Soraya Deen is the founder of the Muslim Women Speakers Movement, and Co-founder of Peacemoms (Promoting Christian Muslim /Dialogue). She is a spiritual activist, lawyer, certified Nonviolent Parent Educator and author of PEACE MATTERS – Raising Peace Conscious children. Her vision is to create 10,000 VOICES OF HOPE. She brings together Muslim women and women of all faiths empowering them to resolve conflict, and be effective communicators, social activists and say “YES” to civic engagement. Soraya believes that if nonviolence is to reign we must empower our youth. Evil prevails when good people do nothing.
Soraya Deen
Ashley Washburn
Ashley Washburn is the founder and director of Asante Sana For Education – a non-profit organization focused on improving access to education in Tanzania. ASFE empowers the children of Tanzania by building primary schools in remote locations, and through the Students Empowering Students program. Members of Students Empowering Students attend after-school classes along with their regular schooling at Tanzanian secondary schools. Ashley and her staff also support the students by providing funding for higher education and connecting them with other students throughout the world. Ashley maintains that her students do the hard work, and thoroughly deserve the higher education that she helps provide for them. She stands firmly in the belief that education is the best tool for empowering people and improving the well-being of their communities.
Clara Nevins
Clara Nevins is the co-founder of Bridge the Divide, an international online platform that promotes conversation amongst young people with different political views and cultural experiences. Clara is also the founder of Change Climate Change and the president of the UNICEF Young Ambassadors. In 2015 she was a delegate to the United Nations climate conference, COP21. Clara serves as a youth ambassador to the Women’s March on Washington. She is also a member of Citizen University’s “Youth Collaboratory” project which focuses on civic power and youth leadership.
Tuhin Chakraborty
Tuhin Chakraborty is currently a junior at Troy High School in Troy, Michigan. His main civic passion is spreading the message that history should be considered a main subject of study in all high schools across the United States, since it has been shown that many events in our contemporary era are simply reflections of times past. He is the founder of the Troy High School History Bowl Team, a seasonal organization where students interested in any kind of historical studies can meet and compete in local history quiz tournaments. In addition to organizing the advocation of history in schools, Tuhin is also a dedicated researcher. He has presented research for the Detroit Historical Society's Regional History Day Fair and has been named a state finalist in 2017. He was recently selected as a finalist for the National MITinspire research competition as well. Besides academics, Tuhin is also an avid pianist and has been invited to perform at venues like the Detroit Institute of Arts and Carnegie Hall.
Aminah Bakeer
Aminah Bakeer Abdul-Jabbaar is a Writer/Producer/Director/Assistant Professor in the Pan African Studies Department at California State University, Los Angeles. Aminah is originally from South Central LA and holds a B.A. from USC in Cinema TV with an emphasis in Critical Studies and an M.F.A. in Production and Directing from UCLA’s Film & TV Department. After directing, DORSEY a Multi-camera TV pilot about Teens growing up in South Central, Aminah was selected by the Academy of TV Arts and Science to be a Directing Intern at the Young & The Restless. Aminah later won the Visionary Award at the Pan African Film Festival for BILALIAN, a feature length documentary about African-American Muslims in America and in Africa, and received glowing reviews in several notable publications including “Variety”. BILALIAN screened nationally in many prestigious places like the Atlanta Black Arts Festival, Dartmouth, and Harvard. The film later was broadcasted on BET’s Network. Aminah has also co-produced a feature length documentary about Bone Thugs and Harmony called FLESH AND BONE IS HOME and has produced and co-edited short docs for Black Lives Matter LA. Presently, Aminah is developing a feature length documentary about the 1992 LA Uprising based on her own experience living through it and is in post-production on her first narrative feature film, MUSLIMAH’S GUIDE TO MARRIAGE, a romantic comedy about a Muslim Woman. As a professor, Aminah has participated in numerous panels at film festivals and universities, presented research on, and been a guest speaker about Black American Cinema, women, and Islam. Her work at California State University focuses on showcasing the achievements of Blacks in Film and TV from both Hollywood, Independent, and across the African Diaspora. Recently, Aminah held public conversations for CSULA’S PAS department with Actor and Chair of SAG AFTRA’s Diversity Advisory Committee Jason George and Writer/Producer/Director Ava DuVernay. Aminah lives in Inglewood with her precocious 13-year-old son actor/filmmaker son.
