Meet the Board Members

Suzan Wardah

Founder & Executive Director

My bio encapsulates a dynamic career journey marked by impactful roles in education, community development, and nonprofit leadership. As the Founder and Board President of Hand2Stand, I steer governance, strategic planning, and stakeholder engagement. My tenure as an Assistant Professor, Guest Speaker, and Employment Training Advisor underscores my passion for education and empowerment. Notably, I’ve championed initiatives supporting refugees, youth, and marginalized communities, both domestically and internationally. With a background in Civil Engineering complemented by an Advanced Diploma in Human Resources Management, I bring a diverse skill set to drive positive change and foster inclusive environments wherever I serve.

Esmeralda Owen

Vice President

Esmeralda Owen is an immigrant from El Salvador. She grew up in Los Angeles area, attended USC, and graduated as a Broadcast Journalist. She became a news reporter and news anchor for Spanish stations Univision and Telemundo, leading her to NorCal and ending up on the Central Coast. She earned a master’s in public administration from Notre Dame de Namur University and turned to teaching at the community college level, branched out into marketing and public relations. In 2020, she embarked on business ownership and established Precious Stone PR Inc. and works with non-profit organizations in marketing strategies, media relations, fundraising, and more. She is a board member for the Salinas Airshow and Sunset Cultural Center.

Jumana Judeh

Treasurer

Meet Jumana Judeh a resilient entrepreneur who transformed her startup into a thriving appraisal firm over a quarter century. From navigating economic challenges to adapting during crises like the Great Recession and COVID-19, she’s driven by hard work and client-focused service. As a trailblazing woman in a male-dominated industry, she’s dedicated to advancing women in the workforce, founding councils and mentoring young professionals. With a commitment to growth, she’s earned respect as a professional witness and secured governmental designations for small businesses. Her civic-minded spirit shines through her community involvement, from supporting young girls in foster care to serving on committees for local advancement.

Afrah S. Abdulkader

Board Member

Afrah is an Arab American, born in Baghdad, Iraq, who immigrated to US-San Diego CA 1999. Graduated with a BA in Business Administration & Marketing from Gulf University in Bahrain in 1986. She worked for over 13 years in Kuwait: – Conducting Financial Analysis & Marketing Feasibility Studies & Research in the Industrial Bank of Kuwait and other corporates. In April 2018 Afrah joined Internation Rescue Committee (IRC)- San Diego Office, as Sr. Survivor Advocate, investing her 17 years of experience, in providing client’s centered, culturally sensitive and trauma informed advocacy services to refuges and all newcomers, who are survivors of crime focusing on survivor of Intimate Partners Violence, Domestic Violence, Sexual Assault and Human Trafficking. She is very active in her community as she serves as the Chair of Welcome Newcomers Network- East County -San Diego CA. She is an organizer member of San Deigo Refugee Forum- Refugee Day Festival 2024. As well as she helps organizing & hosting the Annual East County Multicultural Festival.

Iman Bakour-Aziz

Secretary

Iman Bakour-Aziz is an instructor and coordinator of the Levantine language immersion program at LARC/SDSU. She holds a degree in Science, a project management certificate, a Leadership certificate, diplomas in Spanish language, and is a lead instructor with experience in teaching Arabic language and culture, in addition to reaching out and providing support to the language instructors. Also, she coordinates other language programs under DIAGORA (the Hub, fundraising, language professionalization, language immersion). She has years of experience in localization and translation, outreaching, connecting with and mobilizing different community groups, which was the fruit of multiple years working with national and local NGOs as an outreach project manager, as a volunteer, and as a board member in a couple of organizations.

Nahed Barakat

Board Member

My name is Nahed Barakat, originally from Lebanon and now residing in Fremont, CA. With a background in Business Management, I’ve immersed myself in this field ever since. Beyond my professional endeavors, I find joy in fostering connections among people. Throughout my life, I’ve been actively involved in volunteering and community initiatives, whether it’s organizing events or spearheading fundraising campaigns. I firmly believe in the importance of giving back to the community and strive to make a positive impact wherever I can.