This March, we’re shining a new light on Women’s History Month—through the voices and experiences of the women of ACHD.
Women’s History Month does not mean the same thing to everyone—believe me, I’ve asked around.
Some call it a hollow trend, but others, specifically the women here at ACHD who are a part of the African Diaspora, emphasize the importance of honoring the resilience, contributions, advocacy, and achievements of Black women making historic change right now—both globally and within our own community.
So, for this month’s newsletter, we’re highlighting three women at our organization whose stories offer insight, inspiration, and a deeper understanding of what Women’s History Month truly means to many women.
P.S. Don’t miss the list of resources at the bottom—support for women in times of need is just a scroll downwards.
Bilan Aden Receives Economic Development Advocate of the Year Award
ACHD Vice President and Co-Founder Honored by the Washington Economic Development Association for Transformative Impact
SeaTac, WA – African Community Housing & Development (ACHD) is proud to announce that our Vice President and Co-Founder, Bilan Aden, has been honored as the Washington Economic Development Association’s (WEDA) 2024 Economic Development Advocate of the Year. This distinguished award recognizes individuals who have made significant and innovative contributions to economic development across Washington State.
Bilan Aden co-founded ACHD with President and CEO, Hamdi Abdulle, in late 2018 to address economic disparities and build generational wealth for African Diaspora immigrants, refugees, and their descendants in the Greater Seattle area. Under her leadership, ACHD has supported nearly 10,000 households, focusing on housing stability, social services, education, economic development, and real estate initiatives.
“True change is never achieved alone,” said Bilan. “This moment also belongs to my co-founder and CEO, Hamdi Abdulle, our incredible team, and the communities we serve. Their dedication to this work fuels our mission to dismantle institutional barriers and create economic opportunities that empower and uplift us all.”
Bilan’s journey into nonprofit leadership was driven by a deep commitment to service. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, Bilan turned her attention to the evolving needs of the communities that relied on ACHD’s work, focusing on both immediate and long-term economic empowerment. ACHD quickly pivoted to provide critical resources, with Bilan helping to secure over $38 million in rental assistance in partnership with King County and launching ACHD’s Small Business Program to support local entrepreneurs. Today, ACHD serves over 150 small businesses through capacity building, technical assistance, micro-loans, and grants.
Bilan also spearheaded ACHD’s Farmers Markets, transforming food-insecure neighborhoods into thriving community spaces while uplifting local vendors. Inspired by this success, ACHD is now working to establish the Seattle International Public Market (SIPM), a first-of-its-kind marketplace for immigrant and refugee entrepreneurs.
As ACHD continues to grow, the organization is focused on expanding its impact through:
Affordable Housing – Breaking new ground in the Black-led affordable housing market.
Market Expansion – Doubling the size of both the Delridge and SeaTac Farmers Markets.
Small Business Support – Providing technical assistance to prepare local BIPOC businesses for FIFA 2026.
Seattle International Public Market –Establishing a permanent market to support 25+ small food-based businesses by offering affordable stalls, commercial kitchen space, a small business incubation center, low-cost workspaces, a community gathering space, and culturally tailored technical assistance and mentorship.
"I never pursued the title; it found me through my dedication and efforts," Bilan said. “Her leadership philosophy is simple: Embrace every opportunity. If it scares you, step toward it—growth thrives in challenge.”
Ethiopia Alemneh Leads with Service for 26 Years and Counting
ACHD’s Director of Housing and Social Services tells her story of servant leadership and puts forth a fresh perspective on feminism in the U.S.
On the morning of April 5th, in the Columbia City neighborhood of Seattle, Ethiopia Alemneh will attend the ribbon cutting of a Habitat for Humanity House built for and by her friend Tiruwork.
A working mother, her time split between two to three jobs, Tiruwork had been denied housing from Habitat twice, once in 2007 and again in 2023, because of complications with her applications.
Both women are of East African descent, and Ethiopia is well known in this community for her work—not only is she the Director of Housing and Human Services at African Community Housing and Development (ACHD), but she’s worked in the Seattle nonprofit realm for 26 years. So Tiruwork, after her second denial, called up Ethiopia for assistance.
Now, after just a month of collaboration, Tiruwork can finally call herself a homeowner.
Let’s start from the beginning. In 1998, Ethiopia won the Diversity Visa Lottery in her home country, Ethiopia. This allowed her to move to the United States.
“In my heart, when I moved to the U.S., I felt blessed that I had a choice,” said Ethiopia. “I can choose for myself and being, you know, a woman, I really wanted to be a voice to the women that don’t have one.”
Growing up in Ethiopia, the ACHD director with the same name experienced firsthand the inequalities that women faced in society. Feeling limited by societal norms, she sought the freedom to make her own choices. Her move to the U.S. was not just about opportunity—she was to claim her independence and use her voice to advocate for other women.
