About Us
The Iraqi Community Center of Washington was established in 1998 as a nonprofit community-based organization. While providing various services to all age groups of the community. We are especially proud of our cultural and linguistically approach towards Iraqi refugees in Washington State, easing the transition process on refugee families.
We provide numerous human and social services to a wide range of individuals and families
in King County and Seattle area.
Our Leadership
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. 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. 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.
RAND AL HAMMADI
Social Services Department Manager
Rand was born in Baghdad, Iraq, a long journey, and a long experience of 20 years in the field of social services and case management. She graduated from the University of Baghdad, Faculty of Languages in 2003, worked in the Ministry of Trade, the Department of Foreign Exhibitions, and was responsible for external relations at the Baghdad International Fair. Move to united states in 2010 and start as a volunteer in park orchard elementary school as teacher assistance and later she worked with the Kent schools district as a translator .in 2015 graduated from Renton Technical college as a CNA and then start working with Lutheran community services global to local program assistant help new Refugees and immigrants families to know about the schools systems and enroll them with apple health finder and apply for Orca card and obtained theirs services. After that, she started her work with the Iraqi community Center in 2016, as prime case manager and after that senior case manager along career in the field of social services to serve refugees and immigrants in various transactions and help them become independent ,and in 2017 she worked with the city of Kent as a cultural Communities Board member, and also worked with the open doors for multicultural families Non-profit organization as a board member in 2018. Currently working as a Social Services Department Manager ensuring IRCCW is providing culturally responsive services and support to our underserved community members. We provide comprehensive services for our families help them thrive towards self-sufficiency.
Haidar Al-Abedi
Engagement & Outreach Manager
Haidar Al-Abedi and his family came to the US as a refugee from Iraq. Upon his arrival, Haidar was facing a lot of challenges with navigating the system, knowing his rights, coping with everything, etc. Though he received some sort of support from non-profit organizations. His wife and child encountered a great difficulty in coming to the US and joining him here. As a father whose son has a significant disability, he understands the conditions and difficulties of families and clients trying to navigate the system. His work focuses on advocating for people of all abilities by using a multicultural, multilingual approach to communicate with clients to address their needs. As an immigrant from Iraq, he also understands the challenges clients from similar situations encounter.
Mohammed Akmoosh
Data Manager
Mohammad arrived to the US in 2015, as a refugee with his family from Iraq. Mohammad's journey in the US was extremely difficult as they did not know how to navigate the system, there was not much help and assistance offered to them and they had to figure out their problems on their own. Mohammad first started with the IRCCW as a client who was seeking help and assistance navigating the system, he was provided with a case manager who helped him navigate the system and directed him in the right way for each of the issues him and his family was facing. Mohammad was astonished by the services the IRCCW was offering to the community and started volunteering in the office during his free time. He was later offered a job position's the Homelessness Prevention Program Coordinator. Mohammad had the privilege of helping those in the same position his family was in when they first arrived. He was able to serve and give back to his community. Since then, Mohammad has helped hundreds of families overcome their struggles through case management.
Day Farhood
Networking / Public Relations Manager
Day immigrated here from Iraq in 2012, her and her family faced many obstacles upon their arrival to the US. Day started her journey at the IRCCW in 2021 as a volunteer, focusing mostly on Case Management and Event support. Day enjoyed She was then hired as an Early Learning Specialist, during that time Day was able to serve numerous families within the community and provided them with case management and support. Day exceed in the IRCCW and she was then hired as our Networking / Public Relations Management. Day has been a wonderful asset to the team. Day has also been in charge of event planning and outreach events at the IRCCW. Day is constantly building a strong bond with our community members and the IRCCW team.