Our Team

Farhiya Mohamed

Executive Director

Farhiya Mohamed is a native of Somalia and a local leader in community organizing. Farhiya received her Master of Social Work from University of Washington (MSW) and her BA in Human Services at Evergreen State College while working as a Family Advocate with Southwest Youth & Family Services in West Seattle. Prior to Southwest, Farhiya worked as a Bilingual/Bicultural advocate with the Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA). For more than 10 years, Farhiya has worked assisting and advocating for domestic violence victims within the refugee and immigrant communities in King County. Farhiya has been a member of numerous community organizations including founding member and Vice-Present of the African Community Network in Seattle-King County, steering committee member of Seattle-King County Public Health community research project, board member of the National African Immigrant Refugee Women Network (NAIRWIN), and City of Seattle Commissioner Office of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, and founder and Executive Director of the Somali Family Safety Task Force which is dedicated to empowering and advancing the local Somali community by educating families on ways to prevent domestic and gender-based violence and strengthening community. Farhiya’s passion is to empower and advance youth & families by giving them a chance to address the issues they face and providing them with resources.

• 206-659-4755
• farhiya@sfstf.org

Sandy Atoom

Program Manager

Sandy Atoom is a humanitarian professional with over seven years of experience in humanitarian management, emergency program oversight, and refugee support across Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Ethiopia, Sri Lanka, and South Sudan. She holds an MBA and a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the University of Jordan. Her expertise spans cross-cultural communication, legal aid, gender-based violence prevention, and capacity building, with a strong background in grant management and program coordination. She has worked with international organizations such as UNICEF, UN Women, WUSC, and Legal Action Worldwide, supporting refugee communities through education, entrepreneurship, protection, and advocacy. Additionally, she served as a Cross-Cultural Specialist with the U.S. military oversees, facilitating intercultural engagement. Sandy is dedicated to empowering displaced communities, enhancing refugee resilience, and fostering sustainable development initiatives worldwide.

• +91-89898989898
• nick.knight@example.com

Saliha Hacibektasoglu

office assistant

Saliha Hacibektasoglu Born in Turkey, moved to New York in 1980 when 11, Received Associates Degree Business in Administration from MCC in 1992, Received Bachelors Degree in Management Information Systems from RIT in 1999, Received Master Degree in Electrical & Computer Engineering from THKU in 2016, Worked at the Photography Giant - KODAK, last year in high school and after graduation from University after 1999. Got Married in 1987, has 4 children and a granddaughter, Moved back to Turkey for 16 years to raise children. While there worked at the Transportation Head Quarter - EGO in Ankara, Turkey from 2004-2016. After returning to the US, worked at EMAS – Ethiopian Online School, 2019-2020 and Volunteered at Sofia Way and Newport Covenant Church, continuing to volunteer at MAPS-MCRC for 2 years now. Joined SFSTF on Sept 7th 2021.

• 206-659-4755
• Saliha@sfstf.org

Shifa Chowdhury

Administration

Shifa Taslim Chowdhury is a humanitarian professional with over seven years of experience serving refugee communities from Venezuela, Mexico, Afghanistan, Somalia, and the Rohingya population. She currently serves as Assistant to the Executive Director at Somali Family Safety Task Force in Seattle. As a woman from a developing country, Shifa has dedicated her career to supporting vulnerable communities worldwide. Her transformative experiences during the Rohingya refugee crisis profoundly shaped her professional trajectory, inspiring her to pursue a fully-funded master's degree in development economics and international development from the Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver. Her extensive international experience includes serving as Humanitarian Officer with BBC Media Action in Bangladesh, where she coordinated with key funders including DFID, UNHCR, UNICEF, and USAID. She also served as Field Coordinator with REACH Initiative in the Rohingya Response. As a Nathanson Fellow at The Aspen Institute in DC, she gained valuable insights into development work while supporting projects designed to empower marginalized youth communities. Shifa specializes in qualitative research, community based programs, and grant management. She has received specialized training from prominent organizations including IRC International, Save The Children Bangladesh, and UNHCR. Her academic and professional achievements have been recognized through prestigious awards including the Nathanson Fellowship 2023, Sie Fellowship 2022, and IKEA Foundation Scholarship 2013.

