Dr. Omar Reda is a board-certified psychiatrist, a Harvard trained trauma expert, an author of 8 books, and the founder of Healing Trauma Institute.
Amal Kassir is Syrian American poet, writing teacher, author, TEDx speaker, entrepreneur, and most recently, a mother. Born and raised in Denver Colorado to a Syrian father and an American mother. She has performed & taught in 13 countries and cities all over the world, including the United Nations in Geneva.With her background in community programming and social psychology she helped pioneer the Mental Wellness Program for MYPI in Denver, CO. She is also the founder of House of Amal, a global writing community that sits at the intersection of spirituality, craft and literature.Her first book, Scud Missile Blues, came out 2024 with 100% of proceeds to Syrian children afflicted by war. She lives on a farm in North Carolina with her husband and baby daughter, raising a garden and animals.
Dr. Rania Awaad M.D., is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine where she is the Director of the Stanford Muslim Mental Health & Islamic Psychology Lab as well as Stanford University's Affiliate Chaplain and Affiliate Professor of Islamic Studies. In the community, she serves as the President and Co-Founder of Maristan.org, a holistic mental health nonprofit serving Muslim communities, and the Director of The Rahmah Foundation, a non-profit organization dedicated to educating Muslim women and girls. In addition, she is faculty of Islamic Psychology at Cambridge Muslim College and The Islamic Seminary of America. She is also a Senior Fellow for Yaqeen Institute and the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding. Prior to studying medicine, she pursued classical Islamic studies in Damascus, Syria, and holds certifications (ijaza) in the Qur’an, Islamic Law, and other branches of the Islamic Sciences. Follow her @Dr.RaniaAwaaid
Ibtihaj Muhammad is an entrepreneur, activist, speaker, and Olympic medalist in fencing. A 2016 Olympic bronze medalist, 5x Senior World medalist and world champion, in 2016, Ibtihaj became the first American woman to compete in the Olympics in hijab. Ibtihaj was a 3x All-American at Duke University where she graduated with a dual major in International Relations and African Studies. In 2014, Ibtihaj launched her own clothing company, Louella, which aims to bring modest, fashionable and affordable clothing to the United States market. In 2017, Mattel announced their first hijabi Barbie, modeled in Ibtihaj’s likeness, as part of Barbie’s “Shero” line of dolls. The Barbie became available for purchase in July 2018. Ibtihaj released her debut memoir in July 2018, PROUD: My Fight for an Unlikely American Dream. Her first children’s picture book, The Proudest Blue: A Story of Hijab & Family, became a New York Times bestseller. Ibtihaj’s second children’s picture book, The Kindest Red: A Story of Hijab and Friendship, was released in January 2023. The third installment of Ibtihaj’s picture book series, The Boldest White, was released in September 2024.
Ibtihaj is a sports ambassador with the U.S. Department of State’s Empowering Women and Girls through Sport Initiative and works closely with organizations like Athletes for Impact and the Special Olympics. Named to Time magazine’s 100 Most Influential list, Ibtihaj is an important figure in a larger global discussion on equality and the importance of sport. Her voice continues to unite both the sports and non-sports world.
Shaykh Abdullah Waheed was born and raised in the suburbs of Detroit, MI. He commenced his studies at the age of ten in Toronto, Canada, where he went to memorize the Quran. He completed the memorization of the Holy Quran by the tender age of thirteen and then went on to study in the seven-year extensive Shariah program in Toronto, Canada. Shaykh Abdullah specialized in the Tafseer of the Quran. Shaykh Abdullah spent years studying the details and beauty of our Holy book since understanding and mastering the language of the Holy Quran was always the primary goal. Shaykh Abdullah is a co-founder and instructor at Miftaah Institute and is also the Director of Islamic Affairs at Flint Islamic Center.
Imam ShemsAdeen Ben-Masaud was born and raised in Denver, Colorado and graduated from the CU Business School earning a bachelors degree in Information Systems and International Business. He worked in corporate America for the greater part of a decade while remaining highly engaged in the Muslim community as a youth director, MSA president, volunteer, activist and speaker.
In 2010 he traveled overseas to pursue formal Islamic studies at Qasid Arabic Institute and World Islamic Sciences and Education University in Amman, Jordan, where he earned a bachelor's degree in the faculty of Islamic Jurisprudence and its Foundations.
Imam ShemsAdeen served as Imam and Religious Director at The Metropolitan Denver North Islamic Center (Masjid Ikhlas) in Northglenn Colorado from 2015-2019 and currently serves as Director of Student Affairs & Community Engagement at Crescent View Academy as well as the Director of Tarbiyah and Personal Development at MAS Colorado.
Imam ShemsAdeen remains highly engaged in interfaith, outreach, and bridge building efforts between the Muslim community and other faith traditions, public officials and community law enforcement. He speaks regularly at Churches, Universities and other public forums.
January 2016 - Attended final State of the Union address of President Barack Obama as the honored guest of Representative Diana Degette. Among fifteen Muslim leaders nationally to attend with local representatives.
June 2017 - Presented with 2017 Islamic Relief "Community Leader Award", in recognition of his commitment to positive change, and contribution the local, national and international community.
