Fartun Weli

Too often, Muslim women come into public visibility as victims who can be helped, who can be saved. Stories from a mother’s legacy inform this invitation for activism that doesn’t involve rescuing anyone. Fartun is the founder and Executive Director of Isuroon, a nonprofit with a mission to help Somali women build self-sufficiency and maintain healthy lives. Isuroon is committed to improving the health and upward mobility of Somali women in Minnesota, US and Somalia and promotes health and empowerment for Somali women through health education, communication, and advocacy to create policy change. Fartun has two decades of experience in the medical field (including 10 years as a health and technology specialist for Park Nicollet Clinics). Ms. Weli has gained international prominence for challenging the Somali taboo against speaking openly about reproductive and mental-health issues and is recognized as an indispensable liaison between the Somali and mainstream communities This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.youtube.com/redirect?event=video_description&redir_token=QUFFLUhqbVE2V0RCeEpYeGltODllZ3E0bVNMVWEwRTlqd3xBQ3Jtc0tuMlhESTBjOUR0QmR4WlBReG9LblJ4NTFhbXhtU1AySW5RZ1BLaUZqR21EdlRRLW1BR3RfYzdiU2FwWDVRV3NXZExTTExJNzloZmJhRThsX3hVV2pabjNkbTB1QUUxVk5zQTRlMlI0QVhvNEdhXzQ3aw&q=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.ted.com%2Ftedx&v=norfByce8y8