Abdul Basir Noorani, PIR Caseworker & Youth Mentoring Program Lead

Noorani has been working with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) in Turlock since 2022, supporting refugee families through cultural orientation, education, youth mentoring, and resettlement services. Noorani began as a Cultural Orientation and Education Caseworker and later served as one of the two Cultural Orientation Leaders supporting IRC RAI offices nationwide for one year. In 2025, Noorani led the Afghan Youth Mentoring (AYM) Program. Currently, Noorani serves as a PIR Caseworker and leads the Youth Mentoring (YM) Program at the IRC Turlock office, supporting refugee families and youth toward successful integration and self-sufficiency.

Amina Sheik Mohamed, Unit Director, RIH-CCH

Amina Sheik Mohamed, MPH, is the Founding Director of the Refugee and Immigrant Health (RIH) Unit at the UC San Diego Center for Community Health (CCH), where she leads programs and systems change efforts to improve health and well-being for refugee and immigrant communities. She is co-founder of the San Diego Refugee Communities Coalition (SDRCC) and directs the Refugee Statewide Impact (RSI) Program. The RSI Program is a statewide initiative that brings together school districts, regional leads, and service providers to advance youth engagement, family support, and connection to basic needs for refugee communities across California. Her work focuses on building partnerships, strengthening community capacity, and advancing culturally responsive health programs. Amina has been recognized for her leadership with awards, including the James Irvine Foundation Leadership Award (2024) and the Prebys Foundation Leaders in Belonging Award (2024).

Blanca Meléndrez, Executive Director, CCH

Blanca Meléndrez, MA, serves as Executive Director of the UC San Diego Center for Community Health (CCH), bringing two decades of leadership and personal experience as a Mexican immigrant to champion health equity for communities of color. She has secured over $80 million to fund innovative initiatives, from the SNAP-Education/5-a-Day pilot and the flagship Southern California ¡Más Fresco! Nutrition Incentive Program, to workplace, faith-based, and school wellness projects. Under her direction, CCH also launched and coordinates multiple community-based coalitions, including the statewide Refugee School Impact (RSI) Program, the San Diego Refugee Communities Coalition (SDRCC), Advancing Health Literacy, Healthy4You, the Youth Advisory Council, and the County Childhood Obesity Initiative, all grounded in a social-justice vision that treats health as a fundamental right. 

Dr. Cio Hernández – Psychotherapist and CEO, Mental Wellness Workshop Lead

Dr. Rocío Elisa "Cio" Hernández is a licensed psychotherapist, CEO, and global resilience strategist whose work focuses on building individual and collective resilience and leadership from wherever people are. With over 25 years of experience, she has conducted thousands of immigration psychological evaluations, testified in immigration court, and trained clinicians nationwide on ethical, unbiased assessment practices. Her work integrates clinical expertise, neuroscience, and systems thinking to support accurate evaluation, sustainable leadership, and human-centered decision-making across contexts.

Faisa Mohamud, Director of Finance – Contracts & Grants Administration, Somali Bantu Association of America

Faisa Mohamud serves as the Director of Finance – Contracts & Grants Administration at the Somali Bantu Association of America (SBAOA), where she oversees grant management, financial compliance, contracts administration, and community program operations. Her work focuses on supporting refugee and immigrant communities through sustainable programming, strategic partnerships, and culturally responsive services. Faisa is passionate about advancing opportunities for youth, families, and underserved populations across San Diego through education, health, and community empowerment initiatives.

Hashim Wahdatyar, Program Lead, RIH-CCH

Hashim Wahdatyar (he/him) is a Program Lead at RIH-CCH supporting the Refugee School Impact (RSI) and Youth Mentoring (YM) programs, bringing over 20 years of experience across international organizations. His previous roles include managing the United Nations' Regional Program for Afghanistan and Neighboring Countries, managing programs for the Middle East and South Asia at the Center for Civilians in Conflict, and serving as Program Director at the Institute of Current World Affairs in Washington, DC. He holds two master’s degrees: one in International Cooperation and another in Political Science from George Mason University, Virginia, USA. Hashim is currently a PhD candidate in Politics and International Relations at the University of Leicester, UK.

Krystsina Shchelkunova – Founder & Director, SRISO

Krystsina Shchelkunova is the Founder and Director of the Slavic Refugee and Immigrant Service Organization (SRISO), a San Diego-based nonprofit supporting Ukrainian refugees and immigrant families. With a background in accounting, management, and economics, she brings over a decade of experience in finance, operations, and nonprofit leadership. Following the war in Ukraine, Krystsina co-founded SRISO to help displaced families rebuild their lives in San Diego, and under her leadership, the organization has supported hundreds of families through programs focused on health, education, and wellness. She is recognized for her compassionate leadership, strong community partnerships, and commitment to serving vulnerable communities.  

Reba Meigs, Program Director, RIH-CCH

Reba Meigs brings nearly 20 years of public health experience across state, county, academic, and nonprofit settings, with deep expertise in strategic planning, program implementation, evaluation, and community collaboration. She has led large-scale, community-based initiatives and supported evidence-based policy and systems to change efforts throughout California. Her work spans organizations including the California Department of Public Health, the Public Health Institute, county health departments, and UC San Diego’s Center for Community Health. Reba has presented at major conferences, contributed to published research, and holds degrees in Psychology and Public Administration from San Diego State University. She lives in Santa Rosa with her family and enjoys outdoor and wellness activities.