Asha Ahmed
Minneapolis,USA
Summary
Results-driven leader with a robust background in strategic management and organizational growth, skilled in crafting and executing impactful business strategies that optimize processes and enhance team performance. Recognized for adaptability and effective collaboration, consistently delivering measurable outcomes in fast-paced environments. Strong communication and problem-solving skills complement a commitment to fostering a productive and positive team culture, driving success through collective effort and innovation. Passionate about leveraging expertise to navigate challenges and achieve sustainable growth.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Relocation Services Coordinator (RSC) & Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) Case Manager
Opportunity Community Services Inc.
Oakdale, MN
02.2023 - 08.2025
- Executed comprehensive case management services for individuals and families experiencing housing instability.
- Assisted clients in recognizing their needs. Developed customized service plans. Connected clients with appropriate resources and support.
- Championed client advocacy within the complex housing system to safeguard rights and entitlements.
- Monitored client progress towards achieving stable housing goals through regular check-ins and follow-ups
- Documented services provided to ensure accurate information. Supported team efforts by organizing client documentation.
- Developed relationships with local shelters, transitional housing programs, and other temporary accommodations to assist clients in finding suitable interim solutions
- Collaborated with interdisciplinary teams including social workers, counselors, healthcare providers, etc. to provide holistic support for clients' overall well-being beyond just securing stable housing
- Cultivated robust partnerships with local landlords to enhance acceptance rates for clients utilizing housing vouchers.
- Advocated for policy changes at the local level to address systemic issues contributing to homelessness or lack of affordable housing options
- Coordinated transportation assistance for clients without reliable access to public transit or personal vehicles
- Leveraged grant funding opportunities to expand program capacity and enhance service offerings
- Collaborated with legal aid organizations to provide tenants facing eviction with appropriate resources and representation when necessary
- Identified opportunities for process improvement within programs and implemented strategies to enhance efficiency and effectiveness
- Ensured compliance with regulatory requirements related to the programs' operations
- Coordinated community outreach programs to enhance service accessibility and engagement.
- Developed training materials to support staff onboarding and professional development initiatives.
Program Director & Specialist
Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute (PPGJLI)
Saint Paul, MN
12.2019 - 01.2024
- Developed and implemented program frameworks to support leadership development.
- Researching, planning, developing, and implementing the organization’s literacy programs and community outreach
- Initiate and set goals for programs based on the organization’s strategic objectives
- Manage marketing and outreach to the community
- Developing relationship-building skills between partners and community organizations
- Research various state and federal grants for literacy programs, and prioritize deadlines
- Prepare grant applications and funding continuation from the donors, and provide a detailed description of the project and its benefits to the community
- Communicate with partners and funders to gain community support to improve the program
- Report detailed status updates to the executive director and staff
- Provide processes for the literacy program and collaborate with the team to find ways to improve
- Facilitate focus group meetings for literacy data reviews to share with the funders and state legislatures
- Establish working relationships and cooperative arrangements with the community members, parents, and staff
- Develop and implement long-term goals and objectives to achieve successful outcomes of the program
- Serve as community judge for the “Writing for Social Change” competition to empower children to become future leaders and change-makers
- Assist with compiling a list of children's books written by diverse authors across the state, suggest
- Led strategic initiatives to enhance community engagement and outreach programs.
Advocate/Volunteer
Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee
Minneapolis, MN
03.2018 - 10.2022
- Provided basic services, tools, and resources for community members who had an inquiry regarding their immigration status and refugee asylum applications
- Supported MIRAC volunteers stop all Immigration Enforcement Operations and related agencies' activities in the community’s neighborhood
- Supported MIRAC volunteers' demand elected officials provide universal free healthcare access to all immigrant detainees’ immigrants
- Supported document translation during the MIRAC immigration demonstration across the Twin Cities
- Supported with fundraising and donations during the MIRAC and ICOM annual meeting
- Supported MIRAC’s ongoing campaign for legalization for all immigrants with DACA, TPS, and DED statuses with multiple meetings with U.S. representatives and senators
- Supported MIRAC volunteers with organizing DACA renewal workshops to support individuals who needed support with their immigration documents
- Supported MIRAC volunteers to train community members in Know Your Rights Training, Bystander training, Protest Safety/Marshall training, etc.
