Our Team

Someireh Amirfaiz, Ed.D.
Executive Director

Someireh has been a leader in the nonprofit sector for over 25 years, advocating for refugees, immigrants, and families of color impacted by poverty and racial and social disparities.

Before starting NAAPR, Someireh served as the Executive Director of the Refugee Women’s Alliance for 12 years, where she created opportunities for refugees and immigrants to establish a new life, and to become community of activists working to ensure equity. By challenging and breaking stereotypes, she provides a public face for the rights of all refugees and immigrants in Washington.

For years, Someireh had envisioned a mobilization effort among the immigrant and refugee communities. At the first Refugee and Immigrant Legislative Day on February 20, 2007, in Olympia, WA, more than 700 participants from immigrant communities across Western Washington gathered together. In 2013, more than 2000 refugees and immigrants attended the Legislative Day.

A tireless voice for children and families, Someireh has served on numerous Boards and Committees, including Governor Jay Inslee’s Transition Committee, the Committee to End Homelessness Refugee and Immigrant Taskforce, Chair of the Tri-County Refugee and Immigrant Planning Committee, the United Way of King County’s Systems Support Impact Council, the City of Seattle’s Levy Oversight Committee, and the State of Washington’s Minority Advisory Council, among many other posts. Currently, she serves as a Human Services Commissioner for the City of Bellevue, helping to make funding decisions affecting Bellevue’s most vulnerable. She also serves on the Board of the Puget Sound Educational Service District, and the King County Healthcare for the Homeless Network Governance Council.

Someireh has received many awards and recognitions, including the Archbishop Raymond G. Hunthausen Award from Seattle University in 2018, the highest honor awarded to a graduating student. In addition, she has received the Family Advocacy Award from the Washington Association for Marriage and Family Therapy and the Ruth Woo Citizen Activism Award. She was recognized by the Northwest Asian Weekly Foundation as one of the top ten contributors to the Asian Community in 2012. In recognition of her contributions to refugee and immigrant communities, the City of Seattle proclaimed November 22, 2013, “Someireh Amirfaiz Day.”

Someireh holds a Master’s of Arts in Psychology, and a doctorate degree in Education from Seattle University.

Shamso Yusuf
Advocacy and Supportive Services Lead

Shamso Yusuf brings two decades of advocacy and direct services experience in the nonprofit sector.

Udita Singh
Communications Officer

Udita Singh is a communications and marketing professional with over eight years of experience across diverse sectors.

Gaby Sanchez, MA, LMFT, MHP, CMHS, EMMHS
Clinician, Mental Health Initiatives

Gaby is a licensed mental health therapist dedicated to helping heal individuals through stressful or traumatic experiences.

Merih Mehari, MSW, LSWAIC, MHP, CMHS
Clinician, Mental Health Initiatives

Merih graduated from the University of Washington in 2018 with a Master’s in Social Work.

Jawad Ramyar
Manager, Family and Youth Advocacy and
Supportive Services

Jawad Ramyar is a proud native of Herat, Afghanistan, where he spent his childhood and early years.

Sayed Mohammad Faqiri
Employment and Social Services Lead

Sayed Mohammad Faqiri is originally from Afghanistan. He holds a Master’s in Sociology from Osmania University, India, and a Bachelor’s in Education from Herat University, Afghanistan.

Hassan Q. Jabir
Employment and Social Services Lead

Hassan Jabir is from Iraq and brings four years of experience in community outreach, case management, and employment services, with a strong focus on serving diverse communities.

Shakila Kajaby
Vocational ESL Instructor

Shakila Kajaby is an experienced instructor with over 7 years of expertise teaching English to diverse groups, including refugees. Holding a master’s degree in Gender and Women Studies and a bachelor’s degree in literature and journalism, Shakila is deeply committed to enhancing teaching skills for individuals from varied cultural and linguistic backgrounds.

Shahrine Islam
After-school Instructor

Shahrine Islam was born in Bangladesh and raised in Florida. She earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from Florida Atlantic University before moving to Washington. Over the past ten years, Shahrine has worked in various educational roles across different schools and supplementary education programs. She has taught hundreds of children as a STEM Instructor, helped many young tribal members pursue their GEDs, and tutored students both in-home and virtually, as well as in schools.

Jessie Kimes
After-school Instructor

Jessie Kimes is a passionate educator who teaches English to Multilingual (ML) high school students. She earned a Bachelor’s of Arts in International Affairs from Eastern Washington University and a Master’s in Teaching from Saint Martin’s University. Jessie holds teaching endorsements in English Language Arts, Social Studies, Humanities, English Language Learners (ELL), and Special Education.

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