The People Behind The Mission
Our Team
Leadership
Executive Team
Founder & Executive Director
Amina Shale
Amina founded More Than A Smile Foundation after experiencing firsthand the barriers immigrant and refugee families face in accessing resources and belonging. Driven by her own journey and a deep commitment to community, she built an organization rooted in lived experience, cultural humility, and the belief that every young person deserves the opportunity to thrive.
- Leadership foundation
- Lived experience as an immigrant navigating U.S. systems; community organizing and nonprofit leadership; deep roots in Louisville's East African community.
- Approach to the work
- Amina leads from proximity — building programs shaped by the same challenges her community faces, and centering the voices of those closest to the work in every decision.
- Why I do this work
- "I started this because I saw what was missing — and I knew our community had everything it needed to fill that gap, if someone would just create the space."
Governance
Board of Directors
The Board of Directors provides financial oversight, policy governance, and executive accountability for More Than A Smile Foundation. Board members serve in a voluntary governance capacity and are distinct from paid or volunteer staff.
Fatuma Nur
President
Community leadership and nonprofit governance. Fatuma brings experience in organizational strategy and community-centered decision-making.
Shamso Haji
Vice President
Community engagement and youth development. Shamso contributes expertise in program design and building trust with immigrant and refugee families.
Jolie Nantebukah
Treasurer
Financial oversight and community partnership. Jolie brings organizational leadership experience and strengthens the foundation's fiduciary accountability.
Susan Shale
Secretary
Community development and family support. Susan contributes experience in community outreach and organizational administration.
Transparency disclosure
In the interest of transparency: Susan Shale (Board Secretary) and Makay Shale (Volunteer Coordinator) are family members of Founder and Executive Director Amina Shale. The board is aware of these relationships and manages any related conflicts of interest in accordance with the organization's conflict-of-interest policy.
Operations
Staff & Program Leadership
Our staff and program leaders manage day-to-day operations, direct services, and community relationships.
Abdimajid Hassan
Volunteer Community Development Director
Community engagement, local relationship-building, and neighborhood-level development. Abdimajid leads community development efforts and deepens the foundation's roots across Louisville's immigrant and refugee communities.
Halima Hassan
Project Coordinator
Youth engagement, leadership development, and program delivery.
Faida Mohamed
Programs Manager
Program coordination, participant support, and community-centered operations.
Makay Shale
Volunteer Coordinator
Volunteer coordination, participant support, and community engagement.
Advisory
Community Advisors
Community advisors serve in a non-voting capacity, contributing lived experience, community perspective, and trusted relationships that strengthen our work.