SPEAKER BIOGRAPHIES
IMAM AL-HAJJ TALIB 'ABDUR RASHID
Imam Al-Hajj Talib 'Abdur-Rashid is the religious and spiritual leader of The Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood in Harlem, New York City. He has been a Sunni Muslim since 1971, a member of the mosque since that time, and its imam since 1989. Imam Talib 'Abdur-Rashid is also the Amir (leader) of the Harlem Shura, a coalition of seven Harlem mosques. He has been the chairman of the Justice Committee of the Majlis Ash-Shura (Islamic Leadership Council) of New York, and Deputy Amir of The Muslim Alliance in North America. In Early 2006 he was appointed Deputy Amir of the Majlis Ash Shura.
AISHA AL-ADAWIYA
Aisha al-Adawiya is the founder and executive director of Women in Islam, an organization of Muslim women which focuses on human rights and social justice. Ms. al-Adawiya organizes and participates in conferences, symposia and other forums on Islam, Gender Equity, Conflict Resolution, and Cross-Cultural Understanding. She also represents Muslim women’s Non-Governmental Organizations at United Nations forums. Ms. Al-Adawiya coordinates Islamic input for the Preservation of the Black Religious Heritage Documentation Project of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture. She also serves as a consultant to numerous interfaith organizations and documentary projects on the Muslim American experience. Additionally, she serves on the boards of numerous organizations related to the interests of the global Islamic community. Ms. al-Adawiya is a frequent guest host and producer of Tahrir, WBAI Pacifica Radio in New York City.
IMAM SHAMSI ALI
Imam Shamsi Ali is an Imam at the 96th Street Masjid and the Jamaica Muslim Center; he is also the President of the Board of Masjid Al Hikma.
DEBBIE ALMONTASER
Debbie Almontaser is currently Coordinator of External Programs for Brooklyn public schools. As a multicultural specialist and diversity consultant, Ms. Almontaser facilitates teacher and public workshops on Arab culture, Islam, conflict resolution, cultural diversity, and Augusto Boal's Theater of the Oppressed around the city, and at local and national conferences. Ms. Almontaser also serves as a consultant to Nickelodeon's Nick Jr. Muslim American Series Project, Independent Production Fund's Islam Project, Educators for Social Responsibility, the Interfaith Center of NYC, and the Church Avenue Merchants Block Association's (CAMBA, Inc.) Diversity Project. She sits on the board of The Dialogue Project, Women In Islam Inc., among other organizations. She is also a co-founder of Brooklyn Bridges, The September 11th Curriculum Project, Justice for Detainees, and the We Are All Brooklyn Coalition. Ms. Almontaser co-designed and developed a curriculum for the Muslim Communities Project at Columbia University and for Educators for Social Responsibility/Metro. Sister Debbie has a B.A. from St. Francis College and an M.S. in multicultural education and reading from Adelphi University. She also holds an M.S. from Baruch College's School of Public Affairs through their Aspiring Leaders Program. During her Revson year, she took courses from the International Center for Cooperation & Conflict Resolution (ICCCR) at Teachers College and received a Certificate in Conflict Resolution in the field of conflict resolution exploring local and global conflicts as well as the various mediation models.
NURAH AMATULLAH
Nurah Rosalie P. Jeter Amat’ullah is the Founder and Executive Director of the Muslim Women’s Institute for Research and Development (MWIRD), organized to help spread the word about free and low-cost healthcare in the Bronx. Ms. Amat'ullah was also one of a dozen immigrant leaders to receive the 2003 Union Square Award, and participated in an Interfaith Peace Delegation to Sudan in June 2005.
DOMINIKA BENNACER
Dominika Bennacer is a Ph.D. candidate in the department of Performance Studies at New York University. Before completing her M.A. in Performance Studies at NYU in 2006, she earned a B.A. degree in Theatre Studies specializing in Eastern European experimental theatre. She is currently working as the Associate Curator of the Year of Grotowski/New York festival. Her research areas include immigration, human rights discourse, activism, quotidian performances of cultural, ethnic and religious identity, and embodied practices in Islamic orthopraxy. Her dissertation project investigates the wide-ranging ramifications of the administration’s domestic ‘war on terror,’ by tracing the trajectory of the post-9/11 immigrant experience: from special registration, racial profiling, discrimination, to detentions and deportations of Muslim, South Asian and Arab immigrants.
