From voter registration and mobilization, policy advocacy, and supporting candidates who champion Muslim interests, be part of the national effort to educate and mobilize Muslim American voters with National Activist, Linda Sarsour, who was co-chair of the 2017 Women’s March.
11:30 a.m.** to 12:30 p.m. | Saturday, August 16 | MCC Conference Room | Join us in person or watch virtually at mcceastbay.org/live
**Updated time due to a delay in the speaker’s flight to the Bay Area.
Sponsored by CAIR Action & MCC East Bay.
Questions? events@mcceastbay.org
Linda Sarsour is an author, award-winning racial justice and civil rights activist, seasoned community organizer, 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 self-proclaimed “pure New Yorker, born and raised in Brooklyn!”
She is the former Executive Director of the Arab American Association of New York and co-founder of the first Muslim online organizing platform, MPOWER Change. Linda has been at the forefront of major civil rights campaigns, including calling for an end to unwarranted surveillance of New York’s Muslim communities and ending police policies like stop and frisk. In the 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 was the National Co-Chair of the 2017 Women’s March on Washington, dubbed the largest single-day protest in US history. She served on the executive board of Women’s March, Inc., where she focused on fundraising and direct action planning.
Linda Sarsour
- – Muslim-American political strategist, author, and prominent voice for social justice and human rights.
- – Of Palestinian descent, she was born and raised in New York City.
- – She is a nationally recognized leader in grassroots organizing and advocacy.
- – Author of We Are Not Here to Be Bystanders: A Memoir of Love & Resistance (Simon & Schuster).
- – Executive Director of MPower Change, a digital advocacy organization mobilizing Muslim communities for political and social impact.
- – Known for her powerful voice on issues including racial justice and civil rights.
- – Recipient of multiple awards, including:
- – Daughter of Greatness Award – Muhammad Ali Center
- – Vanguard Award – Malcolm X and Betty Shabazz Center
- – Continues to be a transformative figure, challenging systemic oppression and amplifying marginalized voices
- – Recognized as a leading advocate in the American social justice landscape.
Basim Elkarra
- – Served 20 years as CAIR Sacramento Valley / Central CA (501 C3) Executive Director
- – Built the 2nd largest CAIR office in the nation with 30 full-time staff
- – Established endowment that generates $200,000/year
- – Founded the CAIR CA Muslim Youth Leadership Program
- – 1st Muslim to win political office, serving as the President of the School Board in Sacramento, 2016-present
- – 20+ years of involvement in PACs
- – Founded CAIR CA Action (501 C 4) in 2019
- – CA Democratic Party Executive Board 2009-2021
- – DNC Delegate, 2016
Abraham Aiyash
- – The former Majority Leader of the Michigan House of Representatives.
- – Made history as the first Muslim to hold the position and the highest-ranking Muslim legislator in the United States.
- – In office, he advanced policies to:
– Expand healthcare
– Protect workers
– Strengthen schools
– Author of the most significant climate legislation in the country - – Beyond elected office, he has served as a nonprofit leader dedicated to: Civic engagement & Immigrant rights
- – Youth leadership development
- – His career reflects a lifelong commitment to equity, service, and building stronger and more engaged communities.
