Please join us in welcoming Farah and Genesis to NJFON !
The two newest members of our NJFON crew come to us through Just Neighbors—our JFON site in Virginia. We also share office space with Just Neighbors in Annandale, Virginia, located a few miles south of Washington, D.C.
Farah Ashurova arrived in the U.S. from her native Tajikistan two years ago, intent on obtaining a graduate degree in public administration from George Mason University. She interned for Just Neighbors for several months, writing data reports, doing client intake, and even translating/interpreting for clients. Farah speaks four languages—Russian, Tajik, Persian, and English.
“I love helping people,” she says earnestly. “That is always my motivation.”
Farah earned her graduate degree and is now our program administrator.
“The main part of my job is performing analytical, financial and administrative duties,” she says. “I do the job I love,” she adds, “with wonderful and supportive people.”
Genesis Lazo, the daughter of Salvadoran immigrants, grew up in a multicultural region of Northern Virginia. She first came to Just Neighbors in 2016 as a Shinnyo Foundation fellow through George Mason University’s School for Conflict Analysis and Resolution. She became a Just Neighbors board member in 2017, and then joined their staff as a development associate.
Genesis brings experience in fundraising and communications to her new role as part-time development director for NJFON.
“I want to take the work I’ve done at Just Neighbors and amplify it for the JFON network,” she explains, “especially since so many of our JFON sites are small. I am very excited to help them improve their fundraising so they can better fulfill their mission.”
They may have taken different paths to get here, but both Farah and Genesis are keenly focused on serving that JFON mission.
“The end goal,” Genesis reminds us, “is to help more of our immigrant neighbors.”
