Mr.
Hadera brings a deep commitment to community organizing and public
advocacy on the social and public health issues facing immigrants and
refugees. He experienced first-hand the realities of refugee life,
leaving his home country of Ethiopia in 1977 for refugee camps in the
Sudan, before emigrating to the U.S. in 1979.
Asfaha founded the organization known as the Committee to Aid
Ethiopian Refugees in May of 1981, which evolved to become African
Services Committee in 1993. As Co-Executive Director, Mr. Hadera has
been recognized by many political, social and public health
institutions as a major influence behind the oldest and largest African
health services organization in the United States. The organization
serves over 10,000 African and Diaspora clients each year through its
Harlem-based health and social services programs. Under his leadership,
African Services Committee has developed operations in Africa and
established a groundbreaking HIV testing and care programs in thiopia,
providing free VCT services to over 30,000 people per year.
Asfaha’s vision has motivated African Services Committee to
collaborate with a variety of other African community-based
organizations in the U.S. and Africa to further democratization and
human rights. He is a 2004 winner of the Emigrant Foundation Award and
recipient of the 2005 Ronald Reagan Gold Medal. He has been recognized
by the Congressional Black Caucus for his successful advocacy for
increased African refugee resettlement quotas in the U.S. He also
received a proclamation from the New York City Council for outstanding
service to the community. He was trained in social work at Adelphi
University and has a diploma in child developmental psychology. Asfaha
speaks Amharic and Tiggriggna, in addition to English.
