From Louisville to the World Stage: CEHD Alumna Amina Shale Advocates for Refugee Youth at the United Nations
June 8, 2026
Portrait of UofL CEHD Alumni Amina Shale courtesy of Young Professionals Association of Louisville
Amina Shale is a Somali Bantu refugee and community advocate. She's also a CEHD'19 and MS'22 alumna in criminal justice, who recently was invited to Sweden to address the UNECE- United Nations Economic Commission for Europe- Regional Forum on sustainable development. Amina's message to refugee youth: "I stand here because someone believed in me and I believe in you because I am standing here."
Born in Dagahaley Refugee Camp in Kenya, raised between cultures, navigating systems not built for families like hers, Amina Shale founded "More Than a Smile Foundation”. To serve Somali Bantu and immigrant youth.
Amina shared: "What started in Louisville, KY has evolved into a community-led ecosystem reaching nearly 700 individuals every month across borders- not through isolated programs, but through integration: sports, arts, mental health, youth leadership."
Earlier in 2026 Amina was invited to Sweden to present at UNECE- United Nations Economic Commission for Europe-Regional Forum on Sustainable Development. She shared more than a program-Amina shared a replicable model grounded in trust, cultural relevance and the leadership of young people themselves.
(Photo courtesy of Young Professionals Association of Louisville).
