It was early morning at 9:30 am on March 3, 2016, when I checked my email as I have been patiently waiting to receive the news about the outcome of Bush Foundation Fellowship application. About 20 minutes earlier before I left home to drop off my kids to school, I told my wife that I have a feeling that a good news is on its way today or tomorrow! As soon as I dropped of my kids to school, I checked my email while at the school parking. There was-the email from Anita Patel, announcing the winners! A great sense of excitement and pressure kicked in at the same time for me! Here's the great news I have been waiting for! I called my wife and my mom to share the news! 
When the announcement was made, I have been inundated with congratulatory emails and phone calls from around the world. To my surprise, some of the first calls came from friends and family who live in Kenya and Australia after they saw the news announcement on Facebook. Within first two days, I have received over 120 emails from family, elected officials, philanthropic and community leaders and former colleagues. Additionally, I have been invited to join boards, committees and as keynote speaker for more than 20 times last six months. 
Before I officially started by fellowship in June, I spent considerable time preparing myself by mindfully thinking about how I use my time, talent and resources in a way that advances the strategic goals that I set for myself and for my community. I have stepped down from several commitments in order to focus on my Fellowship goals. 
Life opportunities have expanded for me since I became Bush leadership Fellow. Here's key activities and learning for past five months: 
In June, I was selected for a scholarship to attend the International Peacebuilders’ Forum 2016 (IPF) out of more than 120 applications! The forum, which took place in Caux, Switzerland, offered a safe space for reflection and connection for migrants and refugees who were displaced by violence and war, and practitioners who work with migrant and refugee communities. Caux, Switzerland has a long history as a location conducive for healing and reconciliation and was a central location during World War 1 as peacebuilding center. There were 500 participants in the conference coming from 84 countries. One of the key take away for me, which is close to my heart, is the need to recognize that displaced people already have the skills, the resiliency and the will to succeed. They needto be nurtured and valued in their new homelands as productive community members. 
 I then travelled to London to learn about Europe's immigrant integration efforts and comparing that to U.S. efforts. I learned about the various ways in which European society is trying to integrate immigrants. I learned about the need for holistic approach to addressing immigration issues and the need to view immigration not as a one-way street--meaning resettling the newly arrived, but viewing from a two-way approach where host community also shifts its mindset in light of the demographic and cultural changes. 
I also travelled to San Diego, California where I met with two scholars who specialize in creating educational curriculum. They are helping me develop and adapt a widely used international handbook on leadership and peacebuilding to the contemporary Minnesota context. As I continue to develop the curriculum, I am learning how to develop theoretical and practical tools for understanding and resolving community-wide conflict in a structured educational program. 
In the month of October, I led the organizing of the first public event of the Coalition of Somali American Leaders, an initiative I have had the pleasure of co-creating with some of our philanthropic and community-based organizations. This is an initiative that aims to strengthen the capacity of Somali and African led organizations by 
•Enhancing management and leadership capacity of key organization leaders. 
•Improving Out of the Classroom youth programs 
•Build a potential new talent pool that could increase the racial diversity of Minnesota's mainstream nonprofit/philanthropic sector. 
Finally, as a co-founder of BanQu, a new startup social enterprise, I am deeply learning about startup life! BanQu, which is an economic identity platform, was selected by the White House initiative, Partnership for Refugees, as social enterprise responding to President Obama's call to action on refugee issues! 
The first five months of my fellowships has been exciting, impactful, eventful and incredibly great learning experience. My professional network continues to expand considerably. I am so humbled to find and connect with so many allies who have similar passion as mine in expanding life opportunities for all.