Alan Cruz
Alan Cruz is a 16-year-old student activist attending Canyon Springs High School in Nevada. Born a 1st generation, latinx, LGBTQ+, low-income student, he was born with a hole in his chest and lives with Marfan Syndrome which restricts him physically. Though he is unable to exercise his body, he decides to exercise his voice empowering young people to become active in advocacy and activism. His youth-led campaign he founded in June of 2016 has previously lobbied for lowering the voting age in Nevada. Now he is working with his team to recruit students to become more active in civic engagement through advocacy training and activism. He is also the Director of Lobbying for the 'National Association of Youth Leaders' which is a national organization that advocates for youth-related issues on a national level. He is also the oldest of 4 children and is the first person to complete middle school, (soon) high school, and eventually college. He hopes to attend Harvard after high school and hold a career in politics and government.
OUR SPEAKERS
Tom Earl
Tom Earl provides strategic planning, executive coaching, training, and consulting for individuals and organizations across education, non-profit and private enterprise. His focus is in leadership development, conflict mediation, team building, expression & creativity, and diversity & inclusion. His process is centered in bringing diverse groups of people together to engage in transformative dialogue and to build meaningful relationships. He provides unique learning experiences that are engaging, experiential, and encourage participants to lead in bold ways. Tom is the Founder and Principal of T.H.E. Celebration Academy - an online learning platform which connects students with their purpose and gifts, while taking their leadership, communication and relationships to the next level. Tom’s prolific music and spoken word career has afforded him the opportunity to perform both nationally and internationally. Through his membership program, Art Makes Impact, Tom provides live workshops and a space for connection and community for artists around the world. He is the founder and host of the monthly online writing workshop: 'Live and Online: Expression Session'. He leads motivational training to thousands of people every week through his weekly podcast and video series, T.H.E. Celebration. Tom has been featured by Buzzfeed, Refinery29, Huffington Post and Now This.
Nurjahan is passionate about amplifying the voices and experiences of young people. Her career in education has focused on how to best support marginalized students in their educational and personal pursuits. Part of that is working to support students who experience trauma, either individually or as a part of larger institutional pressures. Raising her three multi-racial children of color to know both her husband's religion, Christianity and her own religion, Islam, she believes in the radical power of diversity, pluralism, and compassion.
Nurjahan Boulden
Tasneem Farah Noor is the Award-Winning author of "The Faith Connection: Your Journey Starts with Knowing Yourself." As the founder of Noor Enterprises: SOULful Transformations, she is committed to providing transformational experiences, personal development, and opportunities for meaningful dialogue. Her mission is to establish thriving, peaceful communities where conversations of faith build bridges of compassion and collaboration. Through coaching, trainings, and facilitation she helps people learn how to deepen their faith (deep trust), authentically express themselves, and take courageous action. Tasneem received her Masters in Education in Student Affairs from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). For over seven years,Tasneem worked within student affairs on campuses including Santa Monica College, UCLA, and Cal State University, Los Angeles. The Inter-Religious Council of Los Angeles has recognized Tasneem as an emerging faith leader. Tasneem is the Programs Director for NewGround: A Partnership for Muslims and Jews.
Tasneem Noor
Rayesa Gheewala
Rayesa Gheewala is an America Muslim woman, born and raised in NY and Boston. She is a Certified High Performance Coach, Lover of Life, Mother of three, Pharmacist, and nature lover with a sweet tooth. Her purpose in life is to inspire others to live out their purpose by becoming the most authentic, vibrant and highest version of their self. Finding herself in an unexpected divorce after 17 years of marriage was the impetus to her personal journey of self discovery and transformation. Having her identity tied to one person, most of her life to that now of an independent free thinker with fearless confidence motivates her to inspire and transform others to be the same. After 19 years of part time practice as a pharmacist and full time mom, her journey unveiled her life’s work. Initially believing her purpose in life was raising and nurturing kind and compassionate God conscious leaders who contribute to their society making a beneficial impact in our world. Traveling through her journey, Rayesa has been enlightened to discover there is more to her life’s work, her true purpose. Coaching, speaking, training and empowering others to find their purpose and live it everyday by becoming the best version of their self through living a high performance lifestyle.
