User:Yonatan Negash

Yonatan "Jonathan" Negash; Born on March 19, 1971), is the oldest son of Alem Woldeslassie and Negash Tekie. Yonatan was born in Asmara, Eritrea, a country in the Horn of Africa, near the coastline of the Red Sea, across from Saudi Arabia and Yemen. Yonatan is the middle child of seven children. Yonatan was born during the independence war conflict between Eritrea and its neighboring country Ethiopia. His father was a member of the Eritrean arm forces, determined to get his family out of harm’s way, the elder Negash planned his families escape.

Early Times
In 1977 Yonatan and his family left their country, traveled approximately 150 miles to Sudan, mostly on foot to escape their war torn country Eritrea. After securing the families safety, the elder Negash had to return to the Eritrean Army for duty. The void of the elder Negash left Yonatan to take responsibility of his mother and six siblings, “I started protecting my family at an early age”. Yonatan and the rest of his family settled in a refugee camp, a temporary settlement based in Kassala, Sudan. Yonatan and his family experienced severe financial hardship, many nights “we went to bed on an empty stomach”. To make ends meet, Alem Woldeslassie, Yonatan’s mother started sewing scarf. Yonatan would take the scarf his mother sewed and would find a way to sell them. The money made from the sale of the scarf was used to buy food. When Yonatan recounts the past, he can’t help but mention “now that was pressure”; “If I didn’t sell any of my mother’s scarfs, my siblings and I couldn’t eat. The best memory Yonatan has is the day’s he spent time playing soccer with the neighborhood kids, “playing soccer was therapy, I felt a sense of freedom and joy”. The soccer pitch was the only place where Yonatan felt he belonged.

Italy
In 1980, Yonatan and his family were sponsored to immigrate to Rome, Italy by a church. Moving to Rome was a whole new world. It presented many opportunities the family didn’t have in Sudan. Yonatan

United States
In 1982, Yonatan and his family immigrated once again, this time settled in Portland, Oregon. Yonatan attended Fernwood Middle School at the age of 11 as a sixth grader. Yonatan spent a lot of time studying English. Yonatan had to attend summer school to catch up the other kids, “my sibling and I worked extremely hard to catch up several grades” Yonatan went on to say. For Yonatan and his siblings, form education and attending school was a new experience. Essentially, Yonatan started school at the age of 11.

Later Years
In 1984, the family moved again to Ottawa, Kansas. Yonatan attended Ottawa High School in Ottawa, Kansas, graduating in 1988. While attending high school, Yonatan excelled in athletics. Yonatan went on to play college soccer. Yonatan attended Midwestern State University, in Wichita Falls Texas to play soccer. After graduating from Midwestern State in 1994, Negash moved to Dallas, Texas where he started working with inner city youths, while attending graduate school full time. Negash volunteered his time and resources to mentor, counsel, and guide other Eritrean youths.

Loyalty
Loyalty runs deep in the Negash family. It's considered a family rule to be loyal to family & friends and to treat all people with the utmost respect and kindness. Yonatan Negash is a loyal son, a father to two wonderful boys, husband to a gorgeous wife, brother to four beautiful sisters, role model to two younger brothers, fearless leader in the community and friend to many.

Legacy
Yonatan wants to be remembered as someone that fought for those less fortunate. Yonatan was recently quoted as stating “To continue being grateful for the past, as it built my character" and "to live in the present as the present time helps us create memories". Yonatan to live each day with a purpose and help make lifr a better place for someone less fortunate.  Yonatan is involved in community service include organizations and programs such as Minorty Health Care Services, Minneapolis Youth Soccer Associations, Minneapolis Youth Sports and Minneapolis Youth Mentoring Progam to mention a few. Giving to those that less fortunate is part of the Negash family mission in life.

To his family, Yonatan is a great father, outstanding role model to his sons Nathaniel & Noah, loving husband, caring friend and importnat to be connected to the world.