Abeni El-Amin formally announced her candidacy for North Carolina House last week.

El-Amin is a long time resident of North East Raleigh, where she has been focused on community activism and ending youth violence. She is a former head of the Raleigh Human Relations Commission, and since 2009 she has run Project Ricochet, Inc of North Carolina, a non-profit she created to focus on ending youth violence through job training and community cooperation.

“Life in this district wasn’t easy before the economy collapsed, but with the economic downturn the nation has experienced, life is more challenging than before. This district deserves a representative who is focused on the needs of real people. Actual job creation, community empowerment, better education, access to quality health care and increased modes of transportation.” Said El-Amin, “Now is the time for a new generation of leaders to step forward, stop talking about problems and start creating solutions.”

She will be running in the newly created 38^th district if the newly drawn maps are approved. The lines are currently being challenged in court by many groups. Said El-Amin, “I know the lines could change again, and if the current maps are still used or completely new maps are drawn, I will not challenge either Representative Ross or Gill, who have both done an excellent job representing our community.”

The May 8, 2012 primary election is five months away, and El-Amin has already begun fundraising. Dr. Jody Hall of the Hedingham community will host her first fundraiser in January.

More information and picture are available at www.abeniel-amin.com.