Our Team – Committed to Community Impact

Dilkhwaz Ahmed is an immigrant women rights’ activist from the Kurdistan region of Iraq. In Iraq, she served as the Executive Director of the Nawa Center, a shelter for abused women in Sulaimanya. At the Nawa Center she provided counseling and support to victims of domestic violence. She engaged in community outreach by participating in television programs produced for women and youth. She coordinated a program in the women’s jail, helping women transition to life in jail and learning skills necessary to survival in the context of prison life, including how to protect against rape and other abuse.

In 2002, Ms. Ahmed was granted asylum in the United States, resettling in San Diego. Her three children joined her in the United States three years later. In 2003, Ms. Ahmed cofounded License to Freedom, helping more than 5,000 refugee and immigrant adult survivors and child victims of domestic violence.

Ms. Ahmed has provided counseling, support, transportation, direct services (i.e., escorting victims to court), and acted as an interpreter.
​​Ms. Ahmed is the voice of immigrant women. She walked in their shoes and she knows what it means to be an immigrant. In October 2009, she received a Community Hero Award from the San Diego Domestic Violence Council, an award given to an individual who is making a difference in the field of violence prevention. In March 2010, she received the Ruby Award from Soroptimist International of San Diego, for being a woman that helps other women. In September 2010, she also received Women Changing the World Award from the Women Leadership Institute. In January 2011, she received the Living Legacy Award ​​from San Diego International Center. In January 2012, Ms. Ahmed received the Community Champion Award from Molina Healthcare. Finally, in October 2012, she received Champion of Hope Award from San Diego Domestic Violence Council.

Portia grew up in London, England, before immigrating to America, and settling in San Diego. After receiving her undergraduate degree from UCLA, she spent the majority of her twenties traveling the world. After earning her Masters’ in Education and Counseling, Portia began volunteering with License to Freedom as a grant writing helper. She was offered a full-time position as Program Coordinator, and discovered she couldn’t say no to working for an organization and people that she deeply respects and loves. Portia feels honoured to be working for such an incredible cause.

When not working, Portia loves anything ocean related, creative writing, and being outdoors!

I am an Iranian-American man who was born and raised in Southern California. I was raised in the Los Angeles and Orange County areas, until I moved to Davis, CA to continue my studies. After acquiring my BA in Psychology and minor in Music from UC Davis, I moved to San Diego to continue my studies at San Diego State University in Marriage and Family Therapy. I have resided in San Diego since 2010 and have fallen in love with the culture, geography, food, and music.

I’m a Licensed Marriage & Family Therapist who has been seeing clients at License to Freedom since April of 2018. Cultivating connections is the work I do in every realm of my life. Whether this cultivation is with my family in our backyard growing fruit or with clients who are looking to grow in their relationships, working together to build connections bring me a deep sense of joy. I love the people I get to work with every day: our staff, our clients, and the community we serve. Each client is treated with respect as there is a spirit of collaboration and care that permeates all we do at LTF. I’m grateful to be a part of it.

My work at License to Freedom consists of providing counseling to members of the community, providing clinical supervision for our team of therapists, and engaging in outreach and training efforts throughout the county for our partner agencies. I am actively involved with the San Diego Domestic Violence Council, the chair of the Men’s Advocacy Committee, and a lecturer at San Diego State University in the Counseling and School Psychology department. I enjoy teaching and writing at SDSU, and practicing and advocating at License to Freedom.

License#: #98297
For more information: www.navidzamani.com.

My name is Nadia Zamani and I am a Licensed Marriage and Family therapist. I am an Iranian-American woman who was born and raised in the Los Angeles and Orange county areas. I moved to LA to get my undergraduate degree from UCLA then moved to San Diego to attend their MFT graduate program. I have been living in San Diego for 7 years and have grown to love the culture, atmosphere, food, and people. My career has allowed me to work with a wide array of individuals, though my heart lies with the Middle Eastern community and it has been a passion of mine to serve this community. I am grateful to be a part of such an amazing team of individuals who are passionate about helping people and fostering connections. In my free time, I enjoy going to the beach with my dog, spending quality time with friends and family, and being out in nature.

