initiative to a national NGO rooted in Somali communities. Yet, it continues to maintain strong connections and support from the Somali diaspora and the original Somali Family Services in the USA — a bridge that strengthens its capacity, global partnerships, and sense of shared purpose.

Today, SFS proudly stands as a women-led national organization advancing inclusive governance, protection, and community resilience. From Minnesota to Somalia, its story is one of continuity — grounded in family, driven by women, and sustained by the bond between Somalia and its diaspora.