International Women's Day: Spotlight on Deeqa Jama

Let us introduce you to Deeqa Jama, a 5-year STEP-UP Music and Food Intern at Redeemer who came to RCFL through Angela Bonfiglio, our former Youth Director. She's lived in the North Minneapolis community her entire life. Now 19 years old, Deeqa is a freshman at Normandale, choosing between a business or psych major. She spends her spare time hanging out with friends and family, owning her Me-time, and watching Rick and Morty. She is also an amateur artist who loves photography, painting, singing, and designing clothes.

After years in the STEP-UP program, Deeqa transitioned to work as a barista at Venture North in August 2017, where she loves the people and safe environment because of which, she says, "nothing bad ever happens when I'm here." She loves that VN offers bike classes that teach kids how to ride/build/fix bikes, and deeply enjoys her conversations with customers. As part of the VN/RCFL family, Deequa loves how, “everyone lives in the same community but also all has such different stories.”

Deeqa’s favorite drink at Venture North is the raspberry iced tea with lemonade, but she enjoys any any fruity drink., and if she could claim any bike for her own, she'd choose the green bike with the brown saddle seat, currently hanging up on tVN's wall.