Meymuna Hussein-Cattan and her mother, Owliya Dima, are co-founders of Tiyya Foundation.  They came to Southern California in 1984 as refugees from Ethiopia, and in the early ’90s, Owliya began volunteering. Coming from Ethiopia, she knew first-hand the challenges refugees face in resettlement. Taking matters into her own hands, she started efforts to help others find stability and navigate the same complex challenges. In 2010, Tiyya was formally established to provide community support and educational opportunities for families of refugees, immigrants, and displaced Americans. The goal was to create a community that fosters the development of self-sufficiency, ultimately helping program participants overcome obstacles and actively participate in society.