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Community & Connection
Social gatherings, peer connections, networking, and welcoming spaces that help people build lasting relationships.
COMMUNITY | OPPORTUNITY | EMPOWERMENT
A place to belong.
Resources to grow.
Opportunities to thrive.
A community empowerment, workforce development, and resource access organization supporting individuals and families—with a special commitment to Africans in the diaspora and an open welcome to people of all backgrounds across Washington State and beyond.
Welcome to INUKA
You belong.
You matter. You can thrive.
Moving to a new country can open doors, but it can also mean starting over without the familiar friendships, support systems, and community connections that once made life feel grounded.
We believe no one should have to navigate that journey alone. INUKA is being built as a welcoming place for people to meet, build genuine friendships, share knowledge, access helpful resources, and enjoy positive experiences together. Our outreach and programs will place a special focus on the experiences and needs of Africans in the diaspora, while welcoming anyone who shares our values.
“Life in the diaspora should be about more than simply getting by. It should be about belonging, growing, and thriving.”
Where it began
A lunch, a friendship, and a shared idea.
INUKA began over lunch, when two friends from Africa, Mena Mbulo and Mary Mwanzia, started talking about the kind of community they wanted to help create. As African women building lives in the diaspora, they understood the importance of belonging, familiar connections, and community support. What began as a conversation grew into a shared commitment: to make it easier for Africans in the diaspora to find meaningful connections, positive experiences, and support as they build their lives.
Why we exist
Practical pathways to stability, skills, and belonging.
Our mission is to strengthen communities by expanding access to employment support, workforce and life-skills development, financial education, housing and basic-needs resources, wellness referrals, and meaningful social connections. We welcome people of all backgrounds, with a special commitment to Africans in the diaspora.
BelongingCreate welcoming spaces where people can form genuine friendships and support networks.
Well-beingEncourage healthy choices, positive activities, and access to appropriate support.
OpportunityShare knowledge and pathways for career growth, financial capability, and entrepreneurship.
CultureCelebrate African heritage, traditions, food, and the stories that connect us.
Our focus
A community resource hub built around real-life needs.
INUKA brings resource navigation, employment readiness, practical skills training, financial capability, housing connections, wellness referrals, and community-building together in one welcoming place. Our programs are open to everyone, while keeping the experiences and needs of Africans in the diaspora at the heart of our outreach.
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Positive Experiences
Alcohol-free and family-friendly activities, cultural celebrations, shared meals, and opportunities to enjoy community in healthy ways.
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Personal & Financial Growth
Job-search guidance, resume writing and review, interview preparation, career development, financial education, household budgeting, bill prioritization, debt-management education, and entrepreneurship resources.
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Financial Stability & Planning
Practical education to help people understand their income and expenses, create household budgets, prioritize bills, plan for savings, understand credit, and explore strategies for managing debt.
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Employment & Career Support
Help finding job opportunities, building or improving resumes, preparing for interviews, and navigating career transitions with confidence.
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Wellness & Support
Supportive life-coaching and goal-setting connections, conversations about isolation and well-being, and referrals to qualified mental health professionals and other appropriate support services.
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Life Coaching & Personal Growth
Connections to life coaches and mentors who can help people clarify goals, build confidence, strengthen life skills, and take practical next steps.
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Culture & Food
Celebrating African food, traditions, stories, and cultural knowledge through shared experiences.
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Resource Connections
Helping community members from all backgrounds find useful information, local services, learning opportunities, and supportive organizations.
INUKA Skills & Workforce Pathways
Turn potential into practical skills.
Our planned hands-on training pathways will introduce participants to practical, transferable skills through guided learning, workshops, demonstrations, and supervised experience where available. The goal is to help people build confidence, strengthen their resumes, and prepare for employment or further training.
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Event Services & Rentals
Event preparation, setup and breakdown, customer service, rental inventory, logistics, décor, teamwork, and event-day operations.
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Retail & Pet Store Operations
Customer service, retail sales, merchandising, stock control, inventory systems, point-of-sale practice, and store operations.
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Culinary & Food Skills
Food preparation, kitchen organization, food safety, menu planning, catering foundations, and cultural cooking workshops.
Training availability, certifications, placements, and supervised practice will depend on qualified instructors, facilities, insurance, partner agreements, and funding. We will clearly distinguish introductory workshops from accredited or licensed training.
The people behind the vision
Built on friendship. Strengthened by experience.
INUKA brings together complementary skills and a shared commitment to serving the community.
Co-founder · Director of Community & Events
Mary Mwanzia
Originally from Kenya, Mary brings entrepreneurial experience and a strong foundation in event services. Before moving to the United States, she successfully built and operated an event rental company. As INUKA's Co-Founder and Director of Community & Events, she helps shape welcoming experiences that bring people together and strengthen community connections.
