Alberta Manga

With her background in nursing and health administration, Alberta Manga has spent much of her life in service to others. In addition to her professional work, Alberta—a Cameroonian immigrant—dedicates time and energy to volunteer work with the Cameroon Family of Cincinnati. The organization provides a network of support and community for Cameroonians in the Cincinnati region, and hosts events that showcase and celebrate Cameroonian culture.

Alberta initially volunteered as the treasurer before she was elected as president of the organization. Her position allows her to mentor young folks and provide opportunities for cultural pride among the community. Through this role, Alberta has learned a balance of give and take, mentorship and leadership, that supports success. She received plenty of support and guidance from previous leaders, which allowed her to step into this role with confidence and trust her ideas for the organization.

“As a leader, you realize that you have to have a vision of your own,” she says. “Yes you have the advice, but they are looking for inspiration.”

The notion of embracing leadership when it’s called for is not new for Alberta. When she was a child in Cameroon her father had a stroke. Her grandmother stepped in to help raise them, rising to the occasion in the face of adversity.

Her profession has also shown her the power of mentorship, in turn inspiring Alberta to pass that on to others. When Alberta moved to Cincinnati by way of New York in 1996, she found work at the Drake Center, a perfect fit for her love of rehab work. She always felt appreciated there, and when she decided to pursue her master’s degree her managers moved her to the education department where she mentored and supported fellow nurses. At the encouragement of her managers and directors, Alberta had the chance to pursue new opportunities. She now works at a director level position with an insurance company, where she helps people make better decisions for their health and well being.

“It’s been full circle and very satisfying to know that […] your supervisor or your director is watching you, and that they’re there as a mentor, they’re there to help you,” she says. “They’re not there to hold you back.”

Alberta is happy to see Cincinnati continue to become more culturally diverse. Where initially there were only a few African community gatherings, she now notes that there are hundreds of people from places like Cameroon, Senegal, Nigeria, and Ghana. Many of those people come to the city, she says, knowing they have friends or family here, people who can help them navigate a new country.

“Cincinnatians have been very open and trying to be welcoming and getting to know different cultures.” Alberta says, noting that she especially sees this in places of employment. But, she says it’s the work of organizations like Cameroon Family of Cincinnati that will improve this city’s inclusivity and belonging for immigrant communities by creating more cultural awareness and appreciation through public events that reach beyond the immigrant communities.