海角禁区

As the head of household and father of four, Tsehay Mosisa was looking for a career that would allow him to provide for his family. With a goal in mind and the work ethic to pursue it, all that was missing was access and opportunity. Mosisa wanted to be a professional truck driver. He knew he could make a good living and he liked being on the open road. What held him back was access to a Commercial Driver’s License (CDL).

Without a CDL, Mosisa worked as a driver but earned far less. Then things got worse. As a result of the COVID pandemic in 2020, he was laid off. Fortunately, Mosisa found a way forward through a big-hearted community group offering the support he and his family only dreamed of during this rough time.

Enter MCMF.

In response to events across the country that heightened racial tensions, a group of men in our community struggled when considering how to make anything good come from a pain felt so deeply. Members of the Montgomery County Muslim Foundation (MCMF) were determined to lift others up through scholarships that directly, and in a short time, lead to jobs that pay a true living wage. Since 2008, the organization has been committed to getting community members—regardless of race, color, or religion—into careers that provide a sustainable wage.

“We wanted the scholarship to support students enrolled in programs leading to an industry recognized credential that is intended to lead to immediately beneficial employment in the technology/trades or health sciences,” says Dr. T. O. Shanavas, MCMF chairman.

Mosisa was the MCMF’s first scholarship recipient. And it changed his life.

“To get a CDL was my vision, but it can cost $3,000 to $10,000,” Mosisa says. “The scholarship helped fulfill my vision and created an opportunity for me to get a job to support my family.”

Organizations or individuals interested in supporting students in workforce training programs are invited to contact and select “Workforce Development and Continuing Education” from the Scholarships drop-down menu.