EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

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Pat is a servant leader and one of MH’s six founding members. Her experience as a community organizer and advocate for immigrant rights, and her experience as a former immigrant herself, are evident in the way she humbly, generously, and empathetically oversees MH staff - never shying from an opportunity to connect with folks in the community. She’s never above joining in on client’s dance parties, stepping in to serve tea and making sure that everyone feels welcome. Fun facts about Pat: She was born in Venezuela and loves windsurfing and cooking.

DEVELOPMENT DIRECTOR

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Brielle is the thread that weaves the ever-so-important, but often overlooked, details of MH’s operations together. One of the six founding members, Brielle came to MH with more than five years of experience working with immigrants and a passion and skillset to empower them to connect and integrate into local community. A fun fact about Brielle: she was a Premier-level competitive highland dancer, is a certified instructor, and former dance studio owner.

DIRECTOR OF IMMIGRANT LEGAL AID & IMMIGRATION ATTORNEY

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Sam’s upbeat, relational, and inclusive approach to law led him to launch MH’s legal aid program, after graduating Gonzaga Law as an Immigration attorney. One of the six founding members, Sam came to MH with over five years serving the immigrant community. Fun facts about Sam: He’s an avid baker and won’t turn down the opportunity to partake in a board game.

LANGUAGE PROGRAM MANAGER

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Samantha’s authentic, people-first approach to teaching and program management make her an imperative connective tissue to the community we serve. As our Language Program Manager, Samantha has created programs and spaces where individuals can feel safe, seen and known. Fun facts about Samantha: She’s fluent in Arabic and received her MSc degree from the University of Edinburgh in Middle Eastern Studies and Arabic Language.

STAFF ATTORNEY

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Melissa is a critical member of our immigrant legal aid team – supporting MH’s diversity of clients, with a diversity of legal needs, during a very critical and often vulnerable moment of their lives. As a MILA staff attorney, she focuses on assisting those in immigration court through asylum preparation and submission, changes of venue, informative consultations, and community education. A fun fact about Melissa: her ideal day includes yoga and getting lost in a book.

DOJ ACCREDITED REPRESENTATIVE

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Estella’s more than a decade of experience working as an interpreter, translator, and bilingual representative make her an invaluable asset to the MH legal team. As a DOJ Rep, she directly assists clients with immigration cases including explaining their options, filling out applications and attending USCIS interviews. Fun facts about Stella: She was born in Mexico, is fluent in Spanish and travels to the Oregon coast with her family as regularly as possible.

NATURALIZATION PROGRAM COORDINATOR

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Andrey is passionate about empowering and celebrating individuals on their paths toward Naturalization. He’s a true jack of all trades, as well as a former refugee, equipping him with the breadth of skills and experience to authentically connect with and empower those we serve. Fun facts about Andrey: He his fluent in Russian and his cornucopia of a resume includes YouTube car mechanic, bookstore owner, tax professional and amateur actor.

DOJ Accredited Representative

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Celia’s role as a DOJ Accredited Representative is imperative to the daily operations of MH. Her capacity for inclusivity, multicultural perspectives, and curiosity, and her more than six years of experience working with the immigrant community, make her a passionate and driven ally for our clients. Fun facts about Celia: she worked translating documents for a United Nations Charter and hunts down a copy of the Inlander every single Thursday.

REFERRAL HUB COORDINATOR

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Ali’s equitable, professional, and engaging approach has led him to successfully connect clients to countless beneficial resources and support them with the skills and knowledge they need to thrive and lead fulfilling lives in the U.S. A tri-lingual former immigrant, Ali’s adaptability and impressive work ethic enable him to empathize and relate to his clients, crafting the Referral Hub to accurately address their needs. Fun facts about Ali: He was born in Iran and speaks Turkish, Farsi, and English (currently learning Spanish) and he has a PhD in Food Science.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

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Interested in volunteering? Teresa is your person. She’s an impressive blend of communicator, bridge-builder, and educator. With over three decades of teaching experience, and more than six years spent serving immigrants, she embodies her role of community engagement. Fun facts about Teresa: She taught Spanish, swims outdoors no matter the season, and is a beekeeper.

COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR

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Kelly is committed to streamlining MH’s story - both internally and with the larger community. Her background in photojournalism, social work, and public relations, combined with her experience living abroad and working with a diversity of cultures, have equipped her with the skillset to capture and communicate MH’s program and client stories effectively and with sensitivity. Fun facts about Kelly: She’s lived in huts in South Sudan and Somalia and she loves anything pickled.

