Published on
05/31/2024
Quick Summary
- Learn about "Flavors of Fairfax" global cuisines across the county.
- "Where We Belong" art contest open through June 15.
- Read short profiles of many county employees and their stories of immigration and service.
June is Immigrant Heritage Month, a time to reflect on our diverse nation (and county) of immigrants. In Fairfax County, nearly 30 percent of residents were born in another country, creating a uniquely rich tapestry of diversity. People from around the globe have found a home and continue to thrive here and this month we celebrate their contribution to our community.
Exploring Food
Join Celebrate Fairfax for a culinary journey this Immigrant Heritage Month as global cuisines are showcased right here in our own backyard. Flavors of Fairfax is a joint initiative with Department Economic Initiativesand Visit Fairfax.
Art Contest
Fairfax County Public Library is inviting students to celebrate our diverse community by showing off their creativity and participating in a new art contest, Where We Belong!
Open to students in grades kindergarten to 12th grade who live or study in Fairfax County, participants are asked to create artwork in a medium of their choice based off one of the following prompts:
- We all belong in Fairfax County.
- This is my family portrait.
- This is where I am from.
- We celebrate the contributions of our immigrant community members.
Three winners will be selected per age group (kindergarten-2nd grade, 3rd-6th grade and 7th-12th grade) with the winning pieces being displayed in a traveling gallery. Students can submit photos of finished art pieces online.
All art should be submitted via our online form, which will be open until June 15. Winners will be announced June 21 and winning artwork will be displayed in a traveling exhibit throughout the county. All submissions will be uploaded to a virtual gallery.
Learn MorE About "Where We BelonG"
County Staff Tell Their Stories
Vibrant diversity is reflected in our county employees, who bring their talents and experiences from various nations to serve our community. Their efforts to make the county a place where all are welcome is a crucial part of how One Fairfax, the countywide racial and social equity policy, is practiced everyday. Staff who immigrated from other countries offer perspectives informed by their experience that help improve how we serve residents. Below are a few of their inspiring stories.
Shaheeda Al-Marghandiwal
Originally from Kabul, Afghanistan, Shaheeda Al-Marghandiwal is an administrative assistant at the Office of Public Affairs. She is one of the people you see at the Government Center’s front desk everyday helping visitors find their destination in the large complex. She lived in Pakistan for 9 years, where she learned her second language - Urdu. In addition to English, she knows four languages: Dari, Farsi, Pashto and Urdu. She plays a role in representing the county with the main information line, 703-FAIRFAX. Being multilingual, she utilizes her skills to assist the diverse residents of the county. She shares respect for immigrants as she relates to their experiences and represents her respect and dedication through her work.
Anya Avilov
Anya Avilov came to America from Russia in the early 90s because of the country’s crumbling economy. Growing up, her family had limited means to purchase food, goods and services. This helped her learn to be more resourceful, creative, and adaptable, which still influences her approach to life today. As a fitness department assistant at Reston Community Center, she teaches Zumba Gold and Essentrics classes. These offer her creative outlets and she loves sharing the health benefits with students.
Ankus Basnet
Ankus Basnet is originally from Nepal and came to the United States in 2005. He works in the accounting department for the Clerk’s Office at Fairfax Circuit Court. As an immigrant he has learned to adapt to a diverse environment, and he credits this skill to his success with his current team, which is composed of people from half a dozen countries.
Sileni del Moral Cuellar
Sileni del Moral Cuellar hails originally from Venezuela.She says she is blessed to have important traits instilled in her including family values, community, honesty, integrity, responsibility and mutual respect. Exposure to diversity in her home country allows her to relate easily with people from different backgrounds in Fairfax County. As an immigrant, these values along with her persistence and resilience, enabled her to enhance her career with the Department of Tax Administration where she currently serves as a real estate appraiser trainee.
