Adiba is the Site Supervisor for the Health and Well-Being Program. She started working with Lao Family in 2018 as a multilingual Victim Advocate. Adiba was encouraged to assist in other programs, such as the R&P program, where she helped new refugees settle and get accustomed to the United States. Her peers and supervisors quickly recognized her dedication and passion for helping others. She enjoys helping families of diverse backgrounds regardless of their country of origin. As the Health and Well-Being Site Supervisor, Adiba’s goals are to normalize mental health and eradicate the stigma people have of it. Adiba’s passion for her job stems from her background and experiences growing up in the United States as an immigrant family.
Adiba and her brothers were raised by their father as a single-parent family when they arrived in the States in 1996 from Afghanistan. When her family first came, there was no service or organization to help their family integrate into America. As the only daughter of an immigrant family, Adiba still fought hard to establish herself in the family. Adiba’s perseverance led her to California State University Sacramento, where she graduated with a Bachelor’s degree in Health Science. Growing up in an Eastern culture that did not necessarily believe in the normality of mental health, Adiba wanted to increase the awareness and acceptance of mental health. Being a mother of two has motivated Adiba to promote mental health more than ever so that her children may never have to go through the silent illness that she and others have had. Adiba loves working at Lao Family because of our direct services and the difference we can make to individuals and families.
Sam Mora has worked with Lao Family for 15 years. He started working as a Workforce Development Specialist in the employment department, strengthening our current partnerships and helping the agency develop many new ones.
After a few years of working directly with clients and employers, he transitioned to the role of Property Manager. Sam brings over eight years of property management experience to this new role. He manages all Lao Family facilities and liaises with vendors and tenants. He ensures all Lao Family facilities are safe and welcoming to the community.
Sam was born and raised in Oakland, California. He attended Oakland High School and Laney College. Sam currently lives in the East Bay with his wife. He has three adult children.
Shafiullah has been working for Lao Family for several years. He is a Program Manager with the R&P Program, serving our newly arrived refugees and special immigrants (SIV holders). He has over seven years of experience as an Operational Mentoring Liaison Instructor. This job has given him experience in responding to settled new arrivals and placing them with available jobs through Lao Family ESE and RSS employment services. He is dedicated to helping clients achieve long-term social and economic self-sufficiency. He aims to inspire individuals to set goals, utilize their imagination, and believe in themselves.
Shafiullah is an immigrant from Afghanistan who is fluent in three different languages—English, Farsi/Dari, and Pashto- and understands Urdu. He received his Bachelor’s Degree in Politics Law from Tabish University in Kabul, Afghanistan. He is a student at the American River College with a focus on the Administration of Justice. He is transferring to California State University, Sacramento, to pursue higher education in Criminal Justice, Political Science, Gender Inclusivity, and Community Relations. Shafiullah lives in Sacramento with his family and enjoys going out to community gatherings, playing volleyball, soccer, and hiking in the South/East Lake Tahoe areas.
Rangina has been with Lao Family since May 2015. She is an immigrant from Afghanistan and is fluent in four languages—English, Farsi/Dari, Pashto, and Urdu. Rangina received her bachelor’s in biological sciences from the University of California, Davis, with a focus on neurobiology, physiology, and behavior (NPB).
As the Victim Advocacy Program Coordinator, she worked with a staff team to help crime victims overcome their trauma and help them advocate for services. Because of her dedication and willingness to improve health disparities in her communities, she was selected to enroll in the Health Leadership program with the Sierra Health Foundation. She completed the program and received her certification of completion in May 2019.
More recently, as a leadership fellow, Rangina used her knowledge and experience at Lao Family as an Operations Supervisor and oversees Human Resources. Rangina continues to accept new challenges to support her passion for making a positive impact in achieving goals for Organizational Strategic Planning and CARF Accreditation.
Rangina currently lives in Solano County and has two cats. She enjoys overseas trips and spending time with her family and friends.
Su Dung immigrated from Myanmar many years ago and started working with Lao Family as a volunteer. Her commitment and passion for working with the community have been exemplary. She was offered a full-time position and has been with the Lao Family for over 15 years.
