We were delighted to be able to offer our Torch-Bearer Award to Mayor of South Portland, Deqa Dhalac, who beautifully exemplifies the essence of the Peace Run in its tangible expression of humanity’s need to foster friendship and understanding.

When war broke out in her homeland of Somalia some thirty years ago, she emigrated to America and has, ever since, been fulfilling her mother’s prayer for her which in part reads: “My dear daughter — I beg God for you to be the leader of many ethnicities...and help those in need..”

From humble beginnings work-wise, Mayor Dhalac quickly found her place as a community builder — first generously and empathetically helping other Somali immigrants adjust to an industrialized country by teaching them basic skills, finding affordable housing, and assisting them obtain citizenship and register to vote. She was also an interpreter for Catholic Charities.

She advocates for changes her community members want to see, finds better housing and jobs, works to end racism and to make schools and the environment better. Her vision is, in her own words, “a community where everyone feels welcomed and included, and where people embrace and celebrate our diverse cultures”.

Mayor Dhalac learned English, Italian and Arabic in Mogadishu. She has a Master’s Degree in Development Policy and Practice from the University of New Hampshire and another Master’s in Social Work from the University of New England. Her most recent work was with the Maine Department of Education.

Most significant of course, is her current position — the first Somali-American mayor in the United States — for a city with a 90% white population. As she says, “It’s a long journey, but only in this country — only in this amazing country — can you have the opportunity to become a mayor from a country that is still going through a civil war.”