Ameena  Matthews is one of the only women interrupters and the daughter of Jeff Fort, one of the most notorious and powerful gang leaders in the history of Chicago and US crime. She worked for a big drug dealing operation in Chicago and as an enforcer. Now she’s a devout Muslim and a mother and wife.

http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2011/aug/06/interrupters-chicago-anti-gang-violence

http://www.columbiatribune.com/news/2011/mar/10/truefalse-continues-to-feel-like-first-time/

http://www.vice.com/read/steve-james-violence-interrupters-film-interview

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/02/02/ameena-matthews-the-interrupters_n_1250150.html

http://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/chi-20111222-chicagoans-of-the-year-pictures-004,0,6520290.photo

http://kartemquin.com/

http://ceasefirechicago.org/

MUSA SYEED is an independent filmmaker and writer. His first narrative feature, VALLEY OF SAINTS, will premiere at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival. The film was shot on location in Kashmir during the military curfew of Fall 2010, with Nicholas Bruckman as producer. As writer/director, Syeed received the Alfred P. Sloan Feature Film Production Award for his screenplay, a New York Foundation for the Arts fellowship, and a National Geographic All Roads grant. In anticipation of the film, he was named one of the “10 to Watch in 2010” by the Independent Magazine. The film also participated in BAVC’s Producers Institute for New Media Technologies, where Syeed developed a new media engagement project for the film.

He recently completed production on 30 MOSQUES, a feature documentary following two young American Muslims journeying to 30 mosques in 30 day across America. As part of the project, he developed an interactive storytelling platform at ITVS/Mozilla’s Living Docs Hackathon.

His other recent film BRONX PRINCESS, which follows a New York teenager reuniting with her royal father in Africa, was in competition at the International Documentary Festival Amsterdam and the Berlin International Film Festival, and the film won Best Documentary Short at the Big Sky Documentary Film Festival. The film, co-directed with Yoni Brook, was broadcast nationally on PBS’ POV September 2009.

Syeed’s previous film A SON’S SACRIFICE, about a father and son who run a halal slaughterhouse in New York, won Best Documentary Short from the Tribeca Film Festival and the International Documentary Association Awards in 2007. The film, also co-produced with Yoni Brook, had its national broadcast in January 2008 on PBS’ Independent Lens.

He was also a co-director on THE CALLING, a documentary miniseries following young people training to become religious leaders in America. The program was broadcast on PBS’ Independent Lens in December 2010. He is also a contributor to TIME’s online video reports. Co-producing with Bassam Tariq, he covered stories on Muslim theater and controversial politicians in New York.

As a writer, Syeed also produced original theatrical work for the Children’s Museum of Manhattan. He has also worked as an educator in schools, community centers, and prisons. He was an adjunct professor of documentary production at Williams College.

Syeed was a Fulbright Fellow in Cairo, Egypt, where he focused on experimental filmmaking. He is an alumnus of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts and the Middle Eastern & Islamic Studies Department.

http://www.indiewire.com/article/meet-the-2012-sundance-filmmakers-33-musa-syeed-valley-of-saints

http://musasyeed.com/

http://dearcinema.com/interview/being-able-to-take-creative-risks-is-the-most-satisfying-part-of-filmmaking-musa-syeed-director-of-valley-of-saints/4040

http://www.valleyofsaints.com/

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/rahilla-zafar/valley-of-saints_b_1225692.html

Reema Ahmad is the executive director of Project Mobilize, a nonprofit dedicated to increasing civic participation and representation from politically marginalized communities. In its first year, Project M recruited, trained, and ran seven Muslim American candidates for local offices.

A firm believer in the civic responsibilities inherent to a full realization of patriotism and identity, Ahmad has been a long time advocate of political engagement throughout her local community. She has worked with numerous groups in the Milwaukee area, including Peace Action Wisconsin, the American Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee, and the Interfaith Conference of Greater Milwaukee. She also interned with Congresswoman Gwen Moore. As the government affairs coordinator with CAIR-Chicago, she bridged the gap between elected officials and their Muslim American constituents as well as worked in coalition with community organizations on mutually beneficial policies. She also serves on the board of directors of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee.

