Jacob Idra
2024-2025 Columbia University Scholar
United States & South Sudan
Executive Director, Republic of South Sudan (ROSS) Leaders
Cultivating community by providing a platform for young leaders to connect through educational programs, cultural events, sporting activities, and entrepreneurial ventures.
Jacob Idra leads Republic of South Sudan (ROSS) Leaders, a nonprofit dedicated to improving the livelihood of South Sudanese-American immigrant communities across the United States. Headquartered where he lives in Omaha, Nebraska, which is home to the largest South Sudanese population outside of South Sudan, ROSS Leaders cultivates community and youth leadership through education, health and wellness, academic support, and cultural engagement curriculum tailored to each community’s context. The next phase of ROSS Leaders involves developing an economic model to empower South Sudanese-American business owners—while 20,000 South Sudanese live in Nebraska, very few are business owners– due to lack of access to financial capital, business consulting, and entrepreneurial educational resources. Through the Scholars program, Jacob aims to learn effective strategies for building cross-sectoral partnerships with corporate and government stakeholders, enhancing his capacity to drive economic development for the South Sudanese community in Omaha first, then throughout the United States, and ultimately back in his home country of South Sudan.
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More About the Scholars Program
More About the Scholars Program
The Obama Foundation Scholars program gives rising leaders from around the world who are already making a difference in their communities the opportunity to take their work to the next level.
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