ADEM CARROLL
From 2001-2006, Adem Carroll served as 911 Relief Programs Coordinator for Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA Relief USA). Through the 911 Detainees Program, funded by the Rockefeller Foundation, the United Methodists (UMCOR), and Muslim community members, he provided emergency legal and financial help to over 800 detainees and their families since 9/11. This program also expanded partnership with civil liberties and human rights groups and advocated in media for justice and basic decency in the face of widespread anti-Muslim and anti-immigrant backlash after 9/11. Adem also worked to expand interfaith dialogue and dialogue with law enforcement, civic participation, and to promote intra-community dialogue. Adem received a Masters degree in Near Eastern Studies at NYU, after completing Peace Corps service in Morocco. He then worked in a number of human rights and a variety of community based non-profits as well as teaching positions in Istanbul and in New York. After several years of Brooklyn based AmeriCorps program work, he joined ICNA Relief. Adem is a member of the board of New York Disaster Interfaith Services, Turning Point for Women and Families and has been active with other coalitions. He has written weekly column in The Mirror and Muslims Weekly, and writes for other publications such as the Message; he co-hosts a monthly program on WBAI called "War On Immigrants Report." His writing can be found at http://americanmuslimadems.blogspot.com/
HASAN CHUGHTAI
Hasan Chughtai is currently in his last year of New York College of Osteopathic Medicine, and applying for physical medicine and rehabilitation residencies in New York. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Mathematics with Minors in Chemistry and Computer Science from New York University in 2000. He has also attained a Master's in Nutrition from New York Institute of Technology. His ongoing commitment to the empowerment and advancement of Muslims can be traced to his 1997 tenure as Vice-President and two-term presidency of the NYU student branch of the Islamic Center. He has held several leadership roles, which include: co-founding the Spiritual Diversity Network of NYU, co-founding MSA-NY (the NY council of MSAs, in 2002), presidency of the MSA at NYIT (from 2001 to 2002), active membership in the NIMA foundation, co-founding and presidency of the NYCOM MSA from 2003 to 2004. More recently he founded and presided over the New York chapter of the Council of American Muslim Professionals from 2004 to 2005. Hasan has been the Public Relations officer of the Islamic Center of NYU's Alumni Association since 2003. He is also an active member in the NYU Mission Masjid project. He has been a dedicated member of the Islamic Medical Association of North America (IMANA) since 2002 and is currently part of the Membership Committee. He is also currently the vice-chair of the MCDN (Mentoring-Career Development-Networking) committee of the Association of Muslim Health Professionals (AMHP). He has also been an active member of the Islamic Center of Long Island in Westbury since 2001.
ABDELLATIF CRISTILLO
Louis Cristillo is the principal investigator for the Muslim Youth in NYC Public School Project at Columbia University's Teachers College. Research for this three-year study sponsored by the Ford Foundation will examine what role religiosity plays in shaping the civic and religious identities, attitudes and behavior of Muslim youth in public schools, especially in the post-9/11 environment. In addition, Dr. Cristillo is the project coordinator for Columbia University's Muslims in NYC Project, a groundbreaking multidisciplinary study, also sponsored by the Ford Foundation, exploring the complex issues of Muslim identity and community building in New York City. His main subjects include but are not limited to: Muslims in New York City; formal and non-formal religious education among Muslim diaspora communities in America; the sociology of religious and secular education in the Middle East and the Muslim world; and education and development in the Muslim world
HASAN JOHNSON
Hasan Johnson is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker, certified School Social Worker and a certified Substance Awareness Coordinator. He is the founder of Premier Counseling & Consulting Group, LLC, a private agency that specializes in providing in-home intensive clinical services to African American, Latino and Muslim adolescents and their families. He is also an Adjunct Professor for The Rutgers University Graduate School Of Social Work. Mr. Johnson also founded EthnicCounselors.com, a free national Online Counselor & Agency Directory and Network of culturally competent, religious and multilingual providers that enables professional providers, students, consumers and other professionals to network and connect with each other via the internet. Mr. Johnson is also the developer and project manager of the grant funded MC2 Project (Muslim Cultural Competence). The Muslim Cultural Competence Project (The MC2 PROJECT) is a grant funded, online internet resource dedicated to making available video and audio resources aimed at improving the overall cultural competence of non-Muslim and Muslim health and mental health providers. Mr Johnson is also active as promoter of arts as a tool for youth empowerment in the diverse Muslim community. Recently he co-founded the EIDfest, a series of positive-minded entertainments, including Muslim rap and a range of styles for the whole family.
