Kathryn Winogura - Co-Director Kathryn (she/her) has been working with the East Bay refugee and immigrant community for 30 years, and closely with the Afghan newcomer community since 2001. She worked with JFCS East Bay as Director of Volunteer Services for 23 years. She brings knowledge of the refugee resettlement process, and has also run programs to serve asylum-seekers and asylees from many parts of the world, including LGBTQ newcomers. She has led community engagement programs that have supported the resettlement process and has enabled the wider community to take part in welcoming newcomers. She recently worked as Development Director with CERI. She is passionate about fostering the welcoming community for newcomers, and boosting support for the extensive work BRFN does to empower newcomer clients.
Hermon Kifleyesus - Co-Director. Languages: Tigrinya (Eritrean), English Hermon (she/her) was born and raised in Eritrea and immigrated to the U.S. in 2018, settling in the Bay Area. With over a decade of experience in diverse roles, she previously held a supervisory position at a major bank in Eritrea and worked as an accountant for a construction company in Kenya before moving to the U.S. Hermon's journey with BRFN began as a client, giving her firsthand insight into the challenges faced by newly arrived immigrants. In 2019, she joined BRFN as a social adjustment case manager, dedicating herself to supporting Eritrean newcomers on their path to stability. Expanding her impact, she began working with the Afghan community and programming in August 2021. An expert in navigating complex systems, she has guided countless asylees, refugees, and immigrants toward self-sufficiency. Driven by a deep passion for community service and empowerment, she remains dedicated to giving back. Hermon holds a BA in Finance.
Freweini Tekle (formerly Woldeghiorghis) -Data and Program Manager. Languages: Tigrinya, Amharic, English Freweini (she/her) joined BRFN in September of 2019 as a Social Adjustment Case Manager and was promoted in October 2021 to Data and Program Manager, where she currently oversees a range of administrative and management tasks, including staff supervision. Freweini was born in Asmara, Eritrea, entered the U.S. in 2013, and moved to the Bay Area in 2015. Freweini has an IT background and has previously worked in IT and in ride-share companies. Her experience as a case manager began in Eritrea, supporting the integration of individuals displaced by the war between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Freweini is passionate about helping people through difficult times, making a meaningful difference in their lives, and contributing positively to her community and society. She believes that lasting societal change begins at the individual level, and is committed to supporting people when they need it most.
Hassam Gabar - Social Integration Case Manager. Languages: Pashto, Dari, Urdu, English Hassam (he/him) joined BRFN in Sept 2021 as a Social Integration Case Manager and works primarily with Afghan newcomers to connect them with local resources and provide assistance. Hassam also works on-site at San Lorenzo Unified School District (SLUZD) to provide enrollment support, cultural community events, parental education workshops, and educator trainings to support Afghan students in succeeding in their new schools. Hassam was born in Afghanistan and has eight years of professional experience in operations and administration working with different USAID projects. Hassam holds a Master's degree in Commerce and Business administration, and also has community experience as a volunteer. Hassam moved to the U.S. in October 2017 and, since arriving, has continued his work with the Afghan community. Hassam speaks Dari, Pashto, and Urdu. Working at BRFN allows him to provide support for refugees and asylum seekers in order to help them adjust to a new society.
Dawit Habtemichael - Social Integration Case Manager. Languages: Tigrinya, Amharic, English Dawit (he/him) joined BRFN in 2021 and works as a Social Integration Case Manager, supporting the resettlement and continual success of refugees and newcomers. Dawit was born and raised in Eritrea. He holds a BA degree from Asmara University in Eritrea and worked as a teacher, accountant and company manager there. Dawit came to the US to settle in the Bay Area. He loves to work with refugees, asylees, and asylum seekers as he was once a refugee in Ethiopia. Dawit speaks Tigrinya and Amharic. In his free time, Dawit loves to spend time with his family, playing soccer, going hiking andreading books.
Homa Habibullah - Social Integration Case Manager. Languages: Dari, Pashto, Italian, Urdu, English. Homa (she/her) joined BRFN in March 2023 as a Social Integration Case Manager. Homa also provides on-site support to Afghan students within Hayward Unified School District (HUSD), where she provides school enrollment assistance, tutoring, parent support, community events, and educator workshops. She views her role as a dream come true where she can directly work with newcomers and support them to integrate into their communities. Homa was born in Afghanistan and came to the U.S. in 2021. She has worked with non-profit organizations for the past 13 years in various roles, including as a program analyst at the United Nations Populations Fund (UNFPA) where she managed a project in 26 provinces of Afghanistan focusing on combating violence against women and girls. Homa has always believed that everyone should have equal opportunities, regardless of their social background. She finds her work to be very rewarding and is grateful for the opportunity to have a positive impact on the lives of newcomers. Homa holds a Bachelor degree in Business Administration from Italy.
Faisal Esmaty - Social Integration Case Manager. Languages: Dari, Pashto, Urdu, English Faisal (he/him) is a community leader dedicated to empowering Afghan and other newcomer families across California. As a Social Integration Case Manager at Bay Area Resource for Newcomers (BRFN), he helps families build stability—connecting them to public benefits, navigating housing and employment, supporting school enrollment and success, and guiding access to community resources. In addition, Faisal works part-time with the City of Fremont’s SparkPoint as a financial coach, helping community members build financial literacy. He serves on California’s State Advisory Council on Refugee Assistance and Services (SAC) and the East Bay Refugee & Immigrant Forum (EBRIF) steering committee, and volunteers with local school districts—including Hayward Unified School District (HUSD)—to support newcomer students and train educators. Faisal holds an M.A. in Communication from California State University, East Bay. Drawing on lived experience as a former newcomer and as a multilingual communicator (Dari, Pashto, Urdu, English), he brings practical, front-line insight on resettlement barriers and solutions—and a client-centered, data-informed perspective to every table.
