Our Stories
For over 55 years, Oakridge Neighborhood has been changing lives through stable housing and responsive programming for residents and others in the community.
There are many stories of success. Here are just a few of our #OakridgeStrong stories.
From Refugee to Advocate
Liza Philipo is an Oakridge Neighborhood team member whose journey from refugee to community advocate is truly inspiring. Liza's parents are originally from Eritrea. She was born in Sudan and then moved with her family to Ethiopia, before ultimately coming to the...
Abubaker’s Story
Abubaker Mohammed and his wife Madina became U.S. citizens in 2019. Their five children became citzens in August 2020. It was an important achievement for the Mohammeds on a journey far from their beginnings in Sudan. The pair applied and moved to the United States in...
Dalia’s Story
My name is Dalia Elnour. I arrived in the United States in December 2024 with my husband and our six children. We had spent the previous three years in Eygpt after fleeing war in our native Sudan, where we'd been employees of the U.S. government abroad. When we first...
Lilianna’s Story
My name is Lilianna Bernstein, Associate Director of Admissions at Drake University. My connection to Oakridge Neighborhood is as a passionate parent and advocate for its early childhood program - Oak Academy, a truly special school. I have two daughters - Flora and...
Zami’s Story
I'm Zamiratu Dainkeh, and I'm 19-years-old. My Oakridge journey began when I was six-years-old, when I moved to the neighborhood with my mother. We lived at Oakridge until my 15th birthday when we bought our first home. Even after moving, my brother and I have...
