Save the Date!
The ARSI-AYM program will host an Afghan Youth Refugee and Immigrant Statewide Conference titled “Strengthening Partnerships and Shaping the Future for Afghan Refugees” on April 29th, 2025. This event is in collaboration with the California Department of Social Services, Public Health Institute, Council on American Islamic Relations, and United Women of East African Support Teams and is designed to bring together ethnic-led organizations, community leaders, educators, and funders committed to advancing the health and well-being of our Afghan students and families statewide.
This conference represents a unique gathering showcasing best practices, strategic collaborations, and a shared vision for the future of our Afghan youth. It will take place on April 29th at the Hilton Sacramento Arden West from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM The day will include an inspiring youth panel, peer-to-peer learning opportunities, and solution-oriented breakout discussions.
Please see the conference flyer and agenda booklet below for more information.
Master of Ceremonies
Reba Meigs – UC San Diego Center for Community Health (CCH), Refugee Immigrant Health Unit (RIHU)
Reba Meigs (she/her) is a Senior Project Officer supporting the Afghan Refugee School Impact (ARSI) & Afghan Youth Mentoring (AYM) Program. Reba’s role includes planning and managing the statewide ARSI and AYM programs as part of the community-led transformation model to support a communities of practice approach to organizational capacity building and skill-based trainings.
Reba has nearly 20 years of public health experience at the state and county level, and in academic and non-profit settings. She has extensive strategic planning and implementation experience in federal and state funding models, evaluation frameworks, training and skill development methodologies, and community collaboration. Reba has designed, implemented, and evaluated large-scale community-based programs and has provided evidence-based capacity building guidance for health policies, legislative bills, systems, and environmental change initiatives throughout the state of California.
Asmaa Deiranieh – UC San Diego Center for Community Health (CCH), Refugee Immigrant Health Unit (RIHU)
Asmaa Deiranieh (she/her) is a Health Equity & Youth Engagement Manager. Asmaa leads the Youth Advisory Council program planning, coordination, and facilitation of YAC meetings throughout the year. Working directly with the youth, Asmaa supports youth-led projects that emphasize improving access to healthy foods, beverages, and physical activity in a community setting. Asmaa will be taking this experience and leading the San Diego Refugee Communities Coalition’s emerging Youth Leader’s Council. Asmaa also works on the Advancing Health Literacy program to develop strategies to address disparities that are seen in racial and ethnic minority communities as a result of COVID-19. She also supports with The Afghan Refugee School Impact (ARSI) & Afghan Youth Mentoring (AYM) Program,
Opening Keynote Speakers
Hashim Wahdatyar – UC San Diego Center for Community Health (CCH), Refugee Immigrant Health Unit (RIHU)
Hashim Wahdatyar (he/him) is a Project Officer supporting the Afghan Refugee School Impact (ARSI) & Afghan Youth Mentoring (AYM) Program. With over 15 years of experience, Hashim served international organizations in various capacities, including as Spokesperson for United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime in Afghanistan, and Program Officer, Regional Program for Afghanistan, and Neighboring Countries, managed the Center for Civilians in Conflict’s programs for the Middle East and South Asia, and served as Program Director at the Institute of Current World Affairs in Washington DC.
Kathy Yang – California Department of Social Services, Office of Equity
Kathy Yang (she/her) has served with the California Department of Social Services for 15 years, most recently as the Deputy Director of the Office of Equity Division. In this role, she oversees statewide refugee and immigrant integration programs; civil rights programs; equity, diversity, and inclusion initiatives; language access and translation services; anti-hate and equity grant programs; unaccompanied refugee minor, youth mentoring, and children and youth school impact grant programs; deaf access programs; and digital and document accessibility programs. She previously served as California’s State Refugee Coordinator for three years and held multiple positions with the County of Sacramento in public cash and food assistance programs, child welfare/adult protective services, and in-home and community-based care programs. Kathy also served in the nonprofit sector supporting immigrants. She is a former refugee and is the first in her family to graduate from college, holding dual master’s degrees in Social Work and English.
