About Shalom Circles

 

Today, Shalom Circles is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that helps women, families, and children educate themselves, find support, and connect to overcome times of hardship, illness, and family problems. But before this community became what it is today, it started as just a few people getting on the phone each week to share their problems and provide one another with love, support, and whatever advice or resources they could offer each other.

As a breast cancer survivor, Shalom Circles founder Azeb Hadera realized that there weren’t many resources that were reaching the Ethiopian-Eritrean community, both in the US and abroad.

From her work as a registered nurse, Azeb saw that patients needed access to health education and community resources for their long-term well being. So in 2018, she set up a teleconference, where women in her community could ask questions, share concerns, and give one another hope. Over time, it has become so much more.

Azeb began reaching out to health professionals to speak to her group. As the group grew and expanded, so did the questions they brought to the table. Group members had questions about financial literacy, educational opportunities, and family issues.

Azeb realized the power her group had to change each other’s lives when working together. As a group, Shalom Circles now supports causes like:

      • Raising money to send medical care supplies to Ethiopia.
      • Charity walks to provide support for local families with special needs children.
      • Providing support, food, and supplies for Pink House, a women’s shelter for cancer patients waiting for treatment in Addis Ababa.
      • Hosting discussions on pain management, COVID-19 and vaccination, breast and colon cancer, and other chronic diseases with guest speakers, from survivors and family members to nutritionists, doctors, and other experts.

As we continue to grow, we want to get more people involved and excited about what we can accomplish together. Through our weekly teleconference meetings and regular events, we want to keep the Shalom Circles community connected, engaged, and excited about uplifting those in need with education, funding, and encouragement.