Our Team & Mission
Our Mission
We are a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization committed to working with women in the Oromo diaspora to acknowledge past trauma, embrace healing, build connections, and create systems and supports to effect change in our global and local communities.
Rufo Jiru
Rufo Jiru is the founder of Anole Sisters. This organization came about as a result of Rufo's observations of the past trauma affecting her community, and the lack of resources available to women in particular. She felt moved to build connections and community for Oromo women to provide sister-to-sister support.
Rufo's background is working in biotechnology for over 15 years as a Research Chemist. She enjoys different activities as an advocate for Oromo parents in need of connections to local resources. Rufo has served the Oromo Community as a board member from 2016-2018. Rufo is an active member of the Disability Support International Advisory Working group and the MN Autism Council group. She is currently a board member on the
Multicultural Autism Action Network (MAAN) and the Minnesota International NGO Network (MINN). The MN Department of Human Services recently awarded Rufo the Civic Engagement Award for 2020. This award recognizes individuals who make their communities stronger through civic participation.
Maren Christenson Hofer
Maren Christenson Hofer’s interest in working with women & children within the Oromo community began through her friendship with Rufo Jiru, whom she met through a shared interest in supporting children with disabilities. Maren’s commitment to working with immigrant communities is rooted in her career in international business development in the medical device industry, where she was frequently the beneficiary of the kindness of strangers during her travels. Her background working in health systems and regulatory environments as well as cross-cultural communication provided a natural segue into working with the Oromo population to make sure health needs are met.
Maren is currently a board member on the Multicultural Autism Action Network (MAAN) and an active member of the MN Autism Council group.
Maren & Rufo work together to build bridges between the Oromo community and service providers, with the goals of ensuring access and building capacity within the community.
Help Our Cause
Your support and contributions will enable us to provide supplies and groceries for elders and families of children with disabilities in the Oromo community during the unprecedented Covid-19 pandemic and throughout other difficulties. Keep in mind your donations are tax deductible!