With only one suitcase and a hundred dollars in hand, Ethiopia assimilated into the local African Diaspora community and devoted herself to nonprofit work in Seattle.
It started with entry-level jobs, but from the time she was a young woman, Ethiopia felt a natural gravitation toward leadership. Over the past two decades, Ethiopia moved from a novice community outreach position to executive director of a social services organization called Ethiopian Community in Seattle.
Renowned in her community for her work, Ethiopia eventually met Hamdi Abdulle, Co-Founder and President of ACHD. In late 2019, just a year or so after ACHD was founded, Ethiopia took a tour, had some conversations, and ultimately decided to leave her role as an executive director to join ACHD as a youth specialist. She rapidly progressed to case manager, then to special projects manager, and finally, to Director of Housing and Human Services.
“People call me a leader, but I believe in servant leadership,” said Ethiopia. “So I serve and during service, you know, you'll be promoted. That's how it is. But servant leadership is about putting someone's needs before yours and trying to solve problems that they are facing. You have people in your heart.”
When Ethiopia first stepped into her leadership role at ACHD, the Housing and Human Services Department had only nine contracts and operated as a single unit. The department has expanded to 28 contracts and now operates with three specialized teams: Housing, Human Services, and Health & Wellness.
The holistic approach to community support ensures that families receive comprehensive services beyond just housing. Programs now assist seniors with housing stability, healthcare education, and access to community clinics. She is planning long-term workforce development initiatives for the immigrants, refugees, and homeless individuals and families whom she serves.
One of Ethiopia’s major goals is to strengthen ACHD’s workforce development programs—creating job training initiatives, resume workshops, and career case management to provide direct, tangible support for those seeking economic stability.
March, which is Women’s History Month, means different things to different women. To Ethiopia, the celebration holds deep significance.
At ACHD, Ethiopia sees the struggles of women, particularly single mothers, who make up nearly 70% of those we serve.
These women face immense challenges—balancing childcare, housing instability, and low wages with little to no support. While we do not have specific women-centered programs, Ethiopia believes that every service ACHD offers—whether in housing, employment, or case management—empowers women by giving them the resources they need to build stable, independent lives.
"Don’t be afraid to do whatever is in your heart,” said Ethiopia to the women, immigrants, and refugees she serves. “Like, as you see, I have a big accent, right? English is not my first language—but I never let that intimidate me. I am not afraid to be who I am. Life doesn’t treat all women equally, but whatever you want to be, you will be. There are no barriers if you have the courage to push through."
ACHD has about 38 employees, including many women from diverse backgrounds and of all ages. Ethiopia values intergenerational wisdom and sees leadership as an ongoing learning process.
She finds inspiration from ACHD’s founder, Hamdi Abdulle, who she says working with is like indulging in an enthralling novel. And she appreciates the fresh perspectives brought by younger team members like Joanna, ACHD’s Small Businesses Coordinator, and a rising leader within our organization.
“I am standing in the gap—learning from older generations while mentoring the next,” she said. “Ensuring that ACHD’s impact continues for years to come.
Marta Deneke Talks Candidly About WHM and Cultivating the Future of Women in the Workplace
“Being a woman,” she said, “I love it. Wouldn’t trade it for anything.”
It all started with her father. This was back when Marta Deneke was 11 years old, living in Ethiopia, and preparing for the day her family would move to the United States.
Mr. Deneke had been let go from his job due to political issues and decided to immigrate to the U.S. to secure what he thought would be a safer life for him and his family.
“He risked his life to come here,” said Marta, now a Social Services Case Worker at ACHD.
“I would hear the struggle through his voice. He found no support system in the U.S., though. This was at a time when the Ethiopian population in Seattle wasn’t very big. This was when I knew—after seeing this lack of access—I was going to help people.”
Marta and her family’s move served as a turning point for her. While attending school in the U.S., she explored different career routes. Marta studied at Western Washington University, earning a degree in information systems management.
And she also volunteered—driven by a deep passion for helping others, a calling she discovered way back before she was even a teenager.
The Ethiopian Community in Seattle was where Marta cultivated her ambitions for a while. Fluent in Amharic, she was in charge of teaching culturally-relevant curriculum to students. She provided access to ideas and traditions that are not easily found in our city.
Marta also tried other industries; she worked from home doing IT.
Isolated from the community around her, she knew this role just didn’t fit. And when compared to teaching those students about her culture, there was no question—Marta’s career of community service was set in stone.
“I was lucky enough to be provided with this opportunity at ACHD to be a case manager,” said Marta. “And now I'm able to help a lot of immigrants, people that migrated from different countries within Africa, sometimes have clients from Colombia or Mexico as well.”