Su has managed the Youth and Adult Employment Programs and the Summer Jobs Program. She is now a Global Career Development Facilitator.
Su enjoys building relationships with her clients, gaining their trust, and providing external services above and beyond their expectations. She speaks four languages—English, Chinese, Burmese, and some Japanese. In her spare time, she enjoys learning new languages.
Wathone Oo joined the Sacramento, CA office of Lao Family in January 2011 as a Workforce Specialist. Her tireless efforts supporting the immigrant and refugee community have allowed many to excel and become financially independent. Her exhaustive work aided in the expansion of the Lao Family Employment Services Programs. Wathone serves as the Program Manager for the Refugee Employment Program, where newly arrived immigrants are assisted with finding employment. With her direction, this program meets and exceeds program-related goals.
Wathone is a small business owner who owns and operates a successful sushi business in the Los Rios Community College District (SCC, ARC, CRC, and FLC). Her understanding of small business owners’ challenges and the financial struggles resulting from economic competition makes her an exceptional Program Manager. She can cultivate relationships with local small business employers due to her experiences, and through this, she can create job opportunities for her customers.
Originally from Burma, Wathone is fluent in Burmese, Karen, and English. Her educational endeavors led her to Sacramento, CA, as a college student. During her study, she encountered many disadvantaged individuals who possessed limited English and income. Through these experiences, she cemented her desire to work with the immigrant and refugee community, beginning with her own. She continues to be an asset to the Burmese community and Lao Family.
Thao arrived in the United States from South Vietnam when he was nine. He can still speak Vietnamese fluently after many years of living in the Bay Area.
Thao joined Lao Family in 2004 as an Employment Counselor. Before
Joining Lao Family, he worked as a travel agent. Thao’s hard
work and commitment to our agency paid off—he was offered
several promotions, which brought him to his current position as an
Information Technology (IT) Manager.
Thao has had a love for computers since a very young age. He’s happy that he’s fulfilled his passion for developing and expanding the Lao Family IT department.
Naimatullah joined Lao Family in 2014. He worked as a Program Coordinator for the Expanded Subsidized Employment Program. His team helped many participants achieve long-term social and economic self-sufficiency. He now is a Site Manager. Naimatullah studied business accounting at Sacramento State.
Before joining Lao Family, Naimatullah had been an interpreter/recruiter for the U.S. military. He is fluent in four different languages—English, Farsi/Dari, Pashto, and Urdu.
Naimatullah is very involved in his community and enjoys helping people, making him a perfect fit for working with Lao Family.
Kazoua joined Lao Family as a Case Manager in the On-the-Job Training (OJT) Program in October 2014. Before working in employment service, she worked with low-income communities, helping them access affordable and subsidized housing. Her efforts and commitment to Lao Family have paid off greatly, as she received multiple promotions, which brought her to her next position as the Program Manager of the Victim Services Program. Her current position is the Director of Family Support Services.
Growing up in a large immigrant family with 12 siblings, Kazoua knew from a young age that she wanted to serve her community. Seeing firsthand some of her parents’ challenges motivated her to strive for educational and employment success.
Kazoua strives to do well for herself and her program participants. Her goal is to continue to use her knowledge and skills to help the community achieve financial self-sufficiency.
Meemee has been with Lao Family for over ten years. She came to the United States as a refugee from Burma and started with our agency as an Employment Counselor. She received multiple promotions, which brought her to her next position as the CalWORKs Work Experience and AB 109 Reentry Program’s Program Manager, overseeing both regions I and II. She now holds the position of Reentry Programs Manager.
Meemee is very devoted to her work to help those in need. She particularly enjoys working with participants interested in becoming first-time homebuyers, those who want to secure long-term employment, and those who want to start a small business.
As a Bay Area resident, she loves the weather and the variety of food options. Meemee is fluent in Burmese, Rakhine, and English. She studied economics in Burma and holds a Global Career Development Facilitator Certificate.
