Tigist Wodajo has been selected as the Hamilton Relay 2020 Deaf Community Leader Award recipient for the District of Columbia. Tigist has worked as a tireless advocate to improve the lives of individuals who are deaf and hard of hearing.
Tigist is the co-founder and acting director of the Ethiopian Deaf Community in the United States. Additionally, she is a volunteer sign language trainer at the Ethiopian Evangelical Church of the District of Columbia.
Tigist has served as the vice president of the African Student Union at Gallaudet University in 2019 and 2020 and a member of the Mu Pi Honor Society volunteering as a community service and event coordinator for Social Work programs from 2018-2020.
She completed a social work internship with East River Family Strengthening Collaborative’s Deaf and Hard of Hearing Senior Program. After completing the internship, Tigist continues serving the seniors in the program by developing, implementing and presenting virtual enrichment programs to keep the seniors active, engaged and socialized.
Along with her peers and those she serves, we commend Tigist for encouraging and empowering those around her and are proud to present her with the Hamilton Relay 2020 Deaf Community Leader Award for the District of Columbia.