FUNDRAISING AND GRANT SPECIALIST

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Emily employs her deeply-rooted community ties, knowledgeable voice, and diverse toolbelt of resources to focus on discovering and securing critical funding for MH. Her extensive experience living abroad, as well as her work as Director of Development, Community Engagement Manager, and Volunteer Coordinator for Spokane-based organizations focused on immigrant populations, make her the right person for the role. Fun facts about Emily: She was born in Puerto Rico, she’s fluent in Spanish, and she’s visited all 50 states + 38 countries.

HR, ACCOUNTING & GRANT COMPLIANCE

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Dorothy plays a critical role in ensuring that MH’s accounting, human resources, and grant compliances are organized and on track. Her love of people and providing financial understanding to the operations of MH are invaluable and keep us afloat. Fun facts about Dorothy: She enjoys counting other people’s money and is up for any type of craft.

DARI/FARSI LANGUAGE TEACHER

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As a former refugee, Sorayya knows firsthand what it’s like to learn and adapt to new languages. This, plus the fact that she’s taught for much of her life, make her more than equipped to serve as our Dari/Farsi Heritage Language Teacher. In addition to working for Manzanita House, Sorayya is a Kindergarten teacher at Regal Elementary School and is in the process of completing her Master’s Degree in Social and Emotional Learning from Whitworth University. Fun facts about Sorraya: She enjoys baking, is always up for a hike, and speaks four languages.

ARABIC LANGUAGE TEACHER

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As our Arabic Language Teacher, Lamyaa is a warm, welcoming and confident presence for her students who are looking for a safe space to learn and feel known. A former refugee, Lamyaa pulls from her life experiences to create a classroom environment where each student can improve on and learn about their home language and culture. Fun fact about Lamyaa: She has lived in three countries (Iraq, Turkey and the USA).

MILA LEGAL ADVOCATE

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With over eight years working directly with immigrant and refugee communities, Karla brings a diversity of experience and empathy to her role as a MILA Legal Advocate. Her driven and tenacious spirit is evident in the fact that while working for MILA, she’s pursuing a degree as a Gonzaga School of Law student. Fun facts about Karla: she grew up in North Carolina and she’s fluent in Spanish.

BILINGUAL INTAKE SPECIALIST

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Gleaning from her experience as a leader in various positions, Litzy plays a critical role in ensuring that clients feel heard and directed to the correct services. Her ability to fluently communicate in both English and Spanish are especially beneficial for communicating with our Latine clientele. Fun fact about Litzy: She is the eldest of four.

SPANISH LANGUAGE TEACHER

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With many years as a Spanish teacher under her belt, and an immigrant herself, Lucy is well-equipped to serve as the teacher for our inaugural Spanish Heritage Language Class. From teaching in Mexico to serving in AmeriCorps to professionally dying yarn – Lucy’s students are lucky to learn from her vast experiences. Fun facts about Lucy: She learned to drive before learning to ride a bicycle and she’s got a knack for knitting and crocheting.

ADMINISTRATIVE SPECIALIST

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Eugenia is our funnel, channeling most incoming communications and inquiries to their proper destinations. Essentially, she keeps us organized and connected to those we serve. Eugenia has over eight years of experience working with immigrant and refugees and is an immigrant herself. Some fun facts about Eugenia: she’s a professional dog trainer and she enjoys an occasional cold plunge.

CULTURAL ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR (CEIP)

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Irshad is a learner and a facilitator, which makes him an excellent fit for our Cultural Engagement Navigator. He has a diversity of life and professional experiences including working with community-based initiatives in education and health, as well as a background in public health. A former immigrant from Afghanistan, Irshad is not only able to connect with those we serve, but deeply empathize as well. Fun fact about Irshad: He speaks six languages and is learning a seventh.

MILA LEGAL ADVOCATE, UNACCOMPANIED CHILDREN PROGRAM

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Alvaro’s upbeat and driven spirit has led him to succeed in a variety of professional roles and pursuits including the U.S. Navy, working for Parks and Recreation and graduating from LSU Law School. His ability to connect with and make clients feel welcomed and safe, particularly children seeking to overcome their immigration challenges, make him an ideal fit for his role. Fun facts about Alvaro: He has his Private Pilot’s License and has run two marathons (and is currently training to qualify for the Boston Marathon).