Our Staff
Jodi de la Pena
Interim Executive Director
Jodi de la Pena started as our Program Manager in 2017 and then transitioned to the role of Executive Director in 2018 and Board Chair in 2021. Jodi is filling in as the Interim ED until a new ED an be hired. See full bio on the Board page.
Interim Executive Director
Jodi de la Pena started as our Program Manager in 2017 and then transitioned to the role of Executive Director in 2018 and Board Chair in 2021. Jodi is filling in as the Interim ED until a new ED an be hired. See full bio on the Board page.
Hermon Kifleyesus - Social Integration Program Manager and Case Manager
Hermon was born and raised in Eritrea, came to the U.S. in 2018, and settled in the Bay Area. Hermon has worked with many organizations in the past 10 years in several roles, including a supervisory position at a major bank in Eritrea and as an accountant for a construction company in Kenya prior to coming to the U.S. Hermon was briefly a BRFN client and has now supported new arrivals as a BRFN social adjustment case manager since September of 2019. She was promoted in Oct of 2021 to program manager/case manager as she now supervises new case managers and coordinates referrals from resettlement agenencies and other community-based organizations. Hermon is an expert in guiding clients to navigate complex systems and has supported many newly arrived asylees, refguees, and immigrants on their path to self-sufficiency. She is passionate about serving her community and their success motivates her to give back even more. Hermon holds a BA in Finance from a business college in Eritrea and speaks English and Tigrinya, her native language.
Hermon was born and raised in Eritrea, came to the U.S. in 2018, and settled in the Bay Area. Hermon has worked with many organizations in the past 10 years in several roles, including a supervisory position at a major bank in Eritrea and as an accountant for a construction company in Kenya prior to coming to the U.S. Hermon was briefly a BRFN client and has now supported new arrivals as a BRFN social adjustment case manager since September of 2019. She was promoted in Oct of 2021 to program manager/case manager as she now supervises new case managers and coordinates referrals from resettlement agenencies and other community-based organizations. Hermon is an expert in guiding clients to navigate complex systems and has supported many newly arrived asylees, refguees, and immigrants on their path to self-sufficiency. She is passionate about serving her community and their success motivates her to give back even more. Hermon holds a BA in Finance from a business college in Eritrea and speaks English and Tigrinya, her native language.
Freweini Tekle (formerly Woldeghiorghis) - Social Integration Program Manager and Case Manager
Freweini was born in Asmara, Eritrea and speaks both Tigrinya (Eritrean) and Amharic (Ethiopian). She entered the U.S. in 2013 as an asylum seeker 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 started in Eritrea where she helped integrate internally displaced people due to the Ethiopian-Eritrean war. Freweini joined BRFN in September of 2019 as a social adjustment case manager and was promoted in Oct 2021 to program manager/case manager as she is now responsible for various administrative and management tasks and for supervising new case managers. Freweini is passionate about helping people during their difficult times and making positive contributions to society.
Freweini was born in Asmara, Eritrea and speaks both Tigrinya (Eritrean) and Amharic (Ethiopian). She entered the U.S. in 2013 as an asylum seeker 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 started in Eritrea where she helped integrate internally displaced people due to the Ethiopian-Eritrean war. Freweini joined BRFN in September of 2019 as a social adjustment case manager and was promoted in Oct 2021 to program manager/case manager as she is now responsible for various administrative and management tasks and for supervising new case managers. Freweini is passionate about helping people during their difficult times and making positive contributions to society.
Hassam Gabar - Social Integration Case Manager
Hassam Gabar was born in Afghanistan and speaks Pashto, Dari, Urdu and English. He has eight years of professional experience in operations and administration, and worked with different USAID projects. He also has community experience as a volunteer. Hassam moved to the U.S. in October 2017 as an SIV holder. After arriving, he continued his volunteer work with the Afghan community.
He joined BRFN in Sept 2021 as a case manager and works primarily with Afghan newcomers to connect them with local resources and provide assistance. Working at BRFN allows him to provide support for newly arrived refugees in order to help them adjust to a new society. Hassam has a Master's degree in Commerce and Business administration.
Hassam Gabar was born in Afghanistan and speaks Pashto, Dari, Urdu and English. He has eight years of professional experience in operations and administration, and worked with different USAID projects. He also has community experience as a volunteer. Hassam moved to the U.S. in October 2017 as an SIV holder. After arriving, he continued his volunteer work with the Afghan community.
He joined BRFN in Sept 2021 as a case manager and works primarily with Afghan newcomers to connect them with local resources and provide assistance. Working at BRFN allows him to provide support for newly arrived refugees in order to help them adjust to a new society. Hassam has a Master's degree in Commerce and Business administration.
Dawit Habtemichael - Social Integration Case Manager/Community Health Advocate
Dawit was born and raised in Eritrea and his natives languages are Tigrigna and Amharic. Dawit holds a BA in Mathematics from Asmara University in Eritrea and worked as a teacher, accountant and company manager there. Dawit came to the US in 2021 to settle in the Bay Area. He joined BRFN in Nov 2021 and loves to work with refugees, asylees, immigrants and with newcomers as he was once a refugee in Ethiopia. In his free time, Dawit loves to spend time with his family and to read.
