Our Mission
We support Sudanese American Fur families by providing education, resources, and community connections that help them thrive in the United States.
About Us
WHO WE ARE ?
The Fur are Largest ethnic group indigenous to the Darfur region of western Sudan. Today, many Fur families have established communities throughout the United States. Fur Union is a nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting these communities by fostering unity, preserving cultural heritage, promoting education, and providing resources that empower individuals and families.
The Fur are the largest ethnic group in Darfur, a region in western Sudan. The name Darfur means “home of the Fur.” The community is primarily Muslim and traditionally agricultural, and speaks the Fur language alongside Arabic.
Beginning in the 1990s, Fur families started arriving in the United States as refugees from the conflict in Darfur. Today, there are Fur communities in cities like Portland (Maine), Omaha, Richmond, Houston, and Atlanta.
Fur Union was founded to support these families. We help newly arrived households settle in, offer language classes for kids, support students through school and college, and host community events.
What Guides Us
What we believe.
Our Vision
A robust and interconnected Fur community in America, where our language and culture are preserved, and our families have the resources they need to thrive.
Our Values
Community, family, faith, and respect for our heritage.
- Community
- Family
- Faith
- Heritage
- Welcome
- Respect
Our story
It started around a kitchen table.
Fur Union began in 2020 in Atlanta, when a small group of community members met to talk about how to better support Fur families across the country. Local mutual-aid networks had been around for years, but there was no national organization.
Today, Fur Union works with families in more than a dozen U.S. cities. We help newcomers find housing and schools, run weekend language classes, support students through high school and college, and host cultural events.
We try to keep things simple: listen to families, partner with local groups already doing good work, and focus on what actually helps.
Staff & Program Leads
The hands and hearts behind the work.
A small staff and a network of volunteers from across the Fur community.
For governance and oversight, see our Board of Directors →
ALFADEL MUSA HAROUN
THE PRESIDENT
ADAM AHMED IDRISS AHMED
THE VICE PRESIDENT
BABIKER ABDALLA
GENERAL SECRETARY
Abdeen adam Muhammad Ali
Secretary of the Legislative Council
ATIF MAHMOUD
Secretary Of Media
Timeline
From the Sultanate of Darfur to a new American home.
- 1650–1916
The Sultanate of Darfur
The Fur sultans ruled a Kingdom in western Sudan, specifically in Darfur, for nearly three centuries.
- 1990s
First Fur families arrive in the U.S.
Refugees from Darfur begin settling in cities like Portland (Maine), Omaha, and Richmond.
- 2010s
Community groups form
Local Fur families start mutual-aid groups, Saturday schools, and cultural associations across several states.
- 2020
Fur Union is founded
The Fur Union in the United States of America was founded by a dedicated group of Fur community members from across the country. After years of regular meetings and shared discussions, these individuals came together to establish a unified nonprofit organization. The organization’s goals are to strengthen community ties, preserve Fur heritage, and support one another through collective action and shared purpose.
- 2024
Programs grow
Fur Union now supports families in over a dozen U.S. cities through language classes, newcomer support, and youth programs.