Carmen Djelloul
Originally from Peru, Carmen Djelloul is one of people you see at the Government Center’s front desk everyday helping visitors. Djelloul received a bilingual secretary diploma from Browns Academy in Lima before coming to the United States in 1984 on a work visa. Initially working as a nanny, Djelloul took English classes at TC Williams High School and attended Northern Virginia Community College. Later she found work as a 411-customer service operator for Verizon and as a bilingual administrator for a law office where she learned a lot about immigration. Over the years, Djelloul has enjoyed helping visitors to the Government Center by either translating for them or referring them to other departments where they can be assisted.
Thakur Dhakal
Thakur Dhakal immigrated from Nepal, the country of Mount Everest and the birthplace of Buddha, in 2005 and joined Fairfax County Government in 2007. He leads a group of senior engineers in Site Development and Inspections Division of the Department of Land Development Services and provides support and guidance to plan reviewers and management to achieve the agency goal of speed, consistency, and predictability. Dhakal has been instrumental in various interagency teams that aim to make Fairfax County a safe place to live. His experience as an immigrant offers a unique perspective on cultural diversity, problem solving and engagement.
Karol Escalante
Karol Escalante was born and raised in Tegucigalpa, Honduras. She is part of the One Fairfax team and has many years of experience working with key topics related to immigration, community engagement, public policy, diversity, inclusion and strategic planning. Escalante is currently developing and implementing a comprehensive, countywide plan for ensuring that Fairfax County is a welcoming community for immigrants with opportunities for integration, community well-being and economic success. Immigrants enrich our cultural diversity and reinvigorate the US labor force, it is key to understand that diversity also contributes to a country’s economic vitality. Escalante is a former diplomat, is happily married and is the proud mother of a 6-year-old girl. She is a native Spanish speaker and is a Fairfax County resident.
Roshna Gafoor
Originally from the Kurdistan region of Northern Iraq, Roshna Gafoor moved to the United States in 1997 with a bachelor’s degree in civil engineering and several years of experience. Upon arrival, she pursued further education in computer science and information system technology, which enhanced both her professional and personal life. Gafoor's adaptability skills allowed her to adjust quickly to her new environment. She currently works as a code specialist in Land Development Services, where she reviews large, multi-phased projects and mentors new engineers. She is grateful to be part of the Fairfax community, ensuring safety, health and welfare for everyone.
Tiguh Gebru
Originally from Ethiopa, Tiguh Gebru serves as the circulation manager at George Mason Regional Library in Annandale. Gebru says about his 30-plus years of serving the county’s diverse population, “My experience brings a diverse perspective and a deep understanding of cultural sensitivity. My role as circulation manager allows me a unique opportunity to connect and assist library customers from various backgrounds. My passion for promoting inclusivity and equity also helps minimize any barriers to accessing library services.”
Maher Kaidbey
Maher Kaidbey, born in Lebanon, serves as a communications specialist with the Department of Public Works and Environmental Services. He oversees the department's social media accounts, shoots/edits most department videos and writes for "Works For Us", the weekly internal blog. Having lived in Beirut and Riyadh in Saudi Arabia before moving to the U.S. in 2018, Kaidbey brings a unique global perspective that enhances his ability to connect with diverse communities, celebrating and promoting cultural richness within the county.
Mahsa Layazali
Mahsa Layazali was born and raised in Iran and immigrated to the United States in 2007. The following year she began serving as an administrative assistant at Reston Community Center delivering customer support to patrons. She says her immigrant experience has taught her resilience, adaptability and the beauty of diversity. She loves promoting unity among cultures and individuals. Overcoming obstacles in her immigration journey allows her to deeply empathize with newcomers facing language barriers, reminding her daily of the importance of breaking down these obstacles to help them integrate into their new home.
Jovieh Liray
Jovieh Liray immigrated from the Philippines to the United States with her family in 2006. She serves the Health Department as an assistant nurse manager for school health at the Mount Vernon District Office. As an immigrant, she has a deeper understanding of the different challenges that immigrant families have to navigate to be able to adapt and start a new life here in the U.S. She acknowledges the unique lived experiences of migrant families and recognizes that migration is in itself a social determinant of health.