Marta’s day-to-day role is fulfilling yet complex. As ACHD is currently in the process of handing out boxes of basic goods to families in need, Marta sees about 30 to 40 clients every day.
She handles intake—gathering client information and assessing their service needs and working alongside Housing and Social Services Case Manager Abel Abay, quickly dividing tasks when a rush of clients arrives to ensure efficient support.
In the same office, Yussuf Artan and Aden Hussein—who helped establish ACHD in 2018—work tirelessly to assist clients referred by Marta and Abel.
Despite their small team, they tackle urgent issues daily, including eviction prevention, rental assistance, and ensuring clients are safely housed, employed, and educated. Their dedication has a profound impact on the community.
In 2024, ACHD’s Housing and Social Services Department served nearly 10,000 individuals and families in the greater King County area. Marta credits teamwork for this accomplishment.
“I'm glad that I have this opportunity 'cause I know my dad didn't have it,” said Marta. “I know exactly the struggle that he went through to get here. And so, even though it's not something huge—it seems like a small step—it's a huge step for me to get to where I wanna be.”
So—what does Women’s History Month mean to Marta?
Marta lives with her family, including her grandmother, who often expresses how she wishes she had come to the U.S. as a young woman and had the opportunity to go to school. Back in Ethiopia, Marta says the expectation for women is to be mothers, and her grandmother spent her life raising children.
“When she sees that I’m going to work,” Marta said, “that I went to school, that I got my degree, she’s really proud of me. I know my family members who weren’t able to go to school—there are women in the countryside who still can’t go to school, even though they want to. They’re told to stay home.”
As a young professional, Marta is deeply inspired by ACHD’s CEO, Hamdi Abdulle, and the other women leaders at the organization. Their leadership aligns with the vision Marta has for her own future—leading her own organization one day. Growing up in an environment where self-doubt often lingers, seeing strong women in leadership provides hope and encouragement.
Every day, Marta witnesses the struggles women face—challenges that, while not as severe as those of her mother or grandmother, still persist. Change is happening, but being a woman remains tough. Marta believes that Women’s History Month is incredibly important to her—she embraces womanhood wholeheartedly.
“Being a woman,” she said. “I love it. Wouldn't trade it for anything.”
ACHD’s Zzaj Collins Named a 40 Under 40 Honoree
The Puget Sound Business Journal has named Zzaj Collins a 2024 40 Under 40 honoree, recognizing her as an influential changemaker driving impact in the Greater Seattle area.
Seattle, WA — African Community Housing & Development (ACHD) proudly announces that Zzaj Collins, Chief Operating Officer, has been recognized as a 40 Under 40 honoree for her outstanding leadership, dedication to community service, and commitment to empowering marginalized communities across the Greater Seattle Area.
Zzaj is among the visionary women leading ACHD, where she is dedicated to uplifting African Diaspora immigrants, refugees, and their descendants. Through housing stability, legal aid, culturally rooted health services, economic development, education, and resource navigation, ACHD serves as a cornerstone for the diverse communities of King County. Zzaj’s work ensures these resources are not only available but also impactful.
Since joining ACHD in Spring 2024, Zzaj has made an undeniable impact on the organization’s internal operations and community outreach. Recently promoted from Director of Philanthropy & Communications to COO, she has streamlined interdepartmental collaboration, ensuring ACHD operates efficiently and effectively in service of its mission. Her leadership also extends to ACHD initiatives such as the Journey Home Luncheon and the Generational Wealth Small Business Conference, where she creates spaces for critical conversations and drives solutions that foster trust, collaboration, and economic empowerment for small business owners of color.
Born and raised in Seattle, Zzaj attended Garfield High School before moving to Los Angeles, where she spent over a decade working in the fashion industry alongside celebrity stylists Rob Zangardi and Mariel Haenn. Though the industry fueled her creativity, she soon realized it did not align with her values. Determined to make a tangible impact, she transitioned into nonprofit work to realign her career with her passion for service.
In 2015, she began working as a marketing assistant at the Los Angeles Dream Center—where she and her family had long volunteered—quickly rising to Executive Director of Marketing & Media. In 2021, she returned to Seattle to raise her four children in the community that shaped her, continuing her nonprofit career as a Community Impact Manager at Uplift Northwest before joining ACHD.
Zzaj’s ability to bridge cultural divides, advocate for equity, and foster economic empowerment makes her a deserving recipient of the 40 Under 40 honor. Her influence is deeply felt at ACHD, where she ensures that every resource, network, and educational opportunity is accessible and meaningful.
“Zzaj isn’t just a leader—she’s a force for change,” said a colleague at ACHD. “She has a rare ability to bring people together, inspire action, and create lasting impact.”
ACHD congratulates Zzaj Collins on this well-earned recognition and looks forward to the continued impact of her leadership.
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