On Sunday, September 28th, GMCC hosted a screening for our UMM Project docuseries, titled “To Be Whole Again”. The series follows the personal recovery stories of four mothers who participated in the UMM Project, a program that centers pregnant and parenting mothers in Somali/East African communities who are in recovery or actively dealing with substance use disorder (SUD).
The free screening was held at The Parkway Theater and was followed by a panel featuring three of the mothers (Ny, DJ Fawzi, & Khadira), GMCC’s Wellbeing Director and former Access Healing Center ED Hibat Sharif, East African Community Facilitator Zuhur Ahmed, former GMCC Peer Recovery Specialist Nafisa Mohamed, and Recovery Care client, Bella.
Marquee at The Parkway Theater
Panelists having a discussion after the screening
The docuseries was filmed by local Somali filmmaker Mohammed Sheikh, with the support of GMCC Peer Recovery Specialists Safia Mohamed & Nawal Osman, former Program Manager Amin Hassan, and Communications Coordinator Len Sanqui. The team spent time with each of the mothers, interviewing them inside their homes, recording studios, and at GMCC.
Still from the docuseries showing DJ Fawzi and her sons in their home
“I would say sharing my story of addiction so openly on camera feels like freedom. When you’re in addiction, you’re in the dark. So it feels like freedom because you’re living your truth. And I feel like you can’t really live a full life if you’re not living your truth.” – Ny, during the panel
Filmmaker Mohammed Sheikh posing with the marquee
At the screening, we had refreshments including different kinds of sambusas, cookies, and drinks. Attendees included (current and former) GMCC staff, recovery clients, partner organizations, friends & family, and more!
Refreshment table with fish, vegetable, and beef sambusas
“I lost my mother, and then I got pregnant right after. Allah was my biggest supporter. Eventually, my baby was born and post-partum kicked my ass, and then I was forced to go into treatment, and I got to meet GMCC and they became one of my biggest supporters too.” – Khadira
Former GMCC Program Manager Amin Hassan and CPRS Safia Mohamed
During the panel, mothers discussed their experience with addiction & recovery and with sharing their stories. They talked about the stigma and shame they have been combatting with their culture, religion, and families, and resources that have helped them.
Panelists answering questions about their recovery journey, parenthood, and community resources
“In every culture, in every religion, they talk about mothers. In the Muslim religion, they say heaven is at the feet of a mother. I feel like mothers are the most powerful human beings ever, so we have to make sure that we take care of them in order for us to take care of the next generation.” – DJ Fawzi
Panelists posing with GMCC Recovery staff at the end of the event
“Seeing that Kiro [one of the mothers] started off [her recovery journey] with just a phone call, and seeing you all at support groups and on social media and just how far you all have grown, it gives me hope. That I, too, can build a family. I never had a family.” – Bella, recovery client
Thank you so much to everyone who came to the screening, as well as to all the staff, mothers, and creatives involved in the making of the docuseries! And a special thanks to the Minnesota Department of Human Services for funding the UMM Project!
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