Tanzila "Taz" Ahmed is an activist, storyteller, and politico based in Los Angeles. She currently is a Campaign Strategist at the Asian American new media organizing group 18MillionRising.org. Taz was honored in 2016 as White House Champion of Change for AAPI Art and Storytelling.
Dr.
Rooj Alwazir is a Yemeni American independent filmmaker and photographer based in New York and the co-founder of SupportYemen Media Co-op, where she and her friends have directed and produced over 10 social-issue based films.
Urooj Arshad currently serves as the Director of International Youth Health and Rights Programs at Advocates for Youth, where she helps build the capacity of youth-driven organizations in the global south and east. She also manages a project focused on building the capacity of organizations working in the U.S with Muslim youth around sexual education, reproductive health, and rights. Ms.
Donna Auston is an anthropologist, writer, and activist whose body of work focuses on race, ethnicity, gender, religion, media representation, and Islam in America. Her dissertation is an ethnographic exploration of Black Muslim activism and spiritual protest in the Black Lives Matter era.
Marya is the Founder and CEO of SILA Consulting, a social impact firm that brings together entertainment, philanthropy, and social movements to drive social change. Her work includes engaging with Hollywood studios, influencers, and culture-makers to center the voices of vulnerable communities, including Muslim, Arab, and South Asian communities.
Maha Elgenaidi is the founder of Islamic Networks Group (ING), a non-profit organization with affiliates around the country that are pursuing peace and countering all forms of bigotry through education and interfaith engagement while working within the framework of the First Amendment’s protection of religious freedom and pluralism.
Aizzah Fatima is a New York City based writer and actor.
Malik Gillani is Founding Executive Director of Silk Road Rising, a theatre company located in downtown Chicago dedicated to presenting plays written by individuals of Asian and Middle Eastern descent. He brings extensive experience in producing, management, and business development to the position.
Umar A. Hakim serves as Executive Director of the Intellect Love Mercy Foundation, which seeks to empower underprivileged youth and adults through life skills education. After a 13 year career in telecommunications, Mr. Hakim became an urban social entrepreneur in order to prioritize his commitment to social and community service.