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Thursday, June 21, 2018

Farewell, friend.

Earlier this week, one of the founding members of A Little Something died. To call her a founding member doesn't really describe the role she played in helping to establish this organization. We'd like to take a few minutes to tell you about Moumina Marketi, known to most as Mama Moumina. She came to be a bit legendary in the history of A Little Something.

When A Little Something was still just an idea and not yet an organization, the majority of the women who were interested were ethnic Bantu from Somalia. The Somali Bantu arrived in the U.S. with more challenges than most, but they had a solid community structure that helped them work together to navigate their resettlement and the overwhelming cultural differences they encountered upon arrival. The community was led by a council of elders, and Mama Moumina was the apex of that hierarchy. She was deeply respected and her opinions held tremendous influence in the Bantu community.

It wasn't until Mama Moumina met with us and then gave her blessing deeming A Little Something to be a good idea that the Somali Bantu women felt that they could be a part of it. She encouraged all of the women in her community to at least give it a try. She knew that for these women to be able to earn their own money (that they could keep) was going to be deeply empowering and she wanted to see it happen.


Mama Moumina was what many would call a character. She was a small woman with a huge personality and a commanding presence (we were all a little afraid of her, to be honest). She was wise, strict, and often very, very funny. She could silence a room with a withering stare or say just a few words and leave everyone in fits of laughter. She was a force to be reckoned with, and if it hadn't been for her endorsement of our project in those beginning days--and her willingness to lead by example by trying something new and unfamiliar herself--A Little Something probably wouldn't have gotten started.

Mama Moumina had been a skilled basket weaver in Africa and wanted to continue weaving in Denver. Unable to find the traditional African materials she was familiar with, she worked with our co-founding member, Anna, to try applying her skills using unconventional materials such as plastic bags and fabric. Making jewelry did not come easily to her, but she was determined to try--and keep trying. Eventually, her husband, Shamura, followed her lead and he became the first and only male participant in A Little Something.

Mama Moumina didn't care for Colorado winters, so after two years in Denver, she moved to be with relatives in Arizona. We didn't see her much after that, but others in the community let us know she was doing well and was happily enjoying the Phoenix sunshine.

Today we mourn the loss of someone who deeply influenced our organization. Our thoughts are with Shamura and all of Moumina's family today.