STAFF
Yasmin Habib
Executive Director
More About Yasmin
To escape the indiscriminate civil violence of her homeland, Yasmin Habib came to the United States in the late nineties as a five-year-old Somali refugee. This experience of displacement and resettlement has continuously fueled her desire to positively impact the world and work towards lasting social change.Yasmin comes with an extensive array of skills, qualifications and expertise that have significantly contributed to the organization. She holds a B.A in Medical Anthropology & Global Health with a minor in Diversity from the University of Washington Seattle. Following her graduation, Yasmin worked as a private consultant with the Somali Health Board focusing on programs aimed at decreasing health disparities for refugee communities within King County. Today, she is an ICF Certified Life Coach, adept at teaching mindfulness to youth. A first-generation Somali refugee and an English language learner, Yasmin deeply understands the challenges of re-establishing life in a new country, having done so herself.
Growing up, her own experiences with language and education barriers, intergenerational trauma, and cultural expectations sparked her passion for supporting young people and families in similar situations. Her journey at Celebrating Roots began nine years ago when she founded the organization with the aim of addressing societal and cultural issues faced by East African girls. Having secured millions of dollars in funding, she developed culturally-grounded SEL programs for low-income East African youth and families, serving over 700 youths to date. In her spare time, Yasmin enjoys reading, studying metaphysics, traveling, and exploring various vegetarian cuisines from different cultures.
Growing up, her own experiences with language and education barriers, intergenerational trauma, and cultural expectations sparked her passion for supporting young people and families in similar situations. Her journey at Celebrating Roots began nine years ago when she founded the organization with the aim of addressing societal and cultural issues faced by East African girls. Having secured millions of dollars in funding, she developed culturally-grounded SEL programs for low-income East African youth and families, serving over 700 youths to date. In her spare time, Yasmin enjoys reading, studying metaphysics, traveling, and exploring various vegetarian cuisines from different cultures.
Vanessa Kerr
Program Manager
More About Vanessa
With a deep commitment to youth empowerment and social equity, Vanessa has dedicated her career to uplifting underserved communities through education and culturally responsive programming. For over a decade, she has worked to create safe, inclusive, and engaging spaces where students can develop their critical thinking skills, explore their identities, and build a sense of belonging. As Director of East Side Community Arts, Vanessa developed innovative programs such as a storytelling through video arts class, where students created short films exploring their cultural heritage and personal journeys, and a fiber arts class that taught knitting and crocheting as a means of fostering mindfulness and interpersonal connection. In 2018, Vanessa earned her Master’s degree in Urban Education Policy and Administration from Loyola Marymount University, further enhancing her ability to address systemic inequities in education. This advanced training provided her with valuable insights into shaping policies and practices that support marginalized communities.
As an immigrant herself, Vanessa is deeply attuned to the unique challenges faced by immigrant and refugee youth, and she remains steadfast in her mission to create equitable pathways to success for all students. Outside of work, Vanessa enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, transforming traditional recipes with whatever is on hand in the pantry. She’s also an aspiring fiction writer who loves crafting stories inspired by her upbringing and the communities she’s been a part of. These creative outlets remind her to embrace curiosity, adaptability, and connection, values that shape both her personal and professional life.
As an immigrant herself, Vanessa is deeply attuned to the unique challenges faced by immigrant and refugee youth, and she remains steadfast in her mission to create equitable pathways to success for all students. Outside of work, Vanessa enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, transforming traditional recipes with whatever is on hand in the pantry. She’s also an aspiring fiction writer who loves crafting stories inspired by her upbringing and the communities she’s been a part of. These creative outlets remind her to embrace curiosity, adaptability, and connection, values that shape both her personal and professional life.
