management and administration
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Ellen Smith: Founder and Executive Director
Ellen began Keeping Our Promise in 2014 with a simple act of helping a military captain in Syracuse gather furniture and kitchen supplies for his interpreter. Since then, it has grown into a privately-funded comprehensive SIV resettlement program with four full-time and three part-time staff members, assisting more than 522 SIV families (over 1,800 individuals) in building new lives in the Rochester, NY region. Prior to her nonprofit leadership, Ellen spent 29 years as an investigative journalist specializing in mine safety and health law. Her work was featured on major U.S. news outlets, the BBC, and public broadcasters in Australia and Canada, and earned her numerous honors, including the Edward R. Murrow Award, multiple Society of Professional Journalists Sigma Delta Chi Awards, and recognition from the Missouri School of Journalism, the National Press Club, and the Investigative Reporters and Editors. |
Chandee Searcy : Executive staff assistant (15 hours/week). Chandee offers her support with writing thank you letters to our donors, maintains our website, takes meeting notes, designs all marketing materials and social media. She oversees the volunteer efforts including onboarding and background checks, plans KOP’s annual fundraiser gala, coordinates speaking engagements, and other community outreach events. She also interacts with volunteers, answers questions, and oversees donor and volunteer databases. She works with staff to coordinate programming that involve volunteers.
Amirzay is KOP’s Dari and Pashto interpreter. He helps SIV families apply for Social Security numbers when they first arrive, and for new babies. He prepares applications for initial TANF and SNAP and oversees the federal paperwork for AR-11 forms, and ensures that federal paperwork is up to date and submitted to the government. He interact with DSS and hand deliver applications and updates to ensure paperwork reaches correct office. Assures that families adhere to DSS rules and regulations. Enroll’s heads of household in English classes if needed or vocational training. Distribute bus passes. Schedule driver’s education classes. Keep families informed of new SNAP work requirements. Interact with clients regarding mail when clients cannot read English. Interpret for insurance, DSS, employers when needed. Purchase bus passes, Price Rite cards for families to buy food and hygiene supplies. Mahboobullah is a registered medical interpreter for male clients. He is a former U.S. military interpreter, and also previously worked for the United Nations High Commission on Refugees registering refugees in India.
Naweed is KOP’s Turkmen, Dari and Pashto interpreter for clients and employers. He oversees donation pickups, apartment setups, airport pickup. Assists with TANF and SNAP applications. Oversees SIVs for volunteer hours as part of Wheels for Work program, and for the new SNAP regulations. He drives clients to medical, clothing and to USCIS appointments in Buffalo when no volunteers are available. Oversees employment and training referrals. He works with volunteers on monthly diaper deliveries to families on SNAP in most need. He is a medical interpreter for male clients. Naweed worked for the Judge Advocate General's Corps, the legal branch of the United States Armed Forces, interpreting for criminal prosecutions in Afghanistan.
Mubaraka is the community and health coordinator overseeing medical benefits for SIVs in Rochester. She files all Medicaid applications for SIVs. Arranges and schedules medical and dental appointments in coordination with Jordan Health Center and the Eastman School of Dentistry (Smile Mobile). Mubarka is a registered medical interpreter for female clients. She coordinates workshops on health, safety and mental wellness, and plans outings (with passes) for families to museums, zoo, parks, and annual July 4th Celebration at the Genesee Country Village and Museum where new SIV families witness participants from around the world take their oath of citizenship on Independence Day. Oversees camp registrations for SIV children, and coordinates the horsemanship and riding program for SIV children with A Horse’s Friend. Mubaraka previously worked as a teacher and skateboard instructor in Afghanistan for Skateistan, and was one of the few women marathon runners in Afghanistan.
Stephen Cady is KOP’s part-time housing coordinator (15 hours/week) helping to oversee rents for 94 SIV families, and works with the executive director on housing for SIVs. He interacts with landlords and clients to ensure that rents are paid in a timely manner. He is also overseeing utility payments for families who are not working due to medical issues, or are in full time school/vocational training. In 2025, he served as KOP’s flight coordinator, scheduling emergency flights out of Pakistan when visas were expiring, and families risked arrest and deportation to Afghanistan. Steven is a 17-year Army veteran who served multiple combat tours in Afghanistan
Naweed is KOP’s Turkmen, Dari and Pashto interpreter for clients and employers. He oversees donation pickups, apartment setups, airport pickup. Assists with TANF and SNAP applications. Oversees SIVs for volunteer hours as part of Wheels for Work program, and for the new SNAP regulations. He drives clients to medical, clothing and to USCIS appointments in Buffalo when no volunteers are available. Oversees employment and training referrals. He works with volunteers on monthly diaper deliveries to families on SNAP in most need. He is a medical interpreter for male clients. Naweed worked for the Judge Advocate General's Corps, the legal branch of the United States Armed Forces, interpreting for criminal prosecutions in Afghanistan.
Mubaraka is the community and health coordinator overseeing medical benefits for SIVs in Rochester. She files all Medicaid applications for SIVs. Arranges and schedules medical and dental appointments in coordination with Jordan Health Center and the Eastman School of Dentistry (Smile Mobile). Mubarka is a registered medical interpreter for female clients. She coordinates workshops on health, safety and mental wellness, and plans outings (with passes) for families to museums, zoo, parks, and annual July 4th Celebration at the Genesee Country Village and Museum where new SIV families witness participants from around the world take their oath of citizenship on Independence Day. Oversees camp registrations for SIV children, and coordinates the horsemanship and riding program for SIV children with A Horse’s Friend. Mubaraka previously worked as a teacher and skateboard instructor in Afghanistan for Skateistan, and was one of the few women marathon runners in Afghanistan.
Stephen Cady is KOP’s part-time housing coordinator (15 hours/week) helping to oversee rents for 94 SIV families, and works with the executive director on housing for SIVs. He interacts with landlords and clients to ensure that rents are paid in a timely manner. He is also overseeing utility payments for families who are not working due to medical issues, or are in full time school/vocational training. In 2025, he served as KOP’s flight coordinator, scheduling emergency flights out of Pakistan when visas were expiring, and families risked arrest and deportation to Afghanistan. Steven is a 17-year Army veteran who served multiple combat tours in Afghanistan
Jay Rowe is KOP's bookkeeper. He is the original founder of KOP's partner organization, Rochester Greenovation, Rochester's largest thrift shop. Greenovation offers KOP a significantly discounted office space, free wi-fi and electric. KOP volunteers and SIVs also help Greenovation in a mutually beneficial partnership. Jay also works for Metro Justice, a local grassroots community organization fighting for social, economic, and racial justice in Rochester, NY