Kathy Yang – California Department of Social Services, Office of Immigrant Youth
Carolina Sheinfeld (she/her) is the Chief of the first ever Office of Immigrant Youth at the California Department of Social Services (CDSS). The Office of Immigrant Youth within CDSS’ Office of Equity was established in 2022 to meet the integration needs of immigrant youth, including highly vulnerable populations like unaccompanied children. In her new capacity, Carolina leads policy and program developments that cross multiple systems of care including immigration, education, child welfare, health care and community care licensing.
Carolina has a passion for humanitarian assistance and social justice and for the past two decades has built strong connections and strategic partnerships across the immigrant and refugee rights ecosystem. Carolina grew up in Spain and Venezuela and later moved to Los Angeles where she led the Immigrant Relations Office at the Los Angeles County Office of Education (LACOE) (2019-2022) and coordinated the Torture Survivors Project for the Legal Aid Foundation of Los Angeles (2003-2018) while supporting the Refugee Forum of Los Angeles (2015-2018). In addition to improving the lives of immigrants and refugees, Carolina is also driven by a desire to influence public diplomacy and to cultivate inter-cultural relations.
Abdi Abdillahi – California Department of Social Services, Refugee Programs Bureau
Abdi Abdillahi (he/him), is Refugee Programs Bureau (RPB) Chief and the California State Refugee Coordinator (SRC). Abdi oversees the federal funding for refugee services and is responsible for implementing the State Plan for refugee resettlement in CA. This includes the administration and development of refugee programs which includes the Refugee Cash Assistance, policies and procedures to ensure refugees and other Office of Refugee Resettlement (ORR) population receive the services they need to become self-sufficient.
As the SRC, Abdi also coordinates with public and private resources for refugees. He leads external communications with federal partners (ORR, PRM, and other federal agencies) and internal communications with state agency/department partners. He also monitors international, federal, and state policies and impact on RPB and refugee populations; performs one-on-one consultation with the California Resettlement Agencies (RAs), representation/participation in the State Coordinators of Refugee Resettlement (SCORR) and other federal partners meetings.
In his previous role with the RPB, Abdi also served as the Policy and Programs Section Chief with the RPB in which he oversees the implementation of the policies and procedures of the refugee programs and services.
Mohammad Sediq Hazratzai – Public Health Institute, Center for Immigrant and Refugee Health
Mohammad Sediq Hazratzai (he/him), MD, MPH, is the Executive Director of the Center for Immigrant and Refugee Health (CIRH) and Sehat Initiative, both programs of the Public Health Institute (PHI). Dr. Sediq is a career public health professional and researcher with extensive experience focused on refugee and immigrant health. As a visiting professor at the University of California, Davis, Dr. Sediq teaches refugee health and comparative health systems. Dr. Sediq is also a credentialed Principal Investigator with PHI and an affiliate with the University of California San Francisco (UCSF) Institute for Global Health Sciences.
Dr. Sediq has worked with nonprofits, IOM (UN Migration Agency), and Afghanistan’s Ministry of Public Health in projects focused on the most vulnerable populations – refugees, migrants, Injecting Drug Users (IDUs), and HIV high-risk groups. Dr. Sediq is a board member with Upwardly Global, a leading nonprofit that helps immigrant, refugee, and asylee professionals rebuild their careers in the United States. Dr. Sediq speaks English, Dari/Farsi, and Pashto fluently and is an active community member in the Greater Sacramento region, helping diverse refugee groups. Dr. Sediq is a big fan of nature and national parks. If he is not in his home office, he spends most of his time with his two children.