License #: 134040

I was born and raised in Moscow, Russia but I am a proud Afghan-American. I moved to America in 2009, but I have visited my homeland enough to miss it every day! I have earned two associates degrees in Business Administration and Economics and will earn my bachelors degree in Business Management (Entrepreneurship) in Spring 2023. I am a proud DV advocate at License to Freedom since September 2021 and my work here is something that I am passionate about. It was a privilege to help my community members in their initial difficulties when arriving to this country or simply getting to know their rights as now Afghan-Americans. Having seen my beautiful homeland and met the kind people there, I see it as my duty to help out fellow Afghans, especially Afghan women. I am thankful for being able to provide legal assistance to Farsi and Russian speaking clients with restraining orders and divorce. I hope that with my work, I provide relief and right to a better life for my clients.

Hello everyone, my name is Shatha Dahash. A previous lawyer in Iraq that absolutely loved helping those who are in need of court assistance and spread the feeling of safety with law. When I came to the United States, I had a very good experience with family law. I wanted to continue helping the victims of domestic violence that are in need of help and make sure they always have a safe feeling as they leave License to Freedom. As an organization, we always seek the best service for our clients.

My name is Lina Alsaegh, and I am an Iraqi immigrant who moved to the United States over a decade ago. I earned my bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Counseling and Social Change from San Diego State University. Driven by a profound commitment to advocating for mental health awareness and combating the associated stigma, I have decided to further my education by pursuing a Master of Science in Marriage and Family Therapy at SDSU. As an Iraqi immigrant woman and a dedicated therapist, I am passionate about advocating for and working with members of my community, and help give (loud) voices to those whose voices have been marginalized. I hold the stories of those I have encountered close to my heart and eagerly anticipate learning from the experiences of those I have yet to meet.

Every story I hear strengthens my longing to break down the barriers surrounding mental health. Whether it’s helping a young immigrant adjust to a new culture or supporting a family through difficult times, I am committed to being a bridge of hope and understanding. My journey is driven by a desire to create a more inclusive and compassionate world, one where everyone feels heard and valued.

I am excited to continue this journey and to learn from both my professors and peers at SDSU. Together, we can work towards a future where mental health is prioritized, and everyone has access to the support they need.

In my free time, I enjoy reading, hiking, traveling, and hanging out with friends and family.

Supervised by Navid Zamani, License #98297

Hello! My name is Amanda and my journey to becoming a therapist began as a volunteer where I taught and served women experiencing incarceration. In one group gathering a woman looked at me and said, “I just want to be kind again.” With tenderness in her voice, she vulnerably began to share her life story with its struggles and her yearning to rediscover kindness. I was in awe of the beauty of this ambition. Over five transformative years, I cultivated meaningful relationships and bore witness to countless hope-filled stories of what life could become. These experiences ignited my desire to honor the aspirations of those seeking a brighter path ahead. I learned that no matter the obstacles, growth is always within reach. Under the influence of this inspiration, I began my academic journey at San Diego State where I majored in Psychology and minored in Counseling and Social Change. My desire to learn led me straight from undergrad into my master’s in Marriage and Family Therapy.

Outside of my professional pursuits, I have an overflowing heart for my family. I have been happily married for 17 years to a man who continues to captivate my heart with his wisdom, unwavering commitment to community, and desire to tangibly help others. We have six incredible children who are the joy of our lives. They are my greatest teachers and are much better at doing kart-wheels than I am. Their laughter is healing and their zest for life has lightened my heart.

Like the courageous woman that I first told you about, I too am infused with hope. Hope for how I might support those at License to Freedom with tenderness and care. Hope for how healing might unfold for those who desire it. And above all, hope that growth is possible, no matter what we’ve been through.

Thank you for allowing me to share a piece of my story with you. I look forward to the opportunity to journey alongside you, honoring hope and healing together.

Supervised by Navid Zamani, License #98297

My name is Weam Alani, I’m a Lead Care Manager, I’m from Iraq and I speak Arabic. I have one daughter and one son and 3 cats. I have a BS in political science, I have passion for working with my community. I love going to the beach and watching sunset.

