Haseeb Shinwary has been the Primary Care Coalition’s Workforce Navigator Manager for the past seven months, preparing students in the PCC and Nexus Montgomery workforce capacity training program for job readiness. Program participants receive scholarships and support to train for healthcare positions (currently pharmacy or phlebotomy technicians or certified nursing assistants). Once they complete their studies, Shinwary helps participants with resumes, applications, and mock interviews so they can secure jobs in local hospitals and health agencies.
Shinwary’s journey to this area began when he escaped a bombing at his office in Afghanistan. As the director of education for his province, Shinwary had supported education for girls—a position at odds with the resurgent Taliban. He and his family fled Afghanistan after the 2021 government collapse.
Shinwary, his wife, and their two young daughters spent time at camp in Qatar and living in California before settling in DC metro. He talks about that experience as one of the storytellers in the 2024 PCC Storytelling Show.
In the three years since leaving Afghanistan, Shinwary and his wife, Najia, have forged a new life for themselves and their daughters, Horia, 9, and Wawrin, 6. He is pleased to have found rewarding work at PCC, and when not working, he and his family regularly visit the Smithsonian museums, take advantage of local parks and cultural events, and have a membership at a trampoline facility, which they visit several times a week. But Shinwary still misses his extended family and worries about them under Taliban rule. He checks in with his mother every morning via video call.
When asked what he likes best about PCC, Shinwary credits his colleagues with providing an encouraging and productive work environment.
“People are so supportive of one another, and there is such a nice sense of humor among staff. That makes it easy and fun to work with everyone, and because of that, we can accomplish much.”
Shinwary is inspired by progress and motivated by seeing people make tangible changes in their lives.
“I love helping our workforce students,” said Shinwary. “When they get a job, that’s a big achievement. It sets them and their families on paths to economic stability and helps our community by increasing the number of healthcare workers.”
When asked if there’s something about him that not everyone knows yet because he is still relatively new to PCC, Shinwary responded, “I don’t drink coffee, and everyone in the United States seems to drink coffee.” (Current statistics prove him right, with 67% of Americans reporting “past-day coffee consumption.”) Shinwary drinks green tea instead.
Although Shinwary and his family celebrate the Islamic holidays, which are based on the solar calendar and don’t occur this December, he appreciates the holiday time off this month to gather with family and friends and share food from home. One dish Shinwary’s family serves at their New Year’s celebration is Haft Mewa, a dried fruit compote with seven fruits and nuts.
Shinwary’s dream for the future is a better life for his family, especially his daughters.
“My daughters have access to opportunities and education that will enable them to do something for others,” said Haseeb Shinwary. “It would be especially wonderful if they could one day bring about change to the females in Afghanistan.”
Shinwary’s journey to this area began when he escaped a bombing at his office in Afghanistan. As the director of education for his province, Shinwary had supported education for girls—a position at odds with the resurgent Taliban. He and his family fled Afghanistan after the 2021 government collapse.
Shinwary, his wife, and their two young daughters spent time at camp in Qatar and living in California before settling in DC metro. He talks about that experience as one of the storytellers in the 2024 PCC Storytelling Show.
In the three years since leaving Afghanistan, Shinwary and his wife, Najia, have forged a new life for themselves and their daughters, Horia, 9, and Wawrin, 6. He is pleased to have found rewarding work at PCC, and when not working, he and his family regularly visit the Smithsonian museums, take advantage of local parks and cultural events, and have a membership at a trampoline facility, which they visit several times a week. But Shinwary still misses his extended family and worries about them under Taliban rule. He checks in with his mother every morning via video call.
When asked what he likes best about PCC, Shinwary credits his colleagues with providing an encouraging and productive work environment.
“People are so supportive of one another, and there is such a nice sense of humor among staff. That makes it easy and fun to work with everyone, and because of that, we can accomplish much.”
Shinwary is inspired by progress and motivated by seeing people make tangible changes in their lives.
“I love helping our workforce students,” said Shinwary. “When they get a job, that’s a big achievement. It sets them and their families on paths to economic stability and helps our community by increasing the number of healthcare workers.”
When asked if there’s something about him that not everyone knows yet because he is still relatively new to PCC, Shinwary responded, “I don’t drink coffee, and everyone in the United States seems to drink coffee.” (Current statistics prove him right, with 67% of Americans reporting “past-day coffee consumption.”) Shinwary drinks green tea instead.
Although Shinwary and his family celebrate the Islamic holidays, which are based on the solar calendar and don’t occur this December, he appreciates the holiday time off this month to gather with family and friends and share food from home. One dish Shinwary’s family serves at their New Year’s celebration is Haft Mewa, a dried fruit compote with seven fruits and nuts.
Shinwary’s dream for the future is a better life for his family, especially his daughters.
“My daughters have access to opportunities and education that will enable them to do something for others,” said Haseeb Shinwary. “It would be especially wonderful if they could one day bring about change to the females in Afghanistan.”
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