Jeilani Salim Abdalla’s journey from Somali refugee to American citizen began 14 years ago, shortly after militiamen invaded his home, shot and killed his son, and kidnapped his daughter.

Two days after finding his 20-year-old son dead and daughter gone, the former businessman fled with the rest of his family to Kenya, surviving a perilous 15-day ocean voyage on a small, overcrowded boat.

After living several years in a Kenyan refugee camp, his family secured a U.S. sponsor and arrived in this country in 1997. With help from Neighborhood House in Seattle, Jeilani started English classes and the process towards citizenship.