PR 26-0652

MURIEL BOWSER
    MAYOR
April 20, 2026
The Honorable Phil Mendelson
Chairman
Council of the District of Columbia
John A. Wilson Building
1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW, Suite 504
Washington, DC 20004
Dear Chairman Mendelson:
In accordance with section 2 of the Confirmation Act of 1978, effective March 3, 1979 (D.C. Law 2-
142; D.C. Official Code § 1-523.01), and pursuant to section 5 of the Office and Commission on
African Affairs Act of 2006, effective June 8, 2006 (D.C. Law 16-111, D.C. Official Code § 2-1394),
I am pleased to nominate the following individual:
                                       Ms. Zufan Tarekegn
                                         9th Street, NW
                                      Washington, DC 20001
                                            (Ward 2)
for appointment as a public member of the Commission on African Affairs, filling a vacant seat
formerly held by Kate Okoye, for the remainder of an unexpired term to end October 27, 2027.
Enclosed, you will find biographical information detailing the experience of the above-mentioned
nominee, together with a proposed resolution to assist the Council during the confirmation process.
I would appreciate the Council’s earliest consideration of this nomination for confirmation. Please
do not hesitate to contact me, or Steven Walker, Director, Mayor’s Office of Talent and
Appointments, should the Council require additional information.
Sincerely,
Muriel Bowser
Mayor
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                                                                       ~ at the request of the Mayor
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6  A PROPOSED RESOLUTION
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10  IN THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
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15   To confirm the appointment of Zufan Tarekegn to the Commission on African Affairs.
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17  RESOLVED, BY THE COUNCIL OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, That this
18   resolution may be cited as the "Commission on African Affairs Zufan Tarekegn Confirmation
19   Resolution of 2026".
20  Sec. 2. The Council of the District of Columbia confirms the appointment of:
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22  Zufan Tarekegn
23  9th Street, NW
24  Washington, DC 20001
25  (Ward 2)
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27   as a public member of the Commission on African Affairs, established by section 4 of the Office
28   and Commission on African Affairs Act of 2006, effective June 8, 2006 (D.C. Law 16-111, D.C.
29   Official Code§ 2-1393), filling a vacant seat formerly held by Kate Okoye, for the remainder of
30   an unexpired term to end October 27, 2027.
31  Sec. 3. The Council of the District of Columbia shall transmit a copy of this resolution,
32   upon its adoption, to the nominee and to the Mayor.
33  Sec. 4. This resolution shall take effect immediately.
Zufan Nigusu Tarekegn
Objective
Energetic and professional with experience |, nonprofit leadership, and education. Currently
serving as an entry level store Associate at CVS Pharmacy, delivering exceptional service and
building lasting relationships. Joining Sales Associate to leverage strong communication,
problem-solving, and product knowledge skills in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
Certifications & Training
       Fundamentals of Capital Markets for Security Analysis
       Advanced Security Analysis & Investment Management
       Google Data Analytics Certificate (In Progress)
       Nonprofit Essentials Certificate
       Certificateof Appreciation, Global Landscapes Forum — Luxembourg
Professional Experience
Store Associate
 CVS Pharmacy - Washington, DC
 August 2025 -Present
       Deliver personalized service to customers, resolving issues and promoting loyalty
       Educate customers on product features and benefits to drive sales
       Maintain accurate records and ensure compliance with company policies
       Collaborate with team members to meet daily performance goals
Language & Culture Instructor
 Yeneta Language and Cultural Academy — Silver Spring, MD
April 2025 — Present
   * Teach Amharic language and Ethiopian cultural traditions to diverse learners
   © Create engaging lessons and foster inclusive learning environments
   ¢ Organize cultural events to strengthen community ties
Transport Operations Manager
 Base Logistics Trading LLC — Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
 March 2023 - May 2024
   * Managed logistics and scheduling for national infrastructure projects
   ●     Oversaw budgeting and delivery systems in high-pressure environments
   ●     Coordinated with vendors and clients to ensure timely execution
Executive Director & Cofounder
Ethiopian Organization for Migration – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
July 2021 – August 2024
   ●     Led operations and outreach for refugee support programs
   ●     Built partnerships and trained staff to deliver client-centered services
   ●     Managed budgets and compliance across multiple sites
Co founder and board member of EOM till present
Education
Master of Science in Dryland Biodiversity
Addis Ababa University – Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
Relevant Coursework: Biostatistics, Sociology, Rangeland Management, Ethnobotany
Bachelor of Science in Biology
Dilla University – Dilla, Ethiopia
Relevant Coursework: Psychology, Pedagogy, Chemistry, Anatomy, Statistics, English
Skills
   ●     Customer Service & Sales Communication
   ●     Product Knowledge & Upselling
   ●     Team Collaboration & Goal Achievement
   ●     Microsoft Office Suite, SQL
   ●     Multilingual Communication (Amharic, English)
   ●     Emotional Intelligence & Conflict Resolution
   ●     Compliance & Documentation
Languages
   ●     Amharic – Native
   ●     English – Full Professional Proficiency
       Executive Office of the Mayor – Mayor’s Office of Talent and Appointments
  John A. Wilson Building | 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, Suite 600 | Washington, DC 20004
                                      Zufan Tarekegn
                       Ms. Zufan Nigusu Tarekegn is an educator and community advocate
                       committed to supporting African diaspora communities in Washington,
                       DC. She works at CVS Health while also teaching Amharic and Ethiopian
                       cultural studies at Yeneta Language and Cultural Academy. Working in
                       both places helps her blend into the US community, meet people from
                       different backgrounds, and continue growing personally and
                       professionally. She enjoys helping students connect with their heritage
                       through language, history, and tradition.
                       She has volunteered with TASSC International, where she advocated for
                       Ethiopians, meeting with congressional staff to raise awareness about
                       human rights issues and share the stories of people facing hardship.
Before moving to the US, Ms. Tarekegn served as the Executive Director and Cofounder of the
Ethiopian Organization for Migration, where she managed programs across eight refugee camps,
coordinated humanitarian support, and trained staff to better serve displaced communities.
A Ward 2 resident, Ms. Tarekegn earned her Bachelor of Arts in Biology from Dilla University
and her Master of Science in Dryland Biodiversity from Addis Ababa University.
                              GOVERNMENT OF THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA
                                 Executive Office of Mayor Muriel Bowser
Office of the General Counsel to the Mayor
To:  Kimberly A. Bassett, Steven Walker
From:  Betsy Cavendish
Date:  March 25, 2026
Subject:  Legal sufficiency review of a resolution appointing members of the Commission
                    on African Affairs
This is to Certify that this office has reviewed the above-referenced Resolution and
found it to be legally unobjectionable. If you have any questions in this regard, please do not
hesitate to call Kimberly Ulan, Associate General Counsel, Executive Office of the Mayor, at
202-727-2292, or me at 202-724-7681.
______________________________
Elizabeth Cavendish
______________________________________________________________________________
The John A. Wilson Building   • 1350 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW   •   Suite 300 •   Washington, D.C. 20004   • Office (202) 724-7681