VIDEO Runta News

March 15, 2026 12:43 am

YouTube Video UC6LeeeYS_5fCHjfth7a3XJQ_bm0L98Mp9zA

The long overdue meeting has finally come to fruition. Borders are erased and African communities of Washington and Oregon now call themselves Northwesterners. Thank you East African Community Services for hosting African Youth and Community Organization (AYCO) in Seattle.

The long overdue meeting has finally come to fruition. Borders are erased and African communities of Washington and Oregon now call themselves Northwesterners. Thank you East African Community Services for hosting African Youth and Community Organization (AYCO) in Seattle.

EACS & AYCO Strengthen Community Collaboration

Munira Mohamed, the Executive Director of East African Community Services has recently tour Jamal Daar, the Founder & Executive Director of African Youth & Community Organization of Portland, Oregon at SeaTac International Market in Washington State. Both leaders have exchanged ideas about how to strengthen their collaborations specially serving their knit communities of African descent.

Somali SeaTac Mall Keeps Culture Alive

Empowering Your Journey to Sobriety

At Rahma Recovery Center, they provide a clean, safe, and supportive environment tailored to your unique needs. Their holistic approach, personalized guidance, and structured living help you build a strong foundation for lasting recovery. Please join them on the path to a healthier, substance-free life. Donate today @ https://accounts.gethelp.com/registration/rahma_recovery. For more information, please visit https://rahmarecoverycenter.org/

The Appeal & Road to Recovery

Hope Academy and its parent organization, Our Hope celebrated on Sunday, it is 20th Anniversary of existence. The celebration was attended by the whole neighborhood SW of Seattle including Delridge, High Point, and White Center communities. Hope Academy was started as a school by father Abdulkadir Jama who was skeptical about Seattle Public schools. It is now managed by the same students who have studied in that Somali School and later went to colleges. It is one of the greatest achievement the community should proud of though the credit goes the Jama's Family.

Hope Academy Celebrates 20th Anniversary

Secretary of Health Dr. Umair A. Shah unveils “Be Well WA” alongside partners from the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Center, Seattle Children's, Seattle Seahawks, Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle, Swedish Health Services, Amazon Web Services, Tribal Health Organizations, the University of Washington School of Public Health, and many others.

“Be Well WA” is a new state initiative that transforms our approach to health for all Washingtonians. After the announcement, following speakers spoke to the local media including Runta News. Dr. Umair A. Shah, Secretary of Health, Washington State Department of Health, Chantell Harmon Reed, Director, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department, David Wu, President & CEO, Special Olympics Washington, and Hanifah Bellaluz, Senior Director of Community and Social Impact at Seattle Storms.

What is 'Be Well WA' Initiative?

Public Health – Seattle & King County has released its new strategic plan, which will guide their work over the next five years. At the launch event, Dr. Faisal Khan, Director of Public Health - Seattle & King County was joined by King County Executive Dow Constantine, a representative from our Community Partners, King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda, Chair of the King County Board of Health, and Dr. Umair Shah, Washington State Secretary of Health.
In the video, Dr. Matias Valenzuela, the Director Equity & Community Partnerships of the Department of Public Health, Co-Chair of Community Health Board Coalition Yordanos Teferi, and the Director of Community of Opportunities Elsa Batres -Boni spoke to Runta News about their excitement of the plan.

The Public Health 5 Year Strategic Plan

The East Heritage Festival combined with the Somalia's July 1st Celebration was the first of its kind in Seattle. The East African Community Services led by its best team including its Executive Director Munira Mohamed has shown another level of organizing. Their professionality of preparing events go beyond everyone's imagination.

New Level of July 1st Celebration

Mary Mitchell, the spokesperson of Washington Cares Fund speaks to Runta News Channel about the benefits of the program.

Benefits of WA Cares Fund

The Somali Community of Seattle have recently welcomed Author Nasra Noor in Seattle for her new book signing. "My Mommy Is a School Teacher" had won the Minnesota Book Award of the Year for its outstanding content and benefit for school children. Founder of Elmi Foundation, Fadumo Bulale' who is also an author of two books hosted the book signing event which was held at the Garfield Community Center in Seattle. Dr. Asha Warsame was the Keynote Speaker.

The Somali Book of the Year

Somalis in Seattle host the first townhall meeting for candidate Melissa Chaudhry who is running for US congress District 9 against the veteran congressman Adam Smith. Ayanle Ismail, one of the leaders of the community facilitated the conversation. Amina Ahmed who is a lobbyist at the Washington State Capitol, Olympia, and Sahid Chaudhry, a veteran of US Army were among some of the prominent community members who attended the town hall and highly contributed to the conversation.

Somalis in Seattle Host Candidate Melissa 4 US Congress

Introducing Candidate Melissa 4 US Congress

Seattle Afghan Students talk to Runta News Channel about the coding program they have learned from the 6 months program offered by Bridging Cultural Gaps. BCG is an organization that offers beneficial training programs to students from different cultures mainly East Africans, Somalis, and Afghans to prepare future jobs in the tech market such as Silicon Valley.

BCG's Hidden Genius Coding Afghan Students

BCG’s Coding Program, an Investment to Somalis & Afghanis Youth

Bridging Cultural Gaps in collaboration with Cleveland High School established a program that will increase the collaboration between students, parents, and school staff to provide support to youth who are vulnerable to the increase of gun violence especially among Somali and East African teenagers in Seattle area. Executive Director of Bridging Cultural Gaps, Ayanle Ismail and Cleveland High School Principal Jeff Lam spoke to Runta News Media about the collaboration. Their new program will bring together youth, families, and school staff to regularly discuss in ways that youth stay safe and focus on their school curriculum regularly.

BCG Creates Collaboration b/w Youth & Parents, & Schools

Washington Health Benefit Exchange Unveils Community Art Installations Promoting Healthcare for All. In an effort to build further awareness within immigrant communities across the state, Washington Health Benefit Exchange is collaborating with local artists Ivy Liu and Cecelia DeLeon, Urban Artworks, and members of the community to create two art installations promoting healthcare access for all.
The art installations will also foster community connection through participation in the creative process. Two community painting sessions took place in Seattle in April and May, guided by Artists Cecelia DeLeon and Ivy Liu. This clip features an interview run with Alex Nason, Project Director at Urban Artworks, Susan Lee, Early Learning Center Director of Operations, ReWA, J. Manny Santiago, Chief of Equity and Community Partnerships, WA Health Benefit Exchange, and Ivy Liu, an Artist during a community art installation at Refugee Women's Alliance main office in South Seattle.

Promoting Health Care for All thru Art

Our Company

Runta News is a multimedia organization which was first found as print form in Nairobi 1995.

Quick Links

More Pages

Newsletter

Latest News

From Mogadishu to Caracas: After U.S. Military Action

Washington State Elected Officials Condemn Trump’s Attacks on Somali Americans

STATEMENT OF APPRECIATION AND REFLECTION

Inspire Change: A Somali American Leader in Medicine

@2025— RUNTANEWS All Rights Reserved.