CRIS Staff Spotlight | Lina
Lina El-Zein has been working as the Arabic-speaking caseworker in the Victims of Crime Assistance program for two and a half years, where she works to help navigate the situations of domestic and sexual abuse survivors.
“I support them as they fight against their abusers, work to rebuild their lives, and seek safety and stability. This includes everything from safety planning and connecting them with legal and medical services to advocating for them within various systems. I meet clients where they are and offer them support, empowerment, and educate them through the difficulties.”
Growing up in Jordan after her parents left Palestine during the War of 1948, Lina knows first-hand the influence of a welcoming community, which would later inspire her work at CRIS.
“Jordan welcomed my family, supported them, and provided them with safety and the opportunity to live with dignity. From a young age, I learned the value of compassion, resilience, and community. Watching my mother, a strong, determined woman, navigate life with grace taught me the importance of supporting others and holding on to hope. I developed a deep empathy for those who are starting over in a new place. I carry that with me in my work today, and I strive to offer my clients the same sense of safety and support that Jordan offered my family.”
After getting her Master’s Degree in political science in Jordan, Lina immigrated to the United States and got her esthetician degree. This experience in working at an esthetician clinic allowed her to understand the importance of self care and how it influences mental health, which is a lesson she brings to CRIS. Lina then immigrated to Lebanon where she got her Ph.D and researched the Middle East North African region, which allowed for a deeper understanding of Arab communities that would later influence her abilities as the Arabic-speaking caseworker with her experience studying Arab cultures and values. Afterward, she moved to the United States where she started working for CRIS in May 2023.
Lina is more than just a caseworker to her clients in the VOCA program, she is like a sister and a mentor, as well. “I have compassion for working. And we don't have to have a personal relation with our clients, but most of the time, they feel like I'm their older sister. They start telling me everything and then… I can advise them sometimes in something, anything. They call me, ‘Lina, what can we do regarding this and this?’... I work with them through their suffering, through their life, until they become independent.”
Compassion is the main drive behind Lina’s work. As an Arabic-speaking caseworker, she is able to understand the cultural mindsets of her clients to better empathize with them and create a safe environment where they can feel fully understood. To have that level of support is life-changing for many, especially for victims who find themselves in a dangerous situation to navigate. The sisterhood that Lina provides is remarkable and one-of-a-kind, one gained through all her experiences and embedded into her character.