Arab American Family Support Center

Join Our Mailing List

Meet the Staff

Board of Directors
Financials

Contact Information

Lena Alhusseini
lena@aafscny.org
(718) 643 - 8000 x20

Azdahar Ali
azdahar@aafscny.org
(718) 643 - 8000 x26

Nidal Alloubane
nidal@aafscny.org
(718) 643 - 8000 x38

Maha Attieh
maha@aafscny.org
(718) 643 - 8000 x25

Christeen Badie
christeen@aafscny.org
(718) 643 - 8000 x15

Urbi Dev
urbi@aafscny.org
(718) 643 - 8000 x16

Mariam Elrazaz
mariam@aafscny.org
(718) 643 - 8000 x12

Rama Issa-Ibrahim
rama@aafscny.org
(718) 643 - 8000 x19

Jake Keyel
jared@aafscny.org
(718) 643 - 8000 x39

Raheel Malik
raheel@aafscny.org
(718) 643 - 8000 x17

Kay Myles
kay@aafscny.org
(718) 643 - 8000 x23

J.C. Salyer
j.c.slayer@aafscny.org
(718) 643 - 8000 x35

Hizam Wahib
hizam@aafscny.org
(718) 643 - 8000 x35

LENA ALHUSSEINI, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Ms. Alhusseini joined the Arab-American Family Support Center as Executive Director in April 2006 after a number of years at the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC), where she served as International Outreach Project Manager on issues of child protection, abduction and child trafficking. Prior to joining NCMEC, Ms. Alhusseini worked for the Gateway Battered Women’s Shelter in Denver, Colorado where she developed the Shelter’s children’s program and worked with immigrant populations including Arab-American women and children on issues of domestic violence.

Before coming to the United States, Ms. Alhusseini served with a number of international organizations around the world on issues pertaining to child protection and human trafficking, including USAID and UNICEF. Most notably, she established the Jordan River Foundation’s child protection unit under the direction of HM Queen Rania Al Abdullah. That organization was the first in the Middle East to address the issue of child abuse.

Ms. Alhusseini was honored in 2011 by the White House as a champion of change for her work with child protection, domestic violence and sex trafficking and by the New York City Council for her contributions to the city of New York. She is also a recipient of the Auburn Seminary Women of Commitment Award 2007, “Brooklyn Women of Distinction” Award by the Brooklyn Newspaper Group, “Extraordinary Woman 2008” by Kings County District Attorneys Office, a Global Woman leader by Womensphere, Womyn Warrior by Project Reach and most recently for her work and community service by the National Arab American Medical Association.

Ms. Alhusseini serves on the Board of Directors of the Dodge YMCA, the Human Services Council of New York City and the Greater Brooklyn Health Coalition.

AZDAHAR ALI, HEALTH ENROLLMENT ASSOCIATE

Azdahar Ali joined AAFSC in 2009 as an AmeriCorps volunteer with the Access to Healthcare Program. Upon completion of her AmeriCorps service, Ms. Ali was employed by AAFSC as a facilitated health enroller. She has also worked with AAFSC as a member of the health advocates program through Long Island College Hospital, and has been a volunteer at Methodist Hospital as an Assistant Nurse and Arabic translator.

NIDAL ALLOUBANE, CASE MANAGER

Nidal Alloubane joined AAFSC in 2003. Her previous positions at AAFSC were Senior Instructor of Adult Education and Literacy, and Arabic Instructor. Prior to joining AAFSC, Ms. Alloubane worked first as an elementary school teacher and then as a principal. She is a graduate of Houra College (Jordan), with a Bachelors degree in education, and is fluent in Arabic.

MAHA ATTIEH, HEALTH PROGRAM MANAGER

Maha Attieh joined AAFSC in 2003 as Outreach Counselor for the New York State Office of Mental Health/Project Liberty Program. Her previous positions at AAFSC include Healthcare Program Facilitated Enroller and Outreach Coordinator. Ms. Attieh holds an Associate Degree in Social Work from the Jordan college of Social Work, and received a Certificate in Achievement in 2010 from Baruch College/School of Public Affairs.

