We are excited to introduce you to Rahima, our new Programs Director. Originally from Toronto, Canada, Rahima brings a unique and diverse cultural and professional background to our team.
As our new Program Director, she will work to enhance our programs, services, and initiatives to ensure the basic needs of all Bellevue children are met so they can focus in the classroom, succeed in their education, and thrive.
“My parents are twice-migrants, India to Tanzania and then Tanzania to Canada, so I have had the benefit of being exposed to lots of culture, language, and great food! I have a bachelor’s in international business, a TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) Certificate, and a Master’s in Adult Education, but honestly, my best education has been immersing myself in communities and contexts outside of my norm in Toronto,” shared Rahima. “I have had the great privilege of working for non-profits in South America and Southeast Asia in international development programming and teaching ESL (English as a Second Language), working in government to administer international development, immigration, and child support programs, and most recently at Hopelink in various positions.”
Read along as Rahima shares a little more about herself and what motivated her to join our team:
Why is the Bellevue LifeSpring mission meaningful to you?
The mission speaks to me as I have had similar life experiences growing up in Toronto as many of our families. As someone who is passionate about community development and education, I strive for self-sufficiency in the community.
What do you hope to achieve in your new role?
In my new role, I hope to work with the community and our team to move the needle forward not only in our programs but also in the systemic barriers that Bellevue families face to access services, advocate for themselves, and know they belong.
I’ve always been passionate about immersing myself in diverse communities and contributing to meaningful change. Joining this team allows me to continue this work in a way that directly impacts our community, and I’m excited to be part of it.
What does community mean to you?
Community is such a powerful word to me as it can simultaneously describe a place, feeling, and shared state of being!
What could we find you doing outside of your work at Bellevue LifeSpring?
Outside of work, I’m either walking around a soccer field to get my steps in while my boys practice, watching them play a soccer game, or taking them to a Sounders game; sense a theme yet? I’m also an avid scrapbooker, enjoy card and board games, love adventure travel, teach ESL to immigrants and refugees, and am on a new mission to try chicken wings and fries (sometimes a Canadian poutine) at Bellevue dive bars while improving my pool and dart skills!
Thank you, Rahima, for sharing, and welcome to the team!