Jia Liu
Jia Liu immigrated from China 23 years ago, and currently works in the Case Tracking Department of Fairfax Circuit Court. Liu understands the challenges of speaking English as a second language and is passionate about helping others access resources. Liu takes particular care to be patient when serving the public and is always willing to help others understand and navigate the Circuit Court.
Lupita Marcos-Rubio
Lupita Marcos-Rubio was born in Spain and came to the U.S. after finishing college. She currently serves Fairfax County Human Services. Her experience as an immigrant included both challenges and opportunities, but it ultimately shaped her vision about human services. It educated her on identifying strengths and gaps in the system, the key role of community organizations, and how service integration makes a huge difference. She is proud to serve the county.
Obaidullah Obaid
Obaidullah Obaid, a deputy sheriff assigned to the Adult Detention Center, hails from Afghanistan and began his journey to the United States with a sense of duty and a yearning for freedom. Working in the U.S. Armed Forces as a multilingual combat linguist, he proudly served his adopted country with honor and distinction. Upon completing his deployment with the U.S. Navy SEALS, he embarked on a new chapter, transitioning to a career in law enforcement and embracing a deep-seated commitment to uphold the principles of democracy and justice.
Harjeet Pawar
Harjeet Pawar was born into a large family in a small Indian town.She completed her master’s degree in India and began her career as a geography professor, educating college students. She immigrated to the United States in the early 1990s and worked at a fabrics store for a year. Looking for professional opportunities to serve the greater community, she joined the Department of Tax Administration in 1996. With her background as a teacher, Harjeet leads the business discovery and compliance team to educate the business community about their tax obligations and liabilities.
Tiya Raju
Originally from India, Tiya Raju, as the director of the Building Design and Construction Division in Public Works and Environmental Services, oversees the planning, design, and construction of projects in the Capital Improvement Program, including fire stations, libraries, courts, police stations, community centers and more. She holds a Bachelor of Architecture from Kerala University, College of Engineering in Trivandrum, and recently completed her Master of Public Administration from George Mason University. Her community-focused design work is enriched by her immigrant background, fostering inclusive and sustainable practices while building a strong relationship with the community she serves and with her team.
Shirley Sanchez
Shirley Sanchez is a financial specialist in the Fiscal Management Division of the Department of Family Services. She came to the United States from Peru over 15 years ago. She credits her parents, family and pastors with having taught her about resilience and to understand her role and responsibilities with respect to her family and her community. It is because of these important people that her actions reflect those values, in the form of excellence and a spirit of learning in her work and leadership.
Faustina Sarpong
Faustina Sarpong is from Ghana and works as a public health nurse for the Health Department. As an immigrant nurse, she can better understand and respect the differences in diverse cultural backgrounds, languages and health beliefs, leading to more effective communication and care of the population she serves. “Immigrants often face complex systems (healthcare, legal, social) in their new country. I use my firsthand knowledge to guide the population I serve through these systems and address barriers."
Hoang-tram (Catherine) Tran
Hoang-tram (Catherine) Tran is from Vietnam and currently serves as an HR manager/fiscal administrator for the Department of Tax Administration. Her experience as an immigrant enables her to connect and collaborate effectively with the diverse team at DTA, fostering an inclusive and supportive work environment.
Shouching Tzong
Shouching Tzong immigrated to the United States from Taiwan when she was 6 years old and has lived in the Washington Metro area ever since. She is currently a deputy sheriff working in General District Court and is also a registered nurse in Virginia. The culture from which she came showcases the importance of a strong work ethic and contributes to her purpose driven approach to a life of kindness and helping others.
Carol Wright
Carol Wright is currently the process and partnership coordinator with the Department of Family Services, Adult and Aging Division’s Volunteer Solutions and is an immigrant from El Salvador. In 1986, her family came to the United States seeking a better life and the opportunity to realize their dreams. Carol has worked for Fairfax County for 19 years in various capacities within Health and Human Services sharing her Spanish speaking skills in each position. Her sense of purpose is paying forward the similar help and support her family received when they arrived in the United States.
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