Ms. Attieh is a member of the Community Advisory Committee at Brooklyn Hospital, Long Island College Hospital, Lutheran Medical Center, Arthur Ash Institute at Downstate Hospital, The School of Public Health at Downstate Hospital, and the Dodge YMCA. She also participates in several coalitions, including the CPHS People’s Budget Coalition, the Grater Brooklyn Health Coalition, the New York Immigration Health Coalition, the NYC Hepatitis C Coalition, and The Brooklyn Transformation Coalition.

In April 2010, she was honored by the Commission on the Public Health System with the Marshal England Memorial Public Health Award for her advocacy work. She was also honored by the New York Police Department Community Affair Bureau at their first annual Women’s History Month event in 2010 for outstanding service for the community.

CHRISTEEN BADIE, PREVENTIVE CASE PLANNER

Christeen Badie joined AAFSC in February 2012. Prior to joining AAFSC, Ms. Badie worked at the University of North Carolina as an Administrative Assistant at the Office of Education Abroad, where she assisted students interested in studying abroad. Ms. Badie also interned at the Charlotte International Cabinet, where she worked to promote Charlotte as an international city and assisted with various events, including the Mayor's International Community Awards. Ms. Badie earned at Bachelor of Science in International Business from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She is fluent in Arabic and Spanish.

URBI DEV, PREVENTIVE CASE PLANNER

Urbi Dev joined AAFSC in 2011. Prior to joining AAFSC, she worked with homeless infants and children, and in rehabilitation centers with children with developmental disorders. Ms. Dev earned a BA degree from Franklin & Marshall College, and an MSc degree from the University of Edinburgh (Scotland), and she is fluent in Bengali.

MARIAM ELRAZAZ, SENIOR PREVENTIVE CASE PLANNER

Mariam Elrazaz joined AAFSC in 2011 as a Preventive Case Planner. Prior to joining AAFSC, she worked in Egypt as an English teacher and as an executive assistant in a USAID-funded project in the area of education reform. She has also worked in New York City in an after-school program. Ms. Elrazaz holds a BA degree in Political Science and English Literature and speaks Arabic.

JARED KEYEL, YOUTH PROGRAM MANAGER

Jared “Jake” Keyel is a Youth Program Associate who joined AAFSC in 2011 through AmeriCorps. Prior to joining AAFSC, he interned in Lebanon at the Lebanese Emigration Research Center, and worked as a Youth Employment Specialist in upstate New York. Mr. Keyel holds a BA degree in Sociology from Nazareth College of Rochester, and an MA degree in Internal Relations / Global Development and the Middle East.

RAHEEL MALIK, PREVENTIVE CASE PLANNER

Raheel Malik joined AAFSC in 2011 as a Preventive Case Planner. Prior to this position, he was a Counselor at the Jewish Board of Family and Children Services. Mr. Malik earned a BA degree in Biology from College of Staten Island/CUNY, and he is fluent in Urdu and Punjabi.

KAREN MYLES, HR ASSOCIATE & EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT

Karen “Kay” Myles joined AAFSC in 2011 as Human Resource Associate / Executive Assistant. Prior to this position, Ms. Myles taught science to middle school students in the NYC public school system, and worked as a Pre-Employment Specialist with America Works. She also has experience in banking and payroll management. Ms. Myles holds an MA degree in General and Special Education from Touro College; and a BA degree in Forensic Psychology and Associates’ Degree in Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice/CUNY.

J.C. SALYER, STAFF ATTORNEY

J.C. Salyer joined AAFSC in 2006 as Staff Attorney. His experience includes work with the American Civil Liberties Union of New Jersey. Mr. Salyer holds a BA degree in Anthropology from the University of Georgia, and a JD degree from Georgia State University. He is currently a PhD candidate in Anthropology at the Graduate Center/CUNY.

HIZAM WAHIB, DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS

Hizam Wahib joined AAFSC in 2001. His prior work at AAFSC includes supervision of the Legal Department and general administration of the agency. Mr. Wahib has extensive experience in working with the city’s Arab-American community, and he is an active participant in the Yemeni Professionals Association. Mr. Wahib is fluent in Arabic and has attended Kingsborough Community College and John Jay College of Criminal Justice/CUNY.