Meet Nasra

 I am a proud resident of District 7 and have lived in Madison for the past thirty two years with my husband and four children. As an immigrant from Somalia, Madison has become my home and has given me and my family countless opportunities. I received my undergraduate degree in International relations from University of Wisconsin-Madison, where three out of my four children also graduated. I instilled the passion to be successful in my children and have encouraged them to follow their passions. With the support of my family while also working, I received my Masters in Business Administration from Cardinal Stritch University.  

As an immigrant, black, Muslim woman, my identities have shaped my worldviews and perspectives. I am driven by three major forces - my faith, my family, and my community. These three parts of my life have motivated and inspired me to work for change and increased opportunities for everyone. Whether it is mentoring young Muslim youth to feel included in our community or serving on the boards of organizations that advocate for marginalized communities, I have made it my mission to serve my community in the best way possible.

For more than 15 years, I’ve worked in the non-profit sector in various capacities. In my role as the Development Director at Just Dane, I learned that in order to lead with empathy, one must have a thorough, personal understanding of what empathy means to the individuals served. In an increasingly polarizing world, empathy is at the cornerstone of solving complex issues in our society.

This inspired me to start my own consulting business called Empathy 4 Equity LLC, which aims to develop strategies for building a “culture of empathy” within organizations to better connect employees and their communities. My consulting business supports the deep alignment between individual and organizational aspirations and daily practices. Whether working on individual coaching, leadership development, organizational change or transforming workplace culture, I strive to combine my passion for social change with practical results. 

I am committed to serving District 7 and all of Madison to make meaningful change. In my time living in District 7, I have seen it grow from primarily farm land to its current multifamily neighborhoods as well as established and thriving businesses and schools. My experience doing grassroots work will allow me to build on those successes to ensure a sustainable future by being involved in policy making affecting our district. Throughout my professional and volunteer roles, I have gained the experience necessary to organize individuals for collective action, as well as inclusive decision-making that ensures all voices are heard. I will be a leader who understands the issues at hand, listens to a constituent’s problems, and advocates for them. It is important to be a consensus builder who can reach out to others and I strived to implement that in my work and life. As a collaborator, I am excited to bring the following values to the District and my colleagues at the Common Council to make an impact in the city of Madison:

Partnerships — Developing strategic partnerships to sustain relationships that leads to trust. 

Empathy — Our human capacity for empathy cultivates authentic and meaningful relationships and empowers collaboration. 

Social Change — A commitment to understanding issues of power and privilege within ourselves and our communities, within our institutions and societal systems.