Hello, my name is Zamzama Said. I am from Tashkent, Uzbekistan. My family is originally from Afghanistan and my native language is Dari. I received my bachelor degree in Public Administration from SDSU. Coming from an immigrant family myself I have the ability to connect and share my experience with my clients, so it can give them a sense of encouragement and strength. Working at License to Freedom has given me the opportunity to help the community in any way possible, it truly has been a pleasure. During my free time I enjoy cooking, watching netflix, and spending time with my family. I am beyond happy to be a part of such a great team!

Hi my name is Ziad Eskharia. I am a seasoned Case Manager and Job Developer with 10+ years of experience, recognized at County, State and Federal levels for innovation and results. I specialize in workforce development, language access, and IT integration, combining strategic systems thinking with deep empathy. Known for building strong partnerships and challenging the status quo to create equitable, client-centered solutions.

Hello, my name is Mohammad Naim Azimi. I was raised in Herat Province, Afghanistan, and came to San Diego, California as a refugee through a lifesaving resettlement program in late 2024.

Before resettling in the U.S., I worked for over a decade as a university professor, licensed defense attorney, and senior legal advisor, dedicated to supporting women and children, and promoting the rule of law and democracy.

At License to Freedom, I serve as a Youth Art Activist and Community Case Manager. I also provide interpretation and translation services to help families access critical resources and support.

My work is driven by a deep commitment to community empowerment, education, and healing. I believe in the power of language, learning, and connection to build bridges across cultures and generations. Outside of my work, I find joy in traveling and reading, two passions that continue to expand my understanding of the world and its people.

My name is Qamar. I am an Iraqi immigrant and I have been living in San Diego for the past seven years. I earned my Bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in counseling and social change from San Diego State University and plan on getting a Master’s degree in Marriage and Family Therapy. I mainly want to work with the Middle Eastern community and be able to provide services that are culturally sensitive. I am passionate about the work I do and want to be able to empower women and uplift our community as much as I can. In my free time, I like spending time with my family and friends, reading books, and painting.

Hello, my name is Wahida Hamdard and I am from Paktika, Afghanistan. At the age of seven, my family immigrated from Afghanistan to India, where I lived as a refugee for 6 years. In India, my family encountered countless obstacles with language barriers, culture unfamiliarity, financial difficulties, but our only hope was UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. During my time in India, I decided that one day I will be working in an environment where I can assist refugees, immigrants, and advocate for women rights.

In September 2016, my family immigrated to the USA and resettled in San Diego. I am currently attending San Diego State University studying International Security and Conflict Resolution and emphasizing on Global Justice.

I work as a Afghan Youth Program Coach and Domestic Violence Advocate at License to Freedom. I am fortunate to guide young Afghan girls in their new journeys here in the United States by providing academic assistance, personal guidance, and always being there for them as a friend. I love my job as I always wanted to work with Young Afghan girls and empower them to excel academically, achieve financial independence, learn about their rights, and advocate for women rights.

I am happy to begin working as a Domestic Violence Advocate and assist my fellow community members in the complex legal system and help them discover a safe and violence-free home.

Hello, my name is Zina Youssef . I am a wife and a mom to. my six year old son.

Before taking my current position as a Behavioral Health Specialist, I was a rental assistant associate for License to Freedom.

I like to travel and discover new cultures. I’ve been in India and China. I love taking opportunities to learn about how different cultures live their lives.

I’m interested in photography and possessed by fashion. I can’t wait to meet you all!

Hello, my name is Dashne. I immigrated to the United States from Kurdistan over a decade ago. I am a mother of three children and a wife. Coming to America, I was fortunate enough to earn my associates degree and a certificate in Accounting. Working at License to Freedom has given me endless opportunities to help the immigrant and refugee community to the best of my ability. As a housing navigator I am able to assist individuals with achieving their life goals and to thrive endlessly. In my free time I enjoy spending quality time with my family and cooking delicious food. Working alongside an amazing team of inspiring people is what keeps me going.

My name is Hasan, but I also go by Swan. I’m an Iraqi immigrant who has been residing in San Diego for the past eight years. My primary focus is working with the Middle Eastern community, aiming to offer culturally sensitive services. I’m deeply passionate about my work and strive to empower young men and uplift our community as a whole. In my free time, I enjoy being with family and friends, competing in MMA, and exploring new restaurants.