This is one in a series of profiles on the 2020 Giraffe Award winners. Each week leading up to the Champions for Children virtual celebration on November 17th, we will feature a profile of a 2020 Giraffe Award Winner and showcase how they “stick out their neck” for Maine children, youth, and families. This week, we are pleased to introduce you to Abdul Ali.

Abdulkadir Ali is an Ethiopian-American social activist, who brings his voice and experience to advocate for racial and criminal justice here in Maine. From human rights to community leadership, Ali is working to address issues that continuously occur in silenced communities caused by systematic oppression.

Ali is an Artistic Director with Maine Inside Out, an organization that uses theater to engage communities around the subject of incarceration. He also works as an organizer with Maine Youth Justice, an organization that brings people of all backgrounds together to address the failures of the criminal/juvenile justice system, while working to advance reform. 

Ali works in partnership with the Young People's Caucus, which connects policy decision makers with young people to discuss and learn about topics that are important to youth. He also participates in Opportunity Scholars at the University of Southern Maine, which creates a bridge for formerly incarcerated young people to access post-secondary education. As a formerly incarcerated young man, Ali works tirelessly as an activist and organizer on behalf of Maine's most vulnerable populations.

Ali stands out as a prominent and rising voice on issues impacting youth, and especially youth of color, in our state right now. Through artistic expression, engagement, and advocacy, he is making sure that the lived experience of youth are represented at tables where decisions are being made that will impact them, and are part of driving needed change.

Abdul Ali  will be awarded a 2020 Giraffe Award for his passion and commitment to advancing racial, social, and juvenile justice in Maine on November 17th at our Champions for Children celebration.

Don’t forget to join us for the 2020 Champions for Children and Giraffe Awards event ! And keep an eye out for upcoming profiles featuring the rest of our 2020 Giraffe Award winners.