Staff: Arkhawan Salih

CSA Story Header for Arkhawan Salih; a headshot image on a maroon and gold background

Arkhawan Salih
Chief Operating Officer
Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America (FORA)

Bachelor’s degree, Law and Political Science
Master’s degree, International Relations
Certificate of Data Science and Visualization, Northwestern University

Professional Experience:
I have worked in the field of Human Rights Advocacy for most of my career. I worked as a leader in project management and organizational management for more than 15 years in the local and international non-profits organizations both in the Kurdistan region of Iraq and the United States.

Where are you from?
Kurdistan Region of Iraq

What do you like to do in your free time?
In my free time, I spend most of my time with my family. I enjoy watching movies and talking with my daughters (12, 17 years old). I also enjoy family and friends outings to fun activities and summer concerts and barbeques in Chicago. Additionally, I enjoy my alone time reading, listening to music, and spending some time in nature.

How would you describe your role at FORA?
My role at Forging Opportunities for Refugees in America (FORA) is to oversee day to day operations, implementation of FORA projects and programs, and monitor the quality of services we provide to our community. In addition, working on developing long term planning and program monitoring and evaluation tools, Hiring employees and building a dedicated team who understand the profound impact of social change and advocacy in the field of human rights generally, and the right to accessible and compatible education for the refugee and SLIFE (Student with Limited and Interrupted Formal Education) students particularly.

Why do you engage in the community?
I believe that each person is responsible to help their community in any way they can. For me, I like to help others not only because it is my responsibility but also because I am very passionate about human rights for all. I am able and willing to engage in and benefit the community by using my skills and experience in multiple fields that I built over the time. I manage programs and organizations that restore rights and freedom to the most marginalized and vulnerable people such as children and youth, women, refugees, Institutionalized people, survivors of domestic violence and abuse, etc.

At FORA, we empower refugee SLIFE children by providing 80 refugee children with daily after-school tutoring. Every student receives two hours a day, five days a week, of individualized foundational tutoring so that academic scaffolding can begin, so that, over time, students can catch up to grade level and, finally, so that school becomes meaningful. We provide more than 35,000 hours of student tutoring a year with a two-to-one or less student-tutor ratio. And this deep commitment leads to amazing results. Additionally, we empower student’s families by becoming a sufficient resource to their children’s academic progress, by helping parents to have access to information they need to understand the US education system and how to get engaged with schools.

What is one of your favorite stories from your experiences with CSA/Loyola4Chicago?

I have many wonderful stories and experiences with Loyal students who support FORA students and programs. I have to mention that FORA’s largest number of tutors comes from Loyola work study, Loyola4Chicago and Loyola volunteers. We are so grateful and appreciative of all the work they do, and how they inspire our students everyday. They come with a high level of professionalism and passion that make them a perfect role model for our students. There were several occasions when work-study students from Loyola decided to continue volunteering at FORA as a tutor even after they completed their work-study program. Many times, Loyola interns, volunteers and tutors left such a positive impact on our programs, students and the team that we were deeply saddened when they left or their programs ended. I have to mention that at FORA we offered a job position to one of the very talented and hardworking Loyola students who currently work as Head of Volunteers Recruitment at FORA. We look forward to expanding our partnership with Loyola as both our organizations promote community values and principles that make the social changes possible.

What is your favorite thing about the work you do?
My favorite part of the work I do is the changes and progress I observe in the education and behavior of the children we serve at FORA. When I see a child who was disengaged and did not have hope for their future only a few months ago, is starting to get involved with their tutors and FORA staff members, ask questions about school programs and college life, getting higher grades at school, attending school every day, and seeing smile on their faces is the most rewarding thing at my work.

What is your favorite place in Rogers Park?
My favorite part of Rogers Park is the diverse and colorful area around Devon as this area contains communities of different origins and faith, great grassroots organizations, and authentic cultural restaurants and stores.