speaker
Shakila T Ahmad is an enthusiastic community leader who has dedicated herself to numerous civic and community causes, building peace and understanding for 25 years. She most recently served 5 years as Chair and President of the Board at the Islamic Center of Greater Cincinnati (ICGC), being the first woman to serve in this capacity at such an institution across the country. She simultaneously has had a professional career and serves as the director of management at the Allergy & Asthma Specialty Center.
An active member of ICGC’s board of trustees since 1995, Ahmad was the first female and the youngest to serve at that time. She established ICGC’s Tours and Talks program to educate neighbors, law enforcement personnel, businesses, nonprofit organizations, educational institutions, the community and its leaders about Islam and Muslims. This education and outreach initiative has reached over 100,000 people in all its forms. She spearheaded the ‘A Visit to a Mosque in America’ educational DVD produced to increase understanding of Islam and the Muslim community in the United States. This award winning short film has aired internationally and continues to be used in academia, business, faith communities and law enforcement today as an educational resource.
Ahmad is founding chair of ICGC’s Muslim Mothers Against Violence initiative. Along with other members, she brings people of all faiths together to explore peaceful and constructive means of conflict resolution. She and other members have led many sessions, created and distributed educational materials on bullying prevention, including a Bullying Prevention Guide that she helped to co-author. The guide available to educators and community organizations through www.ing.org.
She is a dedicated supporter of interfaith and outreach efforts, and has served as board chair of BRIDGES for a Just Community (old NCCJ) and subsequent human relations work under BRIDGES of Faith Trialogue. Though her groundbreaking work began pre 9/11, she stepped up these efforts through law enforcement cultural competency and being instrumental in working to set up an FBI MultiCultural Advisory Task Force to better serve needs of minority communities in their relationship with the FBI.
She was recognized at the national level with the FBI Community Leadership award in DC by then FBI director Robert Mueller. She has continued this peace and understanding building work in the face of many challenging environments. She currently serves on the Muslim Jewish Advisory Council (MJAC) composed of national leaders focusing on strengthening hate crimes legislation and celebrating the contribution of Jewish and Muslim Americans while building understanding.