Consulting Services
Minnesota Education Equity Partnership (MNEEP)
Saint Paul, MN
07.2022 - 09.2022
- Participated and hosted qualitative research method to answer questions about the literacy program for the nonprofit organizations
- Facilitated face-to-face and Zoom call meetings to improve the reading and writing proficiency of middle schools in St. Paul
- Developed literacy data review of reading to advance racial equity in education and build space where each child is valued and uplifted in all spaces
- Shared literacy ideas to build on students' and educators' strengths to deepen insights and relationships through events, connections, conversations, relationship building, and advocacy activation
- Collaborated with educators to create a Race Equity for Accelerating Learning (REAL) policy to share with the state legislature
- Worked closely with parents and community to build core policies to increase students’ learning time to engage in high-quality programs
- Targeting state resources for student learners of all backgrounds, particularly BIP
- Redefining who “gets to decide” what happens in E-12 education in Minnesota
Mortgage Loan Processor
Wells Fargo
Minneapolis, MN
03.2021 - 05.2021
- Applied all regulations, and policies of passing regulations and certification
- Utilized areas such as SAL to research and resolve client issues; history, prior bills/billing history, and credit bureau reporting
- Investigated actions on inquiries, requests, or complaints on all loan products and services efficiently from the following customer access channels, issues, and follow-up as required to ensure satisfaction
- Processed all paperwork and adjustments received accurately to keep borrower accounts including forbearance, cancellation, AmeriCorps, and Loan Verification forms
- Read and follow instructions on work priority and assignments in daily emails sent out by the leadership
- Provided a high level of customer service to customers and met quality standards within the call center
- Communicated effectively with the team members and team leader and provided expectations to meet the daily goals of work progress and the company’s service and goal to provide exceptional customer service to its clients
- Processed mortgage applications, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements and company policies.
- Coordinated communication between borrowers, underwriters, and loan officers to facilitate timely approvals.
Community Organizer
Nokomis East Neighborhood Association (NENA)
Minneapolis, MN
02.2019 - 12.2019
- Worked closely with Somali and Spanish-speaking communities in Nokomis East residents to provide state and federal housing laws
- Provided outreach strategies to engage residents, solicit ideas, cultivate leaders, and help build community and organizational long-term relationships
- Organized cultural events and meetings for Nokomis East residents and businesses to connect the community, and shared important resources
- Organized and promoted the annual Bossen Renters Party, Twin Cities Mobile Market stops and pop-up events, National Night Out, Minneapolis, Monarch Festival, Kickball Tournament, Garage Sale, State of Neighborhood, and Annual Meeting
- Participated in peer networking and relationship building among the organization’s board members and the community
- Worked closely with the University of Minnesota staff at the Center for Urban and Regional Affairs (CURA) to learn CURA’s research to promote better housing laws that protect low-income families across the state and end homelessness
- Organized meetings with the Minnesota Department of Health and the community to learn about healthy lifestyles such as participating in cooking classes to decrease obesity and chronic illnesses
- Participated in monthly board members meeting to give them updates on the organization’s outreach progress, strategies for capacity building, community safety concerns, and ways to expand the work and recruit more volunteers in the Nokomis East neighborhood
Cashier/Sales Associate
Banana Republic (GAP INC.)
Minnetonka, MN
11.2003 - 03.2019
- Provided attentive and individualized customer service
- Provided exceptional customer service, addressing inquiries and resolving issues promptly.
- Processed credit card applications
- Executed all operational processes for in-store purchases and online orders
- Provided support to team members in customer interactions
- Provided support during store inventory
- Exceeded sales targets through effective customer engagement and product knowledge.
- Developed strong relationships with customers to enhance loyalty and repeat business.
- Processed customer transactions efficiently using point-of-sale systems.
Tenant Advocate & Organizer
AmeriCorps VISTA for HOME Line MN
Minneapolis, MN
02.2017 - 02.2019
- VISTA Affordable Housing Preservation Project (VAHPP)
- Advocated for HUD Project-Based Section 8, and helped low-income communities preserve the long-term affordability of buildings at-risk of opting out/conversion to market rate
- Provided legal training on tenants’ right to organize, assisted with drafting bylaws that sustain tenant associations, remedied habitability issues using state laws, and strategized on how to build long-term affordable housing preservation
- Assisted with legal representation and facilitation for tenants during management meetings regarding issues of maintenance, file reviews, and annual recertification, and connected tenants with HUD representatives
- Delivered capacity-building techniques to tenants on a variety of issues related to the preservation of Project-Based Section 8 housing across twin cities
- Educated tenants about building REAC scores (HUD health and safety inspection scores) of less than 60 points
- Reached out to HUD, MHFA (Minnesota Housing Finance Agency), and Saint Louis Park HRA regarding contract opt-out, landlord violating tenant rights to live in decent units, tenant’s safety, and charging illegal rent fees
HR/Admin Intern
American Refugee Committee (ALIGHT)
Minneapolis, MN
08.2015 - 01.2016
- Greeted and monitored everyone who enters the ARC HQ Office
- Provide a welcoming environment to all visitors, vendors, staff, and volunteers, and directed them to the correct department for business needs and meetings
- Scheduled weekly meetings for staff and clients
- Developed fundraising strategies in coordination with international team members and provided updates for upcoming events
- Carefully managed weekly donations, and billings
- Answered and directed phone calls in a professional and friendly manner to the correct department
- Coordinated logistical arrangements for workshops and training sessions for displaced individuals.
