You can march, you can write, you can mass text or even sign a petition. You have the power to be an ally and activist. This session will share tactics for confronting oppressive systems and empowering all of us to fight back on issues negatively impacting immigrants and refugees. During this panel, speakers will broaden and boost community engagement by providing accessible advocacy skills that are easy to implement and yield greater results.
Dr. Debbie Almontaser is an internationally recognized, award-winning educator, speaker and authority on cross cultural understanding. She is an influential community leader and the Founder and CEO of Bridging Cultures Group, Inc. Dr. Almontaser was the founding and former principal of the Khalil Gibran International Academy in Brooklyn, NY. A twenty-five-year veteran of the NYC Public School System, she taught special education, inclusion, trained teachers in literacy and served as a multicultural specialist and diversity advisor. Currently, she is the Board President of the Muslim Community Network (www.mcnny.org). She frequently lectures, serves on panels and facilitates teacher and public workshops on cultural diversity, conflict resolution, Arab Culture, Islam, Muslims in America, interfaith coalition building and youth leadership at schools, universities, libraries, museums, faith-based organizations, churches and synagogues, as well as national and international conferences.
Fatou-Seydi Sarr is a Social Justice Advocate and Human Rights activist, and founder and Executive Director of the African Bureau for Immigration and Social Affairs (ABISA), a non-profit that helps African and Black Immigrants in Michigan and nationwide to know their rights, access resources, become socially invested and civically engaged. Sarr is a Senegalese native, graduate of Wayne State University School of Social Work and a master’s graduate of Marygrove School of Social Justice. Her passion for social equity drives her commitment to advocacy for the intersectionality of religious, racial, immigration, socio-economy and gender issues. A lay leader in the Detroit West African Community, Sarr is a court interpreter. She proudly upholds her heritage and multifaceted identity and teaches weekly African dance classes in the city. In 2018, Sarr conducted a fervent grassroots campaign for a Michigan State House seat. Although a heavily favored incumbent won, she plans to leverage her success in the future by continuing to bring immigration contribution and the need for social inclusion to the forefront. She was a New American Leaders Projects’ fellow in 2017, Detroit Equity Action Lab Fellow in 2019 and Michigan Political Leadership Fellow in 2019. She has received numerous awards such as the Racial Justice Award from DART, Best of Both Worlds: Community Organizer Award, Human Rights Advocate Award Recipient from the UACO, Ally Award Recipient from the Mary Turner Center for Advocacy and Civic Warrior award from EMGAGE Michigan.
Rana Elmir is the deputy director of the ACLU of Michigan and has devoted her career to storytelling, action and activism. As part of the senior management team, she works in conjunction with the ACLU’s legal, legislative and development departments to increase understanding and appreciation of the Bill of Rights. Elmir lectures often on anti-Muslim bias, the importance of storytelling, free speech and the intersection of race, faith, gender and sexual orientation. The Washington Post has published two op-eds written by her: “Stop asking me to condemn terrorists just because I’m Muslim” and “How Muslim women bear the brunt of Islamophobia.” Prior to her role as deputy director, Elmir held the position of Communications Director for the ACLU of Michigan. She is a graduate of Wayne State University’s Journalism School and the Journalism Institute for Minorities.
Isra Daraiseh (Moderator) is the Advocacy and Civic Engagement Coordinator for ACCESS and its National Network for Arab American Communities (NNAAC). She joined ACCESS in 2016 after serving as a Fellow at the Arab American Heritage Council in Flint, MI. Daraiseh works with local and national partners around civic engagement efforts. More specifically, she works with Arab and immigrant communities to increase their access to the democratic system. In 2018, she helped lead ACCESS and NNAAC’s civic engagement efforts to reach over 19,000 people in Michigan, California, and Illinois, through phone banking, door knocking, pledge card collection, and voter registrations. Daraiseh’s work also focuses heavily on holding our systems accountable by ensuring a fair and accessible election day experience for all. In partnership with the ACLU and State Voices, she organizes election protection efforts to ensure our most vulnerable are able to bypass voter suppression at the polls.
Session tags: activism, human services, immigrant and refugee support
Location: Plaza Ballroom B