MOUSHUMI KHAN
Co-founder and former President of the Muslim Bar Association of New York, Moushumi Khan is currently at the Kennedy School at Harvard University. and is a Term Member of the Council on Foreign Relations. Since February 2001 Ms. Khan had been in solo legal practice concentrating on corporate and civil rights law. She has become a leading emerging voice on civil liberties, religious accommodation, and interfaith relations. Ms. Khan is also an active participant in public diplomacy efforts involving the United States and the immigrant community. She has won numerous awards for her community service. Ms. Khan earned her J.D. degree from the University of Michigan Law School in 1996 and received an A.B. degree in Critical Social Thought, cum laude, from Mount Holyoke College in 1993. She was awarded a Certificate in General Course in the Government Department of the London School of Economics in 1991, where she did her junior year abroad.
KHALID LATIF
Brother Khalid Latif grew up in Edison, NJ, as the youngest of three children. A first generation Muslim, Brother Khalid currently serves as the Muslim Chaplain for both New York University (NYU) and Princeton University, the first individual to hold the position at both institutions. At a time where many feel out of place in the Muslim community, not knowing exactly where to fit in, Brother Khalid seeks to emphasize the need to be inclusive rather than exclusive, understanding of others without compromise. Outside of his defined roles as chaplain for NYU and Princeton, Brother Khalid has served as an educator for Abrahams’ Vision, a group focused on Jewish-Muslim relations and conflict resolution, Independent Viewpoints, a group focused on Sunni-Shi’a relations, and is a member of MCN, the Muslim Consultative Network, an organization made up of numerous Muslim leaders from New York City.
ABDUS-SALAM MUSA
Abdus-Salaam Musa reverted to Islam in 1988. He was first exposed to an off shoot of Islam by listening to the speeches of El Hajj Malik Shabazz in the 1960's. In 1992 Br. Musa started working for Islamic Family Services in Brooklyn New York as a case manager. This was the first Islamic Social Service entity that address foster care issues for Muslims in New York City. In 1996 Abdus-Salaam Musa started working as an intern for the Message Magazine, a publication of the Islamic Circle of North America. 1998 Musa was promoted to director of the United Muslim Movement Against Homelessness (UMMAH) a program of ICNA Relief. UMMAH services (in very limited ways) the basic human needs clients. The services offered are concentrated in the NYC area, with some national cases. As the Director of UMMAH, Musa coordinates and conduct a weekly feeding program, provides family counseling with particular focus on domestic violence, and participates in faith-based social service collaboratives in the New York City area. Musa has also directed the Muslim Women's Help Network (MWHN) from its inception in 2000. MWHN is a program, which offers temporary housing for single Muslim women in New York City. He is also the Administrator for the House of Peace a social service program that is addressing the social ills that affect our society. Musa earned a Bachelor's degree in Human Services from Metropolitan College of New York City and is currently a candidate for the Graduate Certificate in Islamic Chaplaincy at Hartford Seminary. Programs: The mission of the Muslim Women’s Help Network is to promote family life in accordance with the Qur’an and Sunnah of Prophet Muhammad emphasizing the protection and maintenance of women and children as the foundation for a productive community life. MWHN has established temporary housing and services to enhance the educational and health related interests of individuals and families. The goal of UMMAH (United Muslim Movement Against Homelessness) is to raise up a community who are committed to reclaim their rightful place of responsibility in society, while striving to uplift themselves and their communities in which they live. It is our desire to fight against human sufferings, by assisting individuals in achieving basic needs that all human beings are entitled to: food, clothing and shelter.