- Supported with emails, daily mail, and outgoing mail
- Assisted with Change-Makers Ball as a cashier at the maker’s collection
- Performed administrative support tasks, including multi-line phone, typing, copier, fax, daily mail, filing, scheduling, proofreading, transcribing handwritten information, and creating spreadsheets and other documents
- Assisted with refugee resettlement projects such as housing, economic assistance, education, and cultural understanding
- Assisted in the development of community outreach programs to support refugee populations.
Guest Service Representative/Night Auditor Supervisor
Radisson Hotel
Minneapolis, MN
03.2005 - 05.2011
- Assisted guests with reservation and check-out processes
- Processed credit cards, including Webvu submissions
- Prepared billing for all guests
- Addressed all guest concerns and responded to complaints as needed
- Made and confirmed reservations, collected payments, issued room keys, controlled guests’ access to safe deposit boxes, and contacted housekeeping or maintenance when guests reported problems
- Balanced accounts, conducted nightly financial audits, and referred guests’ comments and complaints to the front office manager
- Resolved employee's work-related issues and provide a safe environment
Education
Master's degree - Public Policy & International Leadership
University of St Thomas
Saint Paul, MN05.2017
Bachelor's degree - Sociology & Global Studies
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Minneapolis, MN12.2012
Associate in Arts (AA) - Liberal Arts & Sciences
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Minneapolis, MN09.2006
Skills
- Leadership experience, Computer proficiency, Communication skills, Organizational know-how, People skills, Collaboration talent, Problem-solving abilities (10 years)
- Effective meeting facilitation
- Effective public speaking
- Budget oversight
- Event coordination
- Project oversight
- Writing Skill
- Research
- Translation
- Developmental Disabilities Experience
- Legal Research
- Proofreading
- Fundraising
- Administrative Experience
- Conflict Management
- Decision-making
- Multitasking and organization
Accomplishments
- Used Microsoft Excel to develop inventory tracking spreadsheets.
- Resolved product issue through consumer testing
- Supervised team of educators and staff members
Certification
- Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in the Workplace from USF March 2021
Languages
English, Italian, Somali - Fluent
Timeline
Relocation Services Coordinator (RSC) & Housing Stabilization Services (HSS) Case Manager
Opportunity Community Services Inc.
02.2023 - 08.2025
Consulting Services
Minnesota Education Equity Partnership (MNEEP)
07.2022 - 09.2022
Mortgage Loan Processor
Wells Fargo
03.2021 - 05.2021
Program Director & Specialist
Planting People Growing Justice Leadership Institute (PPGJLI)
12.2019 - 01.2024
Community Organizer
Nokomis East Neighborhood Association (NENA)
02.2019 - 12.2019
Advocate/Volunteer
Minnesota Immigrant Rights Action Committee
03.2018 - 10.2022
Tenant Advocate & Organizer
AmeriCorps VISTA for HOME Line MN
02.2017 - 02.2019
HR/Admin Intern
American Refugee Committee (ALIGHT)
08.2015 - 01.2016
Guest Service Representative/Night Auditor Supervisor
Radisson Hotel
03.2005 - 05.2011
Cashier/Sales Associate
Banana Republic (GAP INC.)
11.2003 - 03.2019
Bachelor's degree - Sociology & Global Studies
University of Minnesota-Twin Cities
Associate in Arts (AA) - Liberal Arts & Sciences
Minneapolis Community and Technical College
Master's degree - Public Policy & International Leadership
University of St Thomas
Awards
Community Builders from Philanthropic Collective to Combat Anti-Blackness & Realize Racial Justice (2021), May 2021, Provided outreach support to communities facing racial injustice across the state, education, leadership, and justice, Provided strategies to build community engagement in social justice through philanthropic coalitions and prevent racism in the state, Facilitated community meetings to discuss ending racial wealth disparities between black and white in the state, and build innovative solutions, transformational justice, safety, economics, health, and wellbeing.