• shifa@sfstf.org

Saida Alim, MSW

Digital Coordinator

Saida Alim, has been involved with community work in the past 8 plus years in many different capacities as Housing and Policy Advocate with SHA,   advocate. Saida also was a Fellow Intern, EAC  through RVC.  Practicing mental health therapist and has worked in the field for the past years. Graduate from the University of Washington with her master's she is passionate about the work she does for the community and strongly believes in uplifting impoverished, disenfranchised immigrant/refugee and communities of color.

• saida@sfstf.org

Rahima Houssein

Sewing Coordinator

My name is Rahima Houssein, and I am a dedicated mother of four who has been actively involved in various educational and community roles. My experience includes: teaching youth cooking classes from 2016 to 2020 • Providing childcare at Literacy Source Parent ESL Childcare from 2016-2018 • Working as an Instruction Assistant at Seattle Public Schools from 2018-2019 • Serving as a preschool teacher and pursuing a bachelor's degree in early childhood education • Teaching sewing classes at Somali Family Safety Task Force since 2018 to now. Leading Youth Art classes from 2021 to 2023 Throughout my career, I have demonstrated my commitment to education, community service, and empowering youth and adults through culturally sensitive teaching methods. My diverse experiences span early childhood education, culinary arts, childcare, and visual arts instruction.

• rahimahoussein@yahoo.com

Abucar Abucar

Youth Advocate

Abucar Abucar completed his education at Seattle Pacific University, with a specialization in information systems. Abucar is profoundly committed to working with young people and assisting them on their path to success. He holds extensive knowledge in helping youth discover careers that truly ignite their passion. Furthermore, he is fervent about aiding them in accessing resources and navigating through complex life challenges. Abucar also extends his support to families and individuals who are struggling to find solutions to their difficulties.

• +91-89898989898
• Abucar@SFSTF.org

Arabbi Saho

Youth and Family Specialist

Arabbi Saho has five years' experience working with families and children as an outreach specialist and early learning specialist. With one year experience in early childhood education, she levels in a clear way approachable and empathetic with assertive as appropriate satisfaction. Arabbi works at a high standard and has developed a good bond with the West African community, she is also fluent in five different languages. Arabbi is certified as an immigration court interpreter. Arabbi brings her connection and relationship with multiple communities into the service of Somali family safety task forces.

• Arabbi@SFSTF.org

Faisal Hassan

Youth Coordinator

I am a dedicated community advocate with a strong commitment to humanitarian and educational work. I find purpose in making a positive impact by connecting youth, seniors, and families to vital resources and opportunities that foster stronger, healthier communities. Passionate about creating safe, supportive spaces for young people, I strive to empower them to thrive, grow, and reach their full potential.

• faisalhassan@sfstf.org

Filsan Shamo

Lead Advocate

I hold a B.A. in Digital Technology & Culture from Washington State University. I'm a professional with a track record of building and leading multicultural organizations, handling client needs and using data to support business decisions. Working at Somali Family Safety Task Force is fulfilling my goal of helping people and making a difference in their lives.

• Filsan@sfstf.org

Hayad Osman

Advocate

• Diane@sfstf.org

Semira Seid

Advocate

Semira Seid is a dedicated public health professional and passionate domestic violence advocate, born in Ethiopia. She holds a graduate degree in Public Health and a Master's in Public Health Nutrition, supplemented by leadership training from Howard University and various IT and leadership courses. With over 8 years of diverse experience at Ethiopia's Ministry of Health, Semira has developed expertise in public health program management, community engagement and domestic violence support. Her passion centers on empowering communities through domestic violence awareness and prevention, supporting survivors and marginalized groups and promoting health equity and social justice. As a committed advocate, Semira strives to drive lasting change through education, advocacy and support, dedicating her expertise to those in need.