Hillal Nor
Program Coordinator
More About Hillal
As the esteemed Program Coordinator for Celebrating Roots, Hillal Nor is cherished for her optimistic nature, kindness, and an undeniable spirit of resilience that echoes in all her efforts. Endowed with more than five years of volunteer experience in our East African community, her expertise has had a tremendous impact on the organization. Hillal’s notable achievements include the successful recruitment of over 50 high school girls for the LAB program, linking 100 low-income families with necessary COVID aid in 2021, and securing a dependable team of adult volunteers for our LAB and YCB programs.
Hillal’s influence extends beyond the limits of her professional scope. Raised in a low-income, East African, and Muslim household in South Seattle, she has first-hand experience of the challenges that a good portion of the community faces. These experiences have shaped her personal values and beliefs, fueling her commitment to fostering a future generation of resilient leaders who lead confident, passion-driven lives. Hillal takes joy in spending time with her expansive Somali family and traveling to various parts of the world, including Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Somalia. With a certification in Mindfulness to her name, Hillal personifies the strong connection Celebrating Roots has nurtured with the South Seattle community. As her passionate dedication propels the organization further, she inspires her fellow mentors to tirelessly refine their approaches and enhance the effectiveness of their work on families.
Hillal’s influence extends beyond the limits of her professional scope. Raised in a low-income, East African, and Muslim household in South Seattle, she has first-hand experience of the challenges that a good portion of the community faces. These experiences have shaped her personal values and beliefs, fueling her commitment to fostering a future generation of resilient leaders who lead confident, passion-driven lives. Hillal takes joy in spending time with her expansive Somali family and traveling to various parts of the world, including Morocco, Saudi Arabia, and Somalia. With a certification in Mindfulness to her name, Hillal personifies the strong connection Celebrating Roots has nurtured with the South Seattle community. As her passionate dedication propels the organization further, she inspires her fellow mentors to tirelessly refine their approaches and enhance the effectiveness of their work on families.
Zuhur Habib
Youth Program & Outreach Specialist
More About Zuhur
Our vibrant Youth Program and Outreach Specialist Zuhur is a bi-lingual Somali American who arrives at Celebrating Roots with a rich palette of experience centered on community involvement and youth support. Her professional trajectory has seen an unwavering dedication to making positive impacts and fostering inclusivity for individuals from diverse backgrounds. Her past volunteer roles in cultural integration and language assistance have shaped her understanding of supporting youth and resonate with the core values of Celebrating Roots. As the first person in her family to be born in the U.S, she has a deep understanding of the unique lived experiences of the youth we serve as they grapple with balancing their layered identities as Black, East African, American, and Muslim. This allows her to connect deeply with the youth and their parents, burgeoning a deep sense of trust within the community.
In her role, Zuhur harnesses her creative marketing skills to heighten the organization's outreach. Her compelling content not only showcases the breadth of the impactful work we do but also strengthens our mission's resonance across various social media platforms—ensuring our voice reaches the far corners of our community. Her drive towards our cause is deeply personal and rooted in her own experiences as a child of immigrant parents navigating after-school programs. Recognizing and understanding the language and trust barriers that non-native parents face, Zuhur is inspired to bridge these gaps, providing parents with much-needed assurance about our programs' nature and their children's well-being. Away from her role, Zuhur enjoys spending quality time with her family and engaging in community events at local mosques. Traveling and culinary exploration also fill her leisure time, echoing her zest for life and her love for the vibrant fabric of her community.
In her role, Zuhur harnesses her creative marketing skills to heighten the organization's outreach. Her compelling content not only showcases the breadth of the impactful work we do but also strengthens our mission's resonance across various social media platforms—ensuring our voice reaches the far corners of our community. Her drive towards our cause is deeply personal and rooted in her own experiences as a child of immigrant parents navigating after-school programs. Recognizing and understanding the language and trust barriers that non-native parents face, Zuhur is inspired to bridge these gaps, providing parents with much-needed assurance about our programs' nature and their children's well-being. Away from her role, Zuhur enjoys spending quality time with her family and engaging in community events at local mosques. Traveling and culinary exploration also fill her leisure time, echoing her zest for life and her love for the vibrant fabric of her community.
