YAHYA ALGARIB 

Executive Director 

Yahya is the founder and Executive Director of the Iraqi Community Center of Washington. In 1998, Yahya noticed the need for a community center for the Arabic speaking community in the greater Seattle area. He is very passionate to serve the refugee and immigrant community and expand opportunities.

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Yahya was born in the Southern of Iraq, Basra. He fled Iraq after the first Gulf War in 1991. He was a refugee camp in Saudia Arabia for 4 years before finally resettling in the Seattle area in 1994.  Yahya developed a strong passion for work in the nonprofit sector seeking ways to improve the quality of life for everyone. He is thrilled to have found such passionate and talented community advocates to be a part of the IRCCW team. He is very well connected within the community and his engagement with clients enables him to identify common barriers that our community face. Community is at the heart of everything we do at IRCCW. It drives us as we live through the outbreak of the coronavirus, economic disruptions and calls for racial justice—as well as the uncertainty of what might come next. 

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In his free time, Yahya enjoys cooking and spending time with family and friends.

MARWA SADIK

Programs Manager and Operations Director

 Marwa Sadik was born in Iraq and raised in Syria. She arrived in the United States at the age of 16. Marwa holds a B.A. degree in Education and is currently pursuing a MA in International Studies Jackson School of International Studies, she has more than 10 years of nonprofit and community organizing. Marwa joined IRCCW in 2009, and is currently the Programs Manager and Operations Director. 

Marwa was involved in the White Center Early Learning team in 2005. Prior to working with IRCCW, She worked for White Center CDA, Refugee Women’s Alliance (ReWA), Southwest Youth and Family Services, and Highline School District.

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Being an immigrant makes her understand the journey of struggle faced by immigrants and refugees to adapt not only to a foreign language but also a new culture. What drew her to join IRCCW was the opportunity to contribute in a direct way to ease the struggle of refugees and immigrants in the Seattle area. Her ultimate aim is to provide an authentic supporting experience to help community members receive mental and emotional support, financial stability, and independence, and reach their goals.

Marwa is passionate about the nonprofit field and loves to work with refugee and immigrant communities and help them establish their lives in their new home. Driving by wanting to make a difference in her community, Marwa volunteers at local and international organizations serving refugees and immigrants.

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In her free time, she enjoys walking and spending time with her family.
Marwa loves Poetry and Arabic literature. Her dream is to start her own international nonprofit serving the displaced refugees in Turkey and Lebanon.