Central Minnesota Teacher, Author, Writer & Visual Storyteller

My name is Anisa Hagi-Mohamed - a Somali-American educator, artist, community leader, and mother based in Central Minnesota. I’m the author of My Diasporic Diary, a reflective journal for diaspora communities everywhere. I'm also the creator of Kalsooni, the first ever deck of bilingual Somali-English affirmation cards.

I came to the United States when I was five years old after my family fled from the civil war that broke out in Somalia in 1990. I have called many places in the United States home, from the South to Central and Southern California to the Midwest. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Applied Linguistics at San Diego State University and my master’s in the same subject at Saint Cloud State University.

After teaching various age groups (from Kindergarten to Adult Basic Education) for multiple years, I recognized that there was a dire need for bilingual Somali and English educational resources. To meet this need, I created multiple resources as part of my Power of Positive Language Series. These resources and materials serve three main purposes: 1) providing authentic representation of the Somali community across multiple media formats and platforms, 2) tapping into the power of positive language to transform and heal communities, and 3) creating unique bilingual Somali and English products that can be used to educate and empower all age groups. My work has been featured in the Saint Cloud Times, Tusmo Times, Sahan Journal, Star Tribune, and MPR.

Currently, I live in Saint Cloud, Minnesota with my husband and three children. In my free time, I love to research, read, write, and create visual stories about my passions: mental health, culture, language, identity and home.


Services

The services I provide - from cultural artwork to grant writing, to graphic and web design!

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MPR - 'It means everything': Somali community creates word for autism

The creation of the new term is a part of a larger community effort to destigmatize autism
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Sahan Journal - ‘Slow-minded’ becomes ‘unique mind’: Somalis in Minnesota create new terms to define autism and build acceptance.

The Somali language hasn’t included a word for “autism.” Parents say that omission plays into community stigma and misunderstanding.
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Star Tribune - Somalis in Minnesota create new terms to define autism and build acceptance.

Featured in the Star Tribune for advocacy work around neurodivergent terminology in Somali.
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The Clubhouse: Ramadan Artist Anisa Hagi-Mohamed

My guest appearance on the Star Studio show at Children's Minnesota.

SC Times: St. Cloud Teacher Designs First-Ever Somali Affirmation Cards

Cover page story about Kalsooni cards on the St. Cloud times. Interview by Becca Most - 11/19/2021.
Isirka Podcast

Interview with Isikra Podcast

A podcast interview I did with the amazing Amina Isir for Isirka Podcast.
Louise

In Conversation with Louise K. Waakaa’igan

My Sister and I were honored to read "response poems' to poet Louise K. Waakaa'igan.

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Heybad Online Spotlight

An interview I had in October (2020) with the Heybad Online.

Sunday Morning Lyricality Feature

My poem 'Maxaa Kaa Maqan' featured on Sunday Morning Lyricality.

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I AM 742: The Road to Teaching

An interview I had in October (2018) with Carissa Hopkins-Hoel for my district (ISD 742).
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Hargeisa Literary Magazine - Maxaa Kaa Maqan?

My poem Maxaa Kaa Maqan featured on Hargeisa online Literary Magazine.