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.
Anika Khan
Program Manager
More About Anika
As an impassioned non-profit youth program manager, Anika brings over five years of management experience to Celebrating Roots, accompanied by seven years of commitment to aiding marginalized youth. Holding a B.A. in Psychology, with a focus on Applied Behavioral Analysis Research Track, Anika possesses a robust understanding of program outcomes from a research perspective. Additionally, her minor in Public Health has enhanced her comprehension of public health measures, enabling her to apply these learnings to create healthier and more successful life outcomes for youth at Celebrating Roots. Anika's unique set of skills includes direct experience working with leadership at all levels, from CEOs to part-time staff, along with practical experience in youth recruitment, retention, and the development and implementation of successful programs.
Inspired by her own personal experiences as a Pakistani American, which closely resonated with the struggles endured by East African youth, Anika found motivation in helping young people find their own path to success and personal growth. Her heartfelt desire to provide mentorship and guidance to young individuals lacking these resources in their lives brought her to Celebrating Roots. Anika's work has led to esteemed accomplishments, including restructuring the youth programming at Girl Scouts to foster diversity and inclusivity. In her roles, she prioritizes recruiting and hiring BIPOC staff, aligning the workforce with the diverse populations the organization serves. At Celebrating Roots, Anika's remarkable performance led to the achievement of performance commitment measures ahead of time, surpassing targeted goals. Utilizing her meticulous organization, effective communication skills, and an innate understanding of youth programs, she leads and supports staff to accomplish yearly program goals, enthusiastically contributing to the mission of Celebrating Roots. Outside her professional commitments, Anika is an artist and fitness enthusiast with a spiritual frame of mind!
Inspired by her own personal experiences as a Pakistani American, which closely resonated with the struggles endured by East African youth, Anika found motivation in helping young people find their own path to success and personal growth. Her heartfelt desire to provide mentorship and guidance to young individuals lacking these resources in their lives brought her to Celebrating Roots. Anika's work has led to esteemed accomplishments, including restructuring the youth programming at Girl Scouts to foster diversity and inclusivity. In her roles, she prioritizes recruiting and hiring BIPOC staff, aligning the workforce with the diverse populations the organization serves. At Celebrating Roots, Anika's remarkable performance led to the achievement of performance commitment measures ahead of time, surpassing targeted goals. Utilizing her meticulous organization, effective communication skills, and an innate understanding of youth programs, she leads and supports staff to accomplish yearly program goals, enthusiastically contributing to the mission of Celebrating Roots. Outside her professional commitments, Anika is an artist and fitness enthusiast with a spiritual frame of mind!
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.
Makda Seyoum
Secretary
More About Makda
Makda Seyoum, an Eritrean and Ethiopian American, serves as the Board Secretary for our organization. She takes this role armed with a rich tapestry of skills, qualifications, and experiences. With a grounding in Human Services and a minor in Education and Social Justice, Makda has diligently worked with various non-profit organizations, each devoted to unique causes. Beyond her academic credentials, she makes a significant impact in her professional role at World Relief, where she works as a Resettlement Specialist for recently arrived refugees and immigrants. As a first-generation immigrant, her personal experience provides invaluable insights into the unique challenges faced by the refugee youth we serve. Her strong organizational and active listening skills, combined with her extensive non-profit experience, allow Makda to make persistent and impressive enhancements to our team.
In her specific role as the Board Secretary, Makda supports the board in several ways, from scheduling and communicating board meeting times to maintaining meeting records and creating monthly agendas. She contributes to our mission not only through these practical duties but also by bringing forward innovative problem-solving techniques which strengthen the inclusivity and equitability of our systems. Her commitment to our cause is deeply rooted in her shared values of community, celebration of identity, and creative self-expression—values she sees reflected in the positive feedback from the young people involved in our programs. Outside her professional commitments, Makda cultivates her artistic skills, indulges in her musical aptitude on the guitar and piano, and extensively researches topics within the realm of psychology. Her eclectic range of interests, combined with her professional acumen, allows her to uniquely contribute to Celebrating Roots' mission of fostering growth within our community.
In her specific role as the Board Secretary, Makda supports the board in several ways, from scheduling and communicating board meeting times to maintaining meeting records and creating monthly agendas. She contributes to our mission not only through these practical duties but also by bringing forward innovative problem-solving techniques which strengthen the inclusivity and equitability of our systems. Her commitment to our cause is deeply rooted in her shared values of community, celebration of identity, and creative self-expression—values she sees reflected in the positive feedback from the young people involved in our programs. Outside her professional commitments, Makda cultivates her artistic skills, indulges in her musical aptitude on the guitar and piano, and extensively researches topics within the realm of psychology. Her eclectic range of interests, combined with her professional acumen, allows her to uniquely contribute to Celebrating Roots' mission of fostering growth within our community.