Abdul Basit Azizi – Afghan Youth Mentoring (AYM) Program, San Diego Afghan Connections
Abdul Basit Azizi (he/him) is a passionate computer science student at Grossmont College. Originally from Afghanistan, he moved to the U.S. after 2021 and has been working hard to build a better future for himself and his community. He is a proud member of the Phi Theta Kappa International Honor Society and has led youth seminars as a mentor with the Afghan Youth Mentoring Program, helping others discover their potential. He enjoys hands-on projects, especially in IoT and software development, and is also exploring human behavior and technological research to create a meaningful impact. His experience includes customer service and developing web projects. Abdul plans to transfer to UC San Diego this upcoming fall to continue growing as a leader in tech and innovation. He strongly believes in the power of learning, connection, and using his skills to uplift and empower others.
Youth Panelists
Tahira Safi – Afghan Youth Mentoring (AYM) Program, International Rescue Committee Los Angeles
Tahira Safi (she/her), from Afghanistan, is a dedicated case manager at the Human Migration Institute in Riverside, CA, where she coordinates critical services for refugee and immigrant families,including housing, public benefits enrollment, employment support, cultural orientation, and ongoing family assistance. Fluent in Pashto, Dari, and English, Tahira bridges language and cultural gaps, supporting clients through their integration journey and providing live interpretation as needed. Her experience as an academic tutor and educational program assistant highlights her commitment to empowering individuals of all ages through education and mentorship. Tahira holds a Bachelor’s degree in Religion & Law from Salam University, Kabul, Afghanistan and is currently pursuing an A.A. in Registered Nursing at Riverside City College. She has earned certifications including the Afghan Youth Mentorship Program from the International Rescue Committee, Recognized by the UN International Organization for Migration with a Certificate of Appreciation, and Resilient Awad from Human Migration institute. Tahira’s expertise and passion make her a vital contributor to refugee support and community integration efforts.
Beheshta Jailani – Afghan Youth Mentoring (AYM) Program, International Rescue Committee Los Angeles
Omar Muhammadi – Afghan Youth Mentoring (AYM) Program, CAIR-SVCC
Omar Muhammadi (he/him) is a Senior Programs & Outreach Coordinator for Council on American-Islamic Relations, California Sacramento Valley/Central California (CAIR-SV/CC).
Breakout Session Presenters
Ayesha Zafari – Family and Community Engagement, Holistic Afghan Women Association, San Diego
Ayesha Zafari serves as the Director of Holistic Afghan Women Association (HAWA). She is deeply committed to supporting refugee and immigrant communities, especially Afghan families, through culturally affirming and holistic programs. At HAWA, she leads efforts that include, but are not limited to, family coaching, mental health and wellbeing workshops, social services, and educational support for youth and parents. She is proud to have helped and continues to help run ARSI programs at HAWA that are designed to connect families with resources, strengthen community ties, and promote healing. As a graduate of San Diego State University with a degree in Public Health, she brings both lived experience and professional passion to this work. Her goal is to create spaces where families feel seen, supported, and empowered—spaces that reflect their culture, values, and resilience.
Naveed Ahmed – Family and Community Engagement, ICNA Relief, Sacramento
Naveed Ahmed (he/him) is the Assistant Director – West Region of ICNA Relief.
Details for Attendees
All Attendees
- Complimentary parking – parking will be free at the Hilton Sacramento Arden West.
- The convening will be indoors from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Breakfast and lunch will be provided.
- This event will not be recorded and will NOT have options for hybrid workshops.
- Please refer back to this page for any new updates.
Sub-awardee Attendees
- Please connect with your Regional Lead (RL) to book travel and hotel accommodations.
- ONLY two staff members per SA are invited to participate in the conference
- Send names and contact information to your RL; this will serve as your registration
- SAs will NOT register via partner registration link BUT will receive a conference confirmation email
- If you will be presenting a poster during the conference, please complete the Poster Submission Form by April 18th 2025, 11:59 PM (PST).
- A sub-awardee reception will be held the evening of April 28th from 5-7 PM. Please contact your RL if you would like to attend.
