As many of you know, Portland Community Squash is moving our youth development mission towards community development with The Community Commons Campaign. As part of our program and facility expansion, PCS is thrilled to announce that Meirgani Alaari, known around PCS as Alaari, is joining the team full-time as our Event Director. Alaari will help the organization transition from a few major events per year to a handful of smaller events each week. PCS is committed to becoming a second home, not just for our students, but for the entire family and our members. Please pass along your ideas and a warm welcome to Alaari at alaari@pcsquash.com.
Alaari was born in a small town in Western Sudan. One of 12 siblings and the only one to come to the United States. In 1994, Alaari traveled to Khartoum, the Capital of Sudan. He did various kinds of work in order to gather school supplies. In 1985, a US businessman asked him to come work in the United States. On October 7, 1986, he arrived in Beverly Hills, CA with no english skills. Two years later, he enrolled in Fairfax Community Adult School in LA. He worked all day and went to school at night. In 1993, Alaari graduated with honors. In 1994, he went to Santa Monica Community College. Later that year, he applied for political asylum and was granted a green card. In 1997, he went to work for Fox Stations Sales as a mail clerk, working his way up to becoming the Office Manager. In 2007, he moved to Maine with his family. He is the proud father of 4 beautiful girls and a handsome boy. Before joining Portland Community Squash, Alaari worked three jobs to care for his family. He worked as a Mental Health Counselor/ DSP and also drove for Family Care Transportations/Logistic Care. He speaks English, Arabic, and basic Spanish and holds the following certifications: High School Diploma, CRMA, CPR & First Aid, CPI, DSP, MHSS, and many nonacademic certificates. He loves helping people and enjoys traveling.