Founder & Chief Executive Officer
Mena Mbulo
Originally from Africa, Mena is INUKA's Founder and Chief Executive Officer. She brings a professional background in finance, with strengths in financial understanding, planning, organization, and responsible management. Outside of her professional work, she enjoys cooking and the warmth that comes from sharing food. She leads INUKA's vision of building meaningful connections, expanding access to opportunities, and helping communities thrive, with a particular commitment to Africans in the diaspora.
Rooted in Washington · Connected to the world
Founded by two women from Africa, INUKA is built on a simple belief: everyone deserves a place to belong, opportunities to grow, and a community that helps them thrive. Our doors are open to all.
Executive team · Chief Happiness Officer
Nug
Our four-legged morale booster, welcoming committee, and reminder that community should always have room for joy.
Officially very good at being cuteOur intended community impact
We want every connection to lead to a next step.
INUKA is building programs around practical outcomes that can be tracked, evaluated, and improved. We will use participant feedback and program data to understand what is working and where the community needs more support.
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Employment & Workforce Readiness
Track participants receiving resume support, interview preparation, job-search guidance, hands-on training, and connections to employment opportunities.
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Financial & Housing Stability
Track financial education participation, household budgeting support, housing-resource navigation, and referrals for essential needs.
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Wellness & Community Belonging
Track coaching and wellness referrals, community participation, volunteer engagement, and connections to supportive networks.
Accountability & partnerships
Responsible programs. Transparent stewardship.
We aim to build partnerships with employers, training providers, housing and basic-needs organizations, licensed wellness professionals, cultural groups, and local agencies. Each program will have defined goals, a realistic budget, appropriate safeguards, and a way to report outcomes to participants, partners, and funders.
INUKA will pursue funding opportunities that align with its charitable purposes and eligibility, including opportunities related to workforce development, education, housing stability, food security, arts and culture, wellness, and community development.
Our planned social enterprise ventures
Learning by doing. Building skills for real life.
INUKA envisions practical training pathways that help participants gain transferable skills, workplace confidence, and exposure to different industries. These proposed ventures are designed to complement our charitable mission; their final legal and operating structure will be established separately and transparently.
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Gather & Glow Events
Event setup, rental operations, inventory care, customer service, event coordination, décor preparation, and small-business fundamentals.
Explore event skills training →♡
Paws & Purpose Market
Retail fundamentals through pet products: merchandising, inventory, point-of-sale basics, customer care, product knowledge, and responsible pet ownership education.
Explore retail skills training →⌂
Savor & Story Culinary Studio
Food preparation, kitchen safety, food handling, menu planning, catering basics, cultural food traditions, and culinary entrepreneurship.
Explore culinary skills training →Honorary team member · Pet Manager
Meet Nug
Nug is INUKA's honorary Pet Manager, bringing a little extra warmth to our team. He reminds us that community includes the four-legged companions who make our lives brighter. His duties include boosting morale, welcoming cuddles, and keeping an eye out for treats.
These are proposed venture names and program concepts, subject to name availability, appropriate registration, funding, and final governance decisions. Grant-funded charitable programs will be separately accounted for and will not be used to improperly benefit private commercial interests.
Gather. Give. Grow.
Community events with purpose.
We plan to bring people together through welcoming events that build relationships, share culture, and respond to community needs.
Community care
Food Drives & Essential Needs Collections
Collecting and coordinating donations of food and everyday essentials for individuals and families who could use extra support.
Culture & creativity
Community Arts & Cultural Gatherings
Celebrating creativity through art activities, cultural showcases, music, storytelling, food, and shared traditions.
Connection
Networking, Meals & Workshops
Hosting shared meals, career and life-skills workshops, community conversations, and opportunities to meet new people.
Get involved
Bring your skills. Share your time. Help build community.
Volunteer, become a mentor, support a food drive, share professional expertise, partner with a program, or help us create welcoming events. There is a place for you at INUKA.
Mena Mbulo · Founder & CEO
Mary Mwanzia · Co-Founder & Director of Community & Events
inukadiaspora@gmail.com
Support the mission
Help create access, opportunity, and belonging.
Your generosity can help support community resource navigation, employment readiness, practical skills workshops, food drives, cultural and arts activities, and connections to essential services.
Interested in supporting INUKA? Contact us to discuss contributions, sponsorships, and in-kind donations while our secure donation platform is being established.
INUKA's Washington nonprofit corporation filing has been submitted. Please confirm state approval and any federal tax-exempt recognition before representing contributions as tax-deductible. A secure online donation processor and receipt process should be configured before accepting online payments.