People Saint John
Mohamed Bagha on growing strong communities by engaging newcomers
Article banner image

UNBeknownst Podcast Episode 34

Mohamed Bagha (BAMHT'05, MIDST'13) is the managing director of the Saint John Newcomers Centre and chair of the Saint John Region Chamber of Commerce. Originally from Kenya, he arrived in Saint John in the early 2000s to complete his post-secondary education at UNB and has been part of the newcomer support scene in the Port City for over a decade.

Mohamed is interested in helping grow and strengthen the community and is passionate about helping newcomers be part of that growth. He's worked on initiatives to help newcomers settle more easily in their new home, and to help everyone see the value of community-building work to grow the services available to newcomers. Join us for a conversation about community-building and the role that both newcomers and long-time community members have in working together.

Listen to the episode

In this episode

  • What experiential learning programs do to help students, especially newcomers, build a network and become engaged in their community.
  • Why building a network is so important for engagement and success.
  • The important work of the Saint John Newcomers Centre – to both newcomers and the community.
  • Why Mohamed believes Atlantic Canadian cities are the best places to live.
  • His optimism for growth for the future, and why newcomers are central to that growth.
  • How to employ DEI to help overcome challenges for employers recruiting a talented workforce.
  • How we can create opportunities to make the city the best place to do business.

Links and resources:   

Thanks to:   


Subscribe to hear from other incredible UNB alumni at: Spotify | Apple Podcasts

Stay connected with the UNB community!
Customize your contact preferences so that you get the UNB news that matters most to you!