Gedlu B. Metaferia

Gedlu Metaferia is a long time dedicated community  social adjustment worker who has assisted nearly 10,000 African Refugees and  other categories of legal immigrants in the past 20 years in St. Louis. He was  instrumental in the establishment and strengthening of the Ethiopian Refugees  Mutual Aid Association of Missouri (formed in April, 1983) which was later  transformed into the Ethiopian Community Association of Missouri (ECAM). Having a vision of diversity and inclusion even in the naming of his organization, Metaferia was  instrumental in changing  ECAM to AMAAM (African Mutual Assistance Association of Missouri). He is currently the Executive Director of  AMAAM.

Gedlu Metaferia is highly sought after community leader who bridges cultures, addressing issues relating to Ethiopians in the Diaspora. He is a freelance writer and poet on common concerns of humanity like poverty,  underdevelopment , human rights and conflict resolution. Originally trained to be a health officer ( "barefoot doctor" or rural doctor  in Ethiopia from  1971-74), Mr. Metaferia became an avid reader about the American experience and the constitution which led to his naturalization and appreciation for America's model of pluralistic democracy. Mr. Metaferia loves community work for justice and tolerance. As a self-educated literary person, he has read widely in the areas of biography, world history, American literature and current affairs. His friends are amazed by his grasp of facts on a wide range of topics.

Gitana Productions chose Gedlu for its 2004 Deeds Beyond Race - Extraordinary/Ordinary Person of the Year award.  Sylvester Brown's wrote a Post-Dispatch article about Gedlu's important work in the St. Louis community:  Ethiopian Here Is Ordinary Man Doing Extraordinary Work

Gedlu talks about his opportunity to be involved  with NCCJ:

"NCCJ is a results-oriented instituion that fights  injustice, discrimination, anti-semitism and bigotry by empowering community  leaders, encouraging diversity awareness, and building partnerships. Such an institution  embodies core American values of mutual respect, good neighborliness and  brotherhood or sisterhood. In a way, NCCJ "shepherds" the values of our consitution.  These values establish a pluralistic democracy and a culture of respect in the midst of incredible diversity. Organizations like NCCJ must protect these values and encourage leaders to sustain and develop them in all of our institutions and cultural representations.  These values are a great legacy written by the framers. Civic organizations like NCCJ see the constitution as an all embracing tent amidst diversity so that each person has his or her own place."