• semira@sfstf.org

Ahoua Koné, JD, MPH

Clinical Assistant Professor at UW Global Health, Director at Health Alliance International (HAI), and Immigration Attorney

Ahoua Koné is a Lawyer, a Program Director with Health Alliance International, and a Clinical Assistant Professor at the University of Washington Department of Global Health. She is a native of Côte d’Ivoire. Ahoua’s work has been on health research and community empowerment projects both locally and internationally. She is an activist, always trying to help uplift voices that are neglected or oppressed. She is a founding member and past-president of the African Communities Network in King County and has served on several advisory boards and commissions including the Washington State Commission on African-American Affairs, the Seattle Human Rights Commission, the Planning and Oversight Committee of Seattle Public Schools, the Search Committee for the Seattle Police Department Chief. Ahoua is also a co-founding member of the Somali Family Safety Task Force, an organization for which she continues to be committed to helping thrive. Ahoua was a recipient of the Seattle University School of Law 2013 Vanguard Leader of the Year award and the Rotary International Paul Harris Fellow Award (2000). Ahoua and her husband are parents of two young men. Ahoua is thankful for the support of her extended family and friends and for the numerous opportunities presented to her to contribute and give back to the community.

Gyanendra Subba, Project Manager

Lead Career Coach, SHA

Gyanendra is a Certified Workforce Development Professional (CWDP) with over 10 years of experience in direct service, research and evaluation, policy, and management. He is currently a project manager at the Workforce Development Council of Seattle King County (WDC). Prior to joining the WDC, he worked at the Seattle Housing Authority, Refugee Women’s Alliance, and the Nonprofit Assistance Center. He is a former refugee from Bhutan and was resettled in the US in 2008. He holds an undergraduate degree in Physics from St. Xavier’s College, Kolkata, India, an MBA from Seattle University and a Public Leadership Credential certification from the Harvard Kennedy School.

Rania Mussa , Bachelor of Arts (B.A) History

Rania Mussa works as a Solutions Architect designing technological solutions for clients to meet their ML and AI needs. After earning her bachelor’s from Whitman college, Rania worked in the education sector for a couple of years. First with a non-profit that serves immigrant and refugee families to help close the achievement gap for k-12 students. She later joined a start-up focused on using technology to transform how students read for deeper comprehension. Most recently, she worked with health researchers on innovative informatics is driven projects to improve the health outcomes for patients. In her day-to-day, she is driven by the desire to produce results and make an impact. Rania was drawn to the Somali Family Safety Task Force because of its mission “to empower immigrant and refugee women and their families.” SFSTF is not only a community-centered organization but at its core, it is embedded in the very fabric of the community it serves as a community-led, and community-run organization. The organization is well-positioned to address many of today’s challenges as they emerge and is exceedingly adaptive to communal needs.

Lori A. Zoellner, Ph.D.

Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington and Director of the University of Washington Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress (UWCATS)

Lori A. Zoellner, Ph.D., is a Professor in the Department of Psychology at the University of Washington and Director of the University of Washington Center for Anxiety and Traumatic Stress (UWCATS). Both her research and her clinical experience focus on facilitating resilience and recovery after trauma exposure, with particular expertise in understanding underlying mechanisms of recovery and intervention development. For over ten years, she has been working with the Somali community to address war and refugee-based trauma and promote strengths. She is well recognized in the field of traumatic stress studies, including having served on the Board of Directors of the International Society of Traumatic Stress Studies. Dr. Zoellner has written and published extensively on posttraumatic stress disorder. She is a National Institute of Mental Health federally-funded researcher and has given many workshops for practitioners, community leaders, and the public on the prevention and treatment of PTSD.

• (206) 685-3126
• zoellner@uw.edu