Walking Alongside Families: Sheyma’s Full-Circle Journey
Sheyma knows firsthand what it means to arrive in a new place without a roadmap. Her story is one of resilience, responsibility, and coming full circle through community.
We sat down with Sheyma, a longtime Neighborhood House staff member, to talk about her journey to the United States and how her lived experience shapes the work she does today alongside immigrant and refugee families.
Sheyma arrived in the U.S. when she was 12 years old. She didn’t speak English. Everything felt unfamiliar. Her family had no built-in support system.
“When we arrived, we didn’t really know how anything worked, I was still a kid, but I had to learn quickly because my family needed help navigating schools, medical appointments, and systems we didn’t understand.”
Her older sister raised her while working long hours in housekeeping, and her grandmother helped keep their family together. Like many immigrant children, Sheyma became her family’s interpreter out of necessity.
“You learn how systems work because you have to,” she said. “There isn’t another option.”
Those early responsibilities stayed with her. After high school, Sheyma became a medical interpreter and later worked in a hospital. While the work was meaningful, something felt incomplete.
“I was helping people in moments of crisis,” she explained. “But I wanted to do more than help someone get through a single appointment. I wanted to walk alongside families as they built stability.”
That path led her to Neighborhood House.
Sheyma joined the organization in 2019, starting in the School Age Program and later stepping into a Family Liaison role. During the COVID-19 shutdowns, she was asked to help support a grant connected to the Child Care Improvement Project. That experience opened the door to the work she does today.
Now, Sheyma works closely with African immigrant and refugee families, many of whom speak Somali and Swahili, who dream of opening their own childcare businesses.
“This work feels personal. I remember how important it was for families to trust who was caring for their children. Culture, language, food, and stories all matter.”
Through the Child Care Improvement Project, Sheyma provides hands-on support to emerging childcare providers, walking with them from early ideas to opening day. She helps navigate licensing, training, and systems that often feel overwhelming to newcomers.
“For the first time, I get to see the full outcome. I see providers open their doors, welcome children from their own communities, and build something that supports their families with pride.”
One provider Sheyma worked with had spent 15 years working in childcare but never believed she could run her own program.
“She was scared to take the step. She didn’t think she could do it alone. But with support and encouragement, she opened her own childcare. Now she has six children enrolled and more confidence than she ever thought possible.”
Stories like these reflect the heart of Neighborhood House’s work. The organization helps families overcome language barriers, navigate unfamiliar systems, and access resources that often exist but remain out of reach without trusted guidance.
Culturally responsive childcare is a critical part of that support. For many families, it matters deeply that their children are cared for by people who understand their language, culture, food, and traditions.
“When children feel at home, learning comes more naturally and parents feel seen.”
As more immigrant and refugee families arrive in Oregon seeking opportunity and stability, the need for this work continues to grow. In many communities, culturally specific childcare options remain limited, even as interest from providers grows.
Sheyma describes her role simply.
“Being there. Being someone’s guide. Being someone’s voice when things feel confusing.”
At Neighborhood House, the joy of neighboring is not just an idea. It is a practice lived out every day. And through people like Sheyma, it becomes a bridge between generations, cultures, and new beginnings.
