Loading ...2025 Muslim Women's Leadership Conference
Date/Time
Date(s) - 02/15/2025
8:30 pm
Location
Hilton Minneapolis/ St Paul Airport
Categories
Cost:
$35-$65 USD
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Email:
Website:
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/2025-muslim-womens-leadership-conference-tickets-1082356099229?aff=ebdssbdestsearch
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Organization:
Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment
The Sisterhood proudly presents the 2025 Muslim Women’s Leadership Conference: “Roots to RISE”
Keynote Speaker:
Dr. Su’ad Abdul Khabeer: Su’ad Abdul Khabeer is a scholar-artist-activist originally from Brooklyn, NY. She is curator of Umi’s Archive, a multimedia project documenting Black and Muslim histories and co-founder of Sapelo Square, a digital media and education collective on Black Muslims in the US. Trained as an anthropologist, Su’ad’s first book, Muslim Cool: Race, Religion and Hip Hop in the United States, is field-defining study on Islam and hip hop that examines how intersecting ideas of Muslimness and Blackness challenge and reproduce the meanings of race in the United States. Su’ad’s written scholarly work is accompanied by her performance-based work including her one woman solo show, Sampled: Beats of Muslim Life. She has written broadly for outlets including: The Root, the Washington Post, Vice and Ebony Magazine, and has appeared on Al Jazeera English. Su’ad is an associate professor of American Culture and Arab and Muslim American Studies at the University of Michigan.
Workshops:
Angelica Lindsey – Ali: Aka The Village Auntie™ is a certified sexual health educator, researcher, storyteller, author, and recognized authority in intimacy cultivation and emotional well-being. She teaches from both an African and Islamic perspective. With over 20 years of experience in public and behavioral, Lindsey-Ali draws upon her clinical, cultural and religious training to educate women about spirituality and intimacy from an Islamic lens. She is the founder of The Village Auntie Institute, a global learning community with women representing 86 different countries.
Sagirah Shahid: is a pushcart prize nominated Black Muslim poet and performance artist from Minneapolis, MN. She was a 2020 TedX Minneapolis speaker and she is an alumnae of the African American Leadership Forum’s Josie R. Johnson Leadership Academy. Sagirah’s poetry and prose are published widely and she has received a handful of awards and fellowships for her writing including from the Loft Literary Center, the Minnesota Center for Book Arts, Strive Publishing, Twin Cities Media Alliance, Muslim Advocates and the Shangri La Museum of Islamic Art, Culture & Design. Sagirah’s children’s activity book ‘Get Involved With a Book Club’ was published by Capstone press in 2022. In 2024 Sagirah was a finalist for the Sexton poetry prize and she is currently a poetry editor with Overtly Lit, an international online literary journal. In addition to her artistic career, Sagirah has a professional background in grant-making and nonprofit fundraising.
Johara Suleiman: is a psychotherapist and PhD candidate at the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities. Her dissertation research examines child welfare system policy and practice as a site of racialization, and, using an oral history methodology, investigates its impacts on Muslim, African, immigrant mothers. While working on her dissertation, Johara continues to work with clients through her private practice, and teaches MSW students as an adjunct professor.
After receiving her MSW from Salem State University in 2016, Johara worked as an intensive in-home family therapist until 2020 when she opened her private practice. During her time as an in-home family therapist, she worked primarily toward family preservation and healing, and noticed her work often resisting macro-level dangers and barriers to wellness. The lessons she learned, relationships she built, and work she did alongside those families are what motivated her to pursue her PhD. She hopes that, through her research, she can provide wider-scale support to the families and individuals she’s met and learned from as a clinician. Biography for Sister Alana
Alana Ramadan: Affectionately known as “Sister Alana” in the Muslim community and “Mrs. Ramadan” in the beloved African American community, was born and raised in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She graduated with honors from Minneapolis Public Schools and went on to earn a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Metropolitan State University.
At the age of 14, Alana joined the Nation of Islam, and under the leadership of Imam W.D. Mohammed, she transitioned to Al-Islam in 1975. She remained a devoted student of Imam Mohammed for 33 years, until his passing in 2008.
