Alfa Demmellash

Alfa Demmellash (born 1979–1980)[1] is an Ethiopian entrepreneur and the Chief Executive Officer of the non-profit Rising Tide Capital. Demmellash works to support entrepreneurs from disadvantaged communities. She has been honoured by the World Economic Forum, Heinz Awards and CNN.

Alfa Demmellash
Demmellash at SOCAP conference in 2017
Born1979-1980
Jigjiga, Ethiopia
Alma materHarvard University
AwardsHeinz Award in Technology, Economy & Employment (2020)
World Economic Forum Young Global Leader

Early life and education

Demmellash was born in Ethiopia.[2] At the age of only two, she lost two of her siblings to a civil war, and her mother fled the country. Demmellash moved close to her grandparents' home where she attended a Montessori school.[3] Her mother travelled through Kenya and eventually ended up in the United States, where she worked to earn enough money to move Demmellash to the United States as well.[4] By day, Demmellash's mother worked as a waitress, and by night she was a seamstress, creating Ethiopian-inspired clothing. Eventually she earned enough money, and, at the age of 12, Demmellash moved to Boston. Demmellash was an undergraduate student at Harvard University, where she specialised in politics. As an undergraduate student Demmellash was involved with the Harvard African Students Associations. Whilst at Harvard Demmellash met Alex Forrester, a New Jersey native with whom she shared concerns about urban poverty.[3]

Career

After graduating Demmellash moved to New Jersey, where she established Rising Tide Capital in 2004. Demmellash travelled around Camden and Newark where she interacted with community members and innovators.[4] Rising Tide Capital looked to provide social, knowledge and financial capital to communities of color. They create a Community Business Academy, which provides intense training to people from low to moderate-income people.

In 2020 Demmellash and her husband, Alex Forrester, were honored with the 25th Annual Heinz Award in Technology, the Economy and Employment, for their work “to transform lives and communities by providing entrepreneurs who lack access to services and resources the business training, mentorship, and financial access needed to successfully launch and manage their own small businesses,”.[5][6]

Awards and honours

Personal life

Demmellash is married to her business partner, Alex Forrester, with whom she has two children. Her efforts were recognised by Barack Obama in a speech at the White House.[11]

References
  1. Staff, Star-Ledger (2009-11-21). "ALFA DEMMELLASH". nj. Retrieved 2020-12-26.
  2. Team, AWiB (2014-04-01). "Alfa Demmellash, Co-Founder & Chief Executive Officer, Rising Tide Capital". AWiB. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  3. "Urban Innovator of the Week: Alfa Demmellash". Meeting of the Minds. 2016-10-11. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  4. "How Alfa Demmellash Is Betting on Local Business in a Big Way". Conscious Company. 2017-07-01. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  5. "Announcing the 25th Heinz Awards Honorees". www.heinzawards.net. Archived from the original on 2020-10-18. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  6. Bergeron, Tom (2020-10-13). "Rising Tide Capital founders awarded prestigious Heinz Award". ROI-NJ. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  7. "CNN Heroes - Special Reports from CNN.com". edition.cnn.com. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  8. "Alfa Demmellash". Forbes. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  9. "Alfa Demmellash - Agenda Contributor". World Economic Forum. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
  10. "The Heinz Awards :: Alfa Demmellash and Alexander Forrester". www.heinzawards.net. Retrieved 2020-10-19.
  11. "Obama recognizes CNN Hero from New Jersey - CNN.com". www.cnn.com. Retrieved 2020-10-17.
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