BOARD
Mares Asfaha
Board Chair
More About Mares
Mares Asfaha, brings an extensive background in economics, French, and non-profit development to Celebrating Roots. A proud first-generation Eritrean hailing from Seattle, Mares holds a degree from Whitman College and has garnered valuable experience working at noteworthy establishments such as the refugee women’s alliance, Economic Opportunity Institute, and Seattle Housing Authority. Currently, she fosters her passion for meaningful change in her role as a program manager at Philanthropy Northwest.
Her unique skills and qualifications particularly shine in the realm of youth work and civic engagement. Drawing from her experience growing up in an immigrant household, Mares is adept at identifying with the youth our organization seeks to support, making her contributions even more significant. She's a graduate of Project Lead, a board training program hosted by United Way of King County, and helped lay the foundational programming for the youth at Celebrating Roots. As our Board Chair, Mares sees her role as backing the Executive Director to steer the organization, whilst ensuring that we create spaces for youth to flourish. Inspired and motivated by the belief that youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but also the leaders of today, Mares is passionate about empowering BIPOC youth and providing them opportunities to exercise their leadership. Besides her professional commitments, she enjoys reading and living in peace with her cat.
Her unique skills and qualifications particularly shine in the realm of youth work and civic engagement. Drawing from her experience growing up in an immigrant household, Mares is adept at identifying with the youth our organization seeks to support, making her contributions even more significant. She's a graduate of Project Lead, a board training program hosted by United Way of King County, and helped lay the foundational programming for the youth at Celebrating Roots. As our Board Chair, Mares sees her role as backing the Executive Director to steer the organization, whilst ensuring that we create spaces for youth to flourish. Inspired and motivated by the belief that youth are not just the leaders of tomorrow, but also the leaders of today, Mares is passionate about empowering BIPOC youth and providing them opportunities to exercise their leadership. Besides her professional commitments, she enjoys reading and living in peace with her cat.
Sakina Hussain
Board Member
More about Sakina
Sakina Hussain is a passionate advocate for women’s empowerment, social justice, and equity. A journalist by training, she has worked in newsrooms in India and the United States, before earning her Master’s degree in Communication from the University of Washington in Seattle and segueing into various content and digital marketing roles at MSNBC, MSN.com, and Microsoft.
Known for her deep listening, warmth, and curiosity, she creates inclusive spaces where diverse voices can thrive. Her global perspective, nurtured through travel and spontaneous conversations with people from all walks of life, inform her deep respect for cultural diversity and lived experience. As a first-generation immigrant and longtime resident of Rainier Vista, Sakina has witnessed the collective power of diverse voices and ideas and its ability to propel change. She finds immense joy in collecting and curating diverse narratives and weaving myriad voices and imagery in her work. Her thinking is shaped by empathy, cultural humility, and the art of meaningful communication — qualities that have enabled her to design and lead transformative and culturally responsive projects and programs throughout her career.
Sakina brings this wealth of experience and heart-centered leadership to Celebrating Roots, where she hopes to not only serve her community but honor distinct histories, traditions, and identities, as well as amplify stories that often go unheard. Sakina lives in the Rainier Vista neighborhood of Seattle with her greatest teachers — her family (including her beloved mini lop rabbit) and a vibrant community of friends and neighbors who add joy and color to her life. When not engaged in creative pursuits in the kitchen or with her family, she enjoys growing indoor plants, practicing yoga, and exploring nearby hiking trails.
Sakina brings this wealth of experience and heart-centered leadership to Celebrating Roots, where she hopes to not only serve her community but honor distinct histories, traditions, and identities, as well as amplify stories that often go unheard. Sakina lives in the Rainier Vista neighborhood of Seattle with her greatest teachers — her family (including her beloved mini lop rabbit) and a vibrant community of friends and neighbors who add joy and color to her life. When not engaged in creative pursuits in the kitchen or with her family, she enjoys growing indoor plants, practicing yoga, and exploring nearby hiking trails.