ROBINA NIAZ
Robina Niaz is Executive Director of Turning Point for Women and Families, a community based, non-profit organization founded in 2005 to address the needs of Muslim women and children through crisis intervention, individual and group counseling, advocacy, outreach, education and training. Robina's efforts to found this important resource have been recognized by several awards, including a current Soros Fellowship and the Union Square Awards in November 2005.
MOHAMMAD RAZVI
Mohammad Razvi is the Founder and Executive Director of Council of Pakistan Organization, now renamed as Council of Peoples Organization (COPO). For his relentless services to the immigrant community, Razvi was elected as a Board member of the New York Immigration Coalition. He has received many awards from Congressmen, State senators, Assemblyman, and Borough President, recognizing his efforts to unite the immigrant communities of New York in these trying times. Razvi also is a co-founder of We Are All Brooklyn coalition, and is also board member of CAUSE NY, Youth Bridge, Midwood Development Corp, FBI Citizens Academy New York Division, Muslims Consultant Network, Center for the Study of Brooklyn at Brooklyn College, Brooklyn Borough President’s Task Force For New Diversity. Moe Razvi is a graduate of NYPD Citizens Academy and FBI Citizens Academy, and serves on the Muslim Advisory Board to the FBI and the Civil Rights Division of FBI. He has utilized his knowledge and the trust of the community to build bridges between the Law enforcement and the community. Razvi is referred to as the “Heart of Coney Island Ave”. Razvi believes that the community must be educated and empowered enough to advocate for its own cause. He tirelessly continues to advocate for those who don’t have a voice. “The ultimate achievement of a man is not when he has gained knowledge but when it is shared with others for their betterment. “
MALIKA RUSHDAN
Malika Rushdan serves as the Development Director for ICNA Relief USA (www.icnarelief.org) where she conducts cultural diversity trainings and programmatic development for Faith Based organizations and community groups. She has also directly assisted a range of clients, including disaster victims, through social service referrals and advocacy. Originally from Boston, Malika has an extensive background in Youth and Community Development with well over 12 years experience working with refugee youth. Out of an expressed need, Malika founded the Al-Huda Society (www.alhudasoceity.org), a non-profit organization serving the religious, social and educational needs of Muslim families, primarily from North Africa, in and around the Metro-Boston area. Malika’s work in Massachusetts also included her being appointed the pioneer director of Community Organizing for Somerville Community Corporation, an organization building and preserving affordable housing in one of the nation’s most densely populated cities.
ZEESHAN SUHAIL
Zeeshan holds an M.A. in International Relations from the City University of NY (CUNY), Graduate Center. He is a Board Member for Americans for Informed Democracy. Zeeshan has been active in Student Government in both graduate school and at Queens College, where he was the first Pakistani and the first Muslim to be elected Vice President in the 35 years of student government history. While at Queens College, Zeeshan also founded the South Asian Students Association (SASA), whose aim is to promote South Asian culture through panel discussions, film screenings and other cultural events. He was the Secretary for a political party called United People and the Society of Success and Leadership, and a delegate to the University Student Senate (the CUNY student government) where he sat on the Committee for Academic Policies along with the CUNY Chanceller and made decisions affecting the tens of thousands of CUNY students. Zeeshan was also the youngest member of the Steering Committee for the Second Annual South Asian Conference organized by the Asian American/Asian Research Institute at CUNY, which brought together scholars, students and professionals from all over the country. Zeeshan has also done voice-over work and hosted a TV show which introduced New York City to South Asian audiences all over the world, and currently writes a column for a Pakistani newspaper detailing Pakistani-American life in New York (among other things) to a Pakistani audience. His work has been published in Q-News (Britain), The World Scholar (New York), Pakistan Post (New York) and The Nation (Pakistan). His blog can be found at http://zeeshansuhail.blogspot.com/ In his spare time, Zeeshan volunteers for the United Nations Association, the Foreign Policy Association, and has received advanced leadership certifications from the Institute of Student Leadership at Paper Clip Communications as well as the National Conference on Student Leadership.