1. Semhar Araia is an Eritrean American social activist, professor and international lawyer.
15 Facts About Semhar Araia
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Semhar Araia is the founder and Executive Director of the Diaspora African Women's Network non-governmental organization.
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Semhar Araia was born between 1978 and 1979 in New York City to immigrants from the Province of Eritrea in the former Ethiopian Empire.
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Semhar Araia's parents had emigrated to the United States in the late 1960s for education and work.
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Semhar Araia was named after the coastal Eritrean province of Semhar.
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Semhar Araia was admitted to the University of Michigan and American University law schools, but opted instead to attend the Marquette University Law School in Wisconsin in order to remain closer to her family.
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Semhar Araia later worked toward and received a JD degree from the institution in 1999.
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Semhar Araia served as a foreign policy analyst in the United States Congress, and has over a decade of work experience in public policy, US-Africa foreign policy, international humanitarian law and conflict resolution.
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Semhar Araia has encouraged expatriates to re-invest in Africa's development through leadership, organizations and especially the remittance system.
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Additionally, Semhar Araia serves as the Horn of Africa regional advisor for Oxfam International.
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Semhar Araia is a board member of the Africans in the Diaspora organization, which focuses on development in Africa through engaging local communities as well as expatriates.
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Semhar Araia has served as a member of the Obama-Biden Presidential Transition Team.
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Semhar Araia is likewise an original founder of the IMPACT non-profit organization.
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On 23 May 2024, Semhar Araia was among the guests invited to the state dinner hosted by US President Joe Biden in honor of President William Ruto at the White House.
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In 2013, Semhar Araia was selected as the AU's Diaspora Awardee of the Year.