#64 - Sahra Noor
This is the story of a life interrupted—by war in Somalia. It’s also the story of a life on hold, without opportunity for formal education—for years in refugee camps. It’s the story of opportunity elsewhere. It’s the story of welcome and finding one’s feet. It’s a success story. It’s a family story. It’s a story unfolding. Sahra Noor’s story is of how helping others most decidedly helps all of us.
Sahra Noor is a Somali-American health systems leader and writer whose work explores belonging, migration, and the complicated work of building a life across cultures. Her work and thought leadership on culturally responsive care, community mental health, and inclusive health system design have appeared in academic journals and at international conferences, and she is a co-author of "Reimagining Philanthropy in the Global South."
She is the former CEO of People's Center Health Services and co-founder of Health Commons in Minneapolis. A recipient of multiple honors, including "40 Under 40" by the MPLS-St.Paul Business Journal and the Distinguished Alumna Award from St. Catherine's University. She holds a B.A. in nursing from St. Catherine's University and a Master's in nursing and health systems administration from the University of Minnesota.
She is now based in Nairobi, Kenya, where she works in global health, supporting efforts to strengthen health systems across Africa. Her new book, Salt in the Snow, is her debut memoir.
Note: SoftPower/FulStories strives to be a human-centered program that, from the beginning—regardless of the outside political climate—has sought to be non-partisan and non-political. But this story, guest Sahra Noor (whose younger sister is Congresswoman Ilhan Omar), and Somali-Americans in general, unwittingly find themselves the subjects of base, ignorant, and wildly racist rhetoric coming from the President of the United States. SP/FS will always advocate for immigrants, refugees, and for any cause that embraces inclusivity, kindness, and empathy. In that way, I think we are aligning ourselves with the vast majority of people in the United States.
Congresswoman Omar was re-elected for a fourth term on November 3, 2026. She received 76% of the ballots cast—the highest percentage for a member of Congress in Minnesota.
Sahra Noor
Salt in the Snow (Amazon link)
SHOW CREDITS
SP/FS Producer & Host: Christopher Wurst
Opening Voices: Dmitri Wurst, Elena Wurst, Kjara Wurst, Christopher Wurst
Voice of Dubious Aunt Deb: Cathy Zielske
Cold Open Music: BWM – The Brina Band
Dubious Aunt Deb Music: Cass County Beauty Queen – Alan Singley
Episode Music:
Aladji. B. Bodian – Youssoupha Sidibe
Bamba Dji – Youssoupha Sidibe
Boom Batida – Boom Boom Beckett
Algea Trio – Blue Dot Sessions
Waterbourne – Blue Dot Sessions
In Paler Skies – Blue Dot Sessions
Cass County Beauty Queen – Blue Dot Sessions
Interview date: July 28, 2026