Almaz Mulugeta, z”l, passed away May 5, 2023, in Ethiopia. She was the mother of Portlander Kalkidan (Mimi) Ezra, who organized a Portland Momentum trip to take Jewish moms to Israel in 2022. For the past couple of months, Ezra has traveled frequently to Ethiopia to visit her mom.
Mulugeta was born in 1955 in a village called Fitche, in Ethiopia. She spent 16 years teaching mathematics at the Cathedral school. In 1992, Mulugeta and four friends could not stand by and watch as families disintegrated and children were forced onto the streets. They pooled their finances to set up Goh Family Welfare organization, which served the community for a couple of years. After that, she got involved in raising her grandchildren and continued to live a meaningful life. She was beloved by many family members and her community at large. 
To preserve her legacy, Ezra has established the “Liyou Foundation,” named for Mulugeta’s daughter who died at an early age.