About Us

Holistic Freedom International, Inc. partners with faith-based and community organizations to serve the whole person, strengthen families, and build resilient communities. By addressing physical, emotional, social, economic, and spiritual needs, HFI helps create lasting change rooted in hope, dignity, opportunity, and faith.

Founded in 2021, HFI builds on the decades-long leadership of Dr. Agitu Wodajo, whose work has advanced women’s empowerment, healthcare access, economic development, nonprofit leadership, and public policy reform in the United States and internationally.

Before establishing HFI, Dr. Wodajo founded and led the International Self-Reliance Agency for Women, Inc. (ISAW) in Minnesota. ISAW provided culturally responsive programs that helped immigrant and refugee women and their families pursue safety, stability, economic self-sufficiency, and long-term well-being.

Dr. Wodajo’s leadership extended beyond direct services to public policy advocacy and systems change. Her advocacy contributed to reforms that expanded opportunity for thousands, including:

• 2004 Minnesota legislation that allowed eligible foreign-trained nurses to take the NCLEX-RN examination without first completing the CGFNS certification requirement, after meeting state criteria.
• A 2006 Minnesota rule that exempted hair braiders from cosmetology licensing requirements.

In 2003, ISAW was granted Special Consultative Status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council, recognizing a record of service and influence that extended from local communities to the international arena.

Today, HFI carries this legacy forward by meeting urgent needs while addressing the underlying causes of family instability, generational disconnection, economic hardship, and unequal opportunity. We do not simply provide services; we walk alongside individuals and organizations to build capacity, strengthen leadership, promote healing, and create sustainable pathways to success.