2024 Peter DeTroy Award Honoree

Fatuma Hussein Honored with 2024 Peter J. DeTroy III Award

Fatuma Hussein of Lewiston, executive director of the Immigrant Resource Center of Maine, has been named the 2024 recipient of the Peter J. DeTroy III Award.

For over 20 years, Fatuma has worked to build trust and fight for justice within immigrant communities. She and her team provide culturally specific system advocacy, training, community education, and culturally/linguistically appropriate direct services. Her work and impact extend across Maine.

With a particular focus on working with survivors of domestic and sexual violence, Fatuma and her staff work as cultural liaisons among clients, immigrant community leaders, the courts, governmental agencies and nonprofit service providers. She navigates these complex relationships with community elders and court advocates as she helps clients gain access to the services needed and a protection order to keep the client safe.

Created in 2017, the Peter DeTroy award commemorates the life’s work of the late Peter DeTroy, who practiced law in Maine from 1972 until his untimely death in 2016, while he was chairing that year’s Campaign for Justice.

Peter was a problem-solver, a counselor, and a zealous protector and defender of rights. He was a lawyer who harmonized empathy, passion, trust, integrity, and thoughtfulness in every case he handled in his long and impressive career. Recipients, including Fatuma Hussein, “have worked to remove barriers for people who are vulnerable or worked to advance justice in Maine.” 

 Join us in thanking Fatuma for her generous spirit and determined work.