Media Advisory: 14th Annual Dr. Betty Shabazz Awards Ceremony
Media Advisory: 14th Annual Dr. Betty Shabazz Awards Ceremony
Media Advisory: 14th Annual Dr. Betty Shabazz Awards Ceremony
MEDIA ADVISORY
14th Annual Dr. Betty Shabazz
Awards Ceremony
WOMEN IN ISLAM, INC. to present Dr. Adelaide Sanford,
Educational Visionary, Leading National Advocate for the Education
of Students of African Ancestory with the Fourteenth Annual Dr. Betty
Shabazz Awards.
WHAT
WHEN
CONTACT
Sarah Sayeed
917 414 8453
[email protected]
New York, May 3, 2015 Held in honor of Dr. Betty Shabazz, the wife of Hajj Malik
Shabazz (Malcolm X) this event highlights the contributions of women to social
justice. It upholds Dr. Shabazz to our communities, as a Muslim woman committed
to her family and to helping humanity.
Each year, this ceremony recognizes women from all faith backgrounds who have
continued her legacy and dedicate their lives to uplifting those around them.
Ilyasah Shabazz (daughter of Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz) will present this
years Dr. Betty Shabazz award.
This years event will also recognize two additional dynamic women leaders
who embody a passionate commitment to justice, community, and social
transformation. Compass Awards will be presented to Lucia Gomez
Frontline Advocate for Immigrant and Worker Rights and Linda Sarsour
Racial Justice and Civil Rights Advocate, and a Leading Voice Countering
Islamophobia.
Highlights of the ceremony include special live art performances by visual artist
and architect Nadia J, and Sudanese born singer, songwriter and ethnomusicologist
Alsarah. Our Master of Ceremonies will be Cheryl Wills, acclaimed anchorwoman of
New York One News.
Women In Islam, Inc, is an organization of professional and social activist Muslim
women who are dedicated to the empowerment of women through knowledge
and practice of Islam. Our mission is to advance the spiritual and intellectual
development of women to empower them as dynamic participants in civil society
and as advocates for human rights and social justice.
For additional information, visit our website: www.womeninislam.org
Linda Sarsour
Nadia J Art
Visual Artist
Alsarah
Cheryl Wills
Women In Islam, Inc. 2014-2015 programs are in part funded by Council Member Inez Dickens,
the 9th Council District, Council Member Mark Levine, the 7th District, and the New York City
Council. The 14th Annual Dr. Betty Shabazz Awards Ceremony is also held in partnership
with the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture.
Lucia Gomez
Lucia Gomez is the Executive Director of La Fuente, a Tri-State Worker and
Community Fund that empowers immigrants and their communities to take action
through grassroots organizing, leadership development and civic engagement.
She has overseen the enhancement of the membership program at La Fuente, as
well as the Leadership Development Institute. Additionally, La Fuente has become
a vanguard actor in coordinating actions around economic justice, educational
justice, access to services, immigration reform and civic engagement under her
direction. La Fuente has been a dedicated participant in the Coalition for Eid
Holidays.
Ms. Gmez has a history of thorough and impassioned involvement in community
issues. Ms. Gomez has served on the transition team and, later, as Community
Affairs advisor for New York State Senator Gustavo Rivera. Her time as the Assistant
for Community Affairs to Governor David A. Paterson saw her spearhead Latino and
Immigrant relations for the administration.
Ms. Gomez spent time as the Director of the New Jersey Regional Office of
the Cuban American National Council (CNC). She served as the Administrator
of Elections for the City of Providence, Rhode Island and worked as the Civic
Participation Program Director for Latino Justice PRLDEF and the National Institute
for Latino Policy, overseeing programs in eight states, Puerto Rico and the US Virgin
Islands in political redistricting and mobilizing Latino communities for the 2000
Census.
Ms. Gomez is a graduate of the 2011 class of the Coro Immigrant Civic Leadership
Program and a Policy Fellow for the National Institute for Latino Policy (NILP).
Linda Sarsour
Linda Sarsour is a working woman, racial justice and civil rights activist, every
Islamophobes worst nightmare, and mother of three. Ambitious, outspoken and
independent, Linda shatters stereotypes of Muslim women while also treasuring
her religious and ethnic heritage. She is a Palestinian Muslim American and a selfproclaimed pure New Yorker, born and raised in Brooklyn! She is the Executive
Director of the Arab American Association of New York and Senior Strategist for
Take on Hate, a recently launched campaign which aims to change perceptions
of Arab and Muslim Americans including refugees. In 2013, Linda co-founded
the Muslim Democratic Club of New York, the first of its kind in NYC. In wake of
the police murder of Mike Brown, she co-founded Muslims for Ferguson to build
solidarity amongst American Muslim communities and encourage work against
police brutality. She is a member of the Justice League NYC, a leading NYC force of
activists, formerly incarcerated individuals, and artists working to reform the New
York Police Department and the criminal justice system.
Linda has received numerous awards and honors including Champion of Change
by the White House, the New York City Councils Shirley Chisholm Women of
Distinction Award and received the inaugural American Muslim of the Year honor
from the Council on Americans Islamic Relations. She has written for and has been
featured in local, national, and international media discussing impact of domestic
policies that target Arab and Muslim American communities, criminal justice issues
and Middle East affairs.