Nooria Esmaelzade

Nooria Esmaelzade is the Director of Operations at the San Diego Refugee Communities Coalition (SDRCC), where she oversees operations and supports programs serving refugee and immigrant communities in San Diego. She also serves as a State Advisory Council (SAC) Member, contributing her perspective to statewide discussions and initiatives.

Originally from Afghanistan, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Software Engineering and a certificate in Project Management and Transformational Leadership from UC San Diego.

Before coming to the United States in 2022, Nooria worked with international nonprofit organizations and USAID-funded projects in Afghanistan, supporting economic development programs for women and education initiatives for youth.

Nooria Esmaelzade is on a panel of speakers from the San Diego Refugee Communities Coalition. Nooria and the team will highlight the evolution, impact, and replicable community‑led model of the SDRCC. Presenters will share how SDRCC’s collaborative structure supports refugee communities through coordinated services, trusted messengers, data ownership, and an innovative funding model that strengthens both community partners and funders. The session will emphasize real‑world examples, statewide partnerships, frontline experiences, and sustainable program design, while also outlining practical solutions to common challenges such as funding sustainability, system fragmentation, and inequitable access. Solutions highlighted will include strategies for building long‑term community capacity that improve both service delivery and organizational resilience.