2022 New Hope Award

The 2022 recipients of the award were two outstanding members of our community, Hawa Adan and Aden Haji. The award presentation ceremony took place during the Karibu Cultural Celebration at UVM's Fleming Museum of Art in Burlington on September 24th.

About Hawa Adan

Hawa Adan is an accomplished Somali-American with deep ties in the Greater Burlington community. She arrived in Vermont in 2004 and has lived in Burlington with her family ever since. She graduated from Champlain College in May 2021 with a Bachelor of Social Work. During her time at Champlain College she interned at The Janet S Munt Family Room, working to support New American communities and families. She currently works at the University of Vermont Tutoring Center as a Learning Coordinator. Hawa is passionate about supporting her family and giving back to her community and she plans to use the New Hope Award prize to continue supporting and caring for the many families and communities she engages with on a daily basis.

About Aden Haji

Aden Haji is a proud Somali Bantu. Aden was born in Kenya and migrated with his family to Burlington in 2003. He received a Bachelor of Arts in Anthropology from the University of Vermont in 2019 and currently works at Pathways Vermont as an Employment Specialist. Aden is also involved with the Vermont New American Advisory Council as the chair of the Community Programs and Projects Committee. Aden recently received his instructor license for Drivers Education and plans to use the New Hope Award prize to start a private driving school in Burlington to provide a crucial and needed service to New American communities.