Munir Omar is an A²MEND activist who is a thriving student at Solano Community College. He is currently A²MEND’s student charter president as well as a bright mind in mathematics and technology.
Born in Dubai and raised in East Africa, Omar was such an excellent mathematics student that he was able to nab a coveted exchange student opportunity in the U.S. while still a young teenager. Although he was grateful to attend a high school in Northern California, Omar endured struggles as a foreign exchange student. “I was the only Black kid in my integrated mathematics theory class,” he said. “I felt unwelcomed there, like I didn’t belong.”
Omar persevered, graduating with high marks before returning to his home country. He later arrived back in the U.S. to pursue his college education. During his first year at Solano Community College, he was approached by another student, Mike Young, who persuaded Omar to help him start an A²MEND student charter on campus.
Omar worked with Young to bring other students into the charter by organizing campus events that nurtured relationships among fellow Black male students in addition to faculty and staff. His student activism enabled him to feel a greater sense of “community” on campus. “A²MEND taught me that I am welcome, that I belong,” he said. “They helped me realize that being African American is my identity. That’s who I am. And I am worthy.”