Sister Alana has been an active member of the Muslim community for nearly 50 years. She has served on various boards, taught adult and children’s Islamic Studies classes, facilitated halaqahs, and supported her husband, Abdul-Karim Bilal, in his media dawah efforts by appearing as a guest on his cable television program. She is also a founding member of Masjid An-Nur. A passionate student of the Quran, she credits her deep love for its study to the inspirational leadership of Imam Mohammed, who once encouraged his students to “Fall in love with the Quran.”
In addition to her religious and community work, Mrs. Ramadan had a distinguished career in education for nearly 40 years. She had the privilege of working alongside Dr. Ella Mahmoud, teaching preschool at Seed Academy, and later with Mr. Eric Mahmoud at Harvest Preparatory School, one of the first African American-run charter schools in Minnesota. She taught kindergarten and specialized in training others to teach Direct Instruction reading. Mrs. Ramadan retired from Harvest Best Academy in 2023 after nearly 30 years of dedicated service.
A lifelong learner, Sister Alana embraces the philosophy: “Those who can, do. Those who can do more, teach.”
Arlene N. El-Amin: A resident of Minneapolis, MN since l976, was born and raised in Chicago, IL. Her journey to Islam began in 1958, when she became a student at the Nation of Islam’s parochial school -Muhammad University of Islam in Chicago, IL After graduation, Arlene worked for the Nation of Islam from 1963 until relocating to Minneapolis in 1976. In 1975, with the passing of the Hon. Elijah Muhammad, she transitioned from the Nation of Islam theology to the practice of Al-Islam, as practiced by over a billion Muslims worldwide. After moving to Minneapolis, she continued her service to the Muslim community. In 1996, she was director of the Muslim component of Congregations in Community, a volunteer initiative of the McKnight Foundation. Along with three Christian and one Jewish organizations,10,000 persons volunteered in some capacity to service those impacted by government devolution program.This began her community outreach pursuits – to this day. In 2009 she became a director of Al-Maa’uun(The Neighborly Needs) Community outreach program. The theme of Al-Maa’uun is to provide services WITH DIGNITY for those in need of food services (food shelf/ groceries), hot meals, work readiness, housing. Arlene is the mother of five children, 22 grandchildren and 16 great-grandchildren.
Entrepreneurial panel:
Rammy Mohamed: is an award-winning fashion designer and the visionary behind Ramadhan Designs, a celebrated brand in St. Paul, Minnesota. Known for blending art and architecture with modern elegance, she creates custom and ready-to-wear pieces, from office attire to wedding gowns. Renowned for her innovative designs, including hygienic hijabs, Rammy expands options for modest fashion with style and functionality. Her work earned “Wedding Dress of the Year” from MN Bridal Magazine in 2022 and a feature in InStyle Greece in 2023. Hailed as “The One to Watch” by MSP Magazine, Rammy continues to redefine fashion.
Nasrieen Habib: is a humanitarian entrepreneur and community leader dedicated to sustainability, cultural heritage, and inclusivity. As the founder of EcoJariyah and Amanah Recreational Project, she blends Islamic principles with environmental action, promoting eco-conscious lifestyles. Her initiatives, like Hiking Hijabi and Hiking Ummah, highlight ethical goods while supporting global causes such as well-building and orphan sponsorship. With over 750 members, Hiking Hijabi offers Muslim women and families inclusive outdoor experiences, from hiking to camping. Rooted in her African heritage and faith, Narieen advocates for sustainable development, organizes zero-waste events, and inspires mindful living through her Eco Sunnah Lifestyle.
Entertainment:
Zainab Johnson: is a stand-up comedian, actress, and writer whose unique perspective stems from growing up in Harlem as one of 13 siblings in a Black Muslim family. After earning a degree in Education and Math, she discovered her true passion in comedy. Zainab is a series regular on Amazon’s hit series *UPLOAD*, co-host of Netflix’s *100 HUMANS*, and starred in the web series *AVANT-GUARDIANS*. She’s appeared on *Late Night with Seth Meyers*, HBO’s *All Def Comedy*, and NBC’s *Last Comic Standing*. A regular at top comedy clubs in LA and NYC, her first hour-long special, *Hijabs Off*, is now streaming on Amazon.
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