Ahmad majored in economics and international affairs at Marquette University. At Marquette, Ahmad held executive board positions in multiple student groups and received the Outstanding Contribution to Celebration & Promotion of Diversity award. As a McNair Research Scholar, she presented her research on the impact of international intervention in development work as well as the economics of religion at the National Conference on Undergraduate Research for two consecutive years.

http://www.projectmobilize.org

Nazem Kadri (born October 6, 1990) is a Canadian professional ice hockey player currently playing for the Toronto Maple Leafs after being called up from the Toronto Marlies of the American Hockey League. He has also played with the Kitchener Rangers. He was drafted by theToronto Maple Leafs seventh overall in the 2009 NHL Entry Draft. He won the J. Ross Robertson Cup with the Rangers, and played in the 2008 Memorial Cup, losing in the final to the Spokane Chiefs. On February 8, 2010, he became the fourth player of Lebanese descent to play in the NHL, after John Hanna, Alain Nasreddine and Ed Hatoum. Kadri represented Canada at the 2010 World Junior Championships, where the team won the silver medal.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nazem_Kadri
http://www.thestar.com/sports/hockey/nhl/mapleleafs/article/866646–leafs-nazem-kadri-under-pressure-to-perform-and-build-bridges
http://www.markhammasjid.ca/programs/past-events/59-past-events/187-nazem-kadri-of-the-toronto-maple-leafs-at-islamic-society-of-markham

http://www.thehockeynews.com/articles/34455-VIDEO-Nazem-Kadri-inspiring-a-new-generation-of-Maple-Leaf-fans.html

Kulsoom Abdullah is an Pakistani-American computer engineer, who has been Olympic Weightlifting for three years and Crossfitting for two years. Kulsoom started competing in Olympic Weightlifting competitions in March 2010 and obtained the Crossfit Level I certification the same year.

She completed a undergraduate degree in Computer Engineering at the University of Central Florida in Orlando.  Kulsoom then finished her PhD in Electrical/Computer Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology in Atlanta.  Kulsoom launched this website {http://www.liftingcovered.com/} to document her experiences weightlifting in her effort to compete at U.S. national competitions.  She has attended her first national competition in Iowa in July 2011.

At present, Kulsoom is conducting post-doctoral research at her alma mater, Georgia Tech. More information about her research can be found at the following website: http://kulsoom.net/.

http://www.liftingcovered.com/

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2002307/Muslim-weightlifter-Kulsoom-Abdullah-fights-rules-wont-let-compete-hijab.html

http://journal.crossfit.com/2011/12/kulsoomabdullahstory.tpl

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2002307/Muslim-weightlifter-Kulsoom-Abdullah-fights-rules-wont-let-compete-hijab.html

http://abcnews.go.com/US/video/weightlifter-fights-to-wear-muslim-garb-13828196

http://abcnews.go.com/US/athletic-hijabs-female-muslim-athletes/story?id=13829421#.Tws3kHrN2So

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/43527580/ns/world_news-americas/t/muslim-weightlifter-fights-compete-hijabi-style/#.Tws3cHrN2So

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/30/rules-changed-to-accommod_n_887812.html

Under the umbrella and financial support of Sound Vision Foundation, RadioIslam.com launched its first show December 14, 1999 with the goal of providing cyberspace a high quality, informative and creative Internet radio broadcast. Many have followed the lead of RadioIslam.com, but we remain the original Muslim broadcast to offer more than Quran and khutbas, but also daily programs, nasheed programs, stories, interviews and more.

http://www.radioislam.com/

http://www.chicagoreporter.com/news/2007/10/different-take

Radio Islam Documentary 2011

My Fellow American is an online film and social media project that calls upon concerned Americans to pledge and spread a message that Muslims are our fellow Americans. It asks people of other backgrounds to pledge, and share a real life story about a Muslim friend, neighbor, or colleague that they admire. Using the power of social media, My Fellow American seeks to change the narrative – from Muslims as the other, to Muslims as our fellow Americans.

http://myfellowamerican.us/

From the depths of Canada’s music scene comes a brand new sound the industry has been craving to hear. In less than a year since releasing their first full length album Francis and Ku aka The Sound of Reason are quickly building up a worldwide movement with their harsh and opinionated brand of fusion music. From working with top international artists to being featured as MTV’s artist of the month The Sound of Reason are independently gaining the attention of fans across the world with one goal in mind… change the direction of the mainstream.

https://twitter.com/soundofreason

https://www.facebook.com/thesoundofreason

Ummuka primary objective is to empower Muslim moms using Islamic principles and practical solutions to become the mom they want to be!
UMMUKA aims to provide practical solutions, by making parenting fun.  Reaching out to moms through an on-line community creating a forum where moms share their experiences and be a source of inspiration for each other.

http://ummuka.com/

Tooba University is committed to the ideals embodied in the Qur’an and the authentic tradition of the Prophet Muhammad (may Allah’s Peace and Blessings be upon him) and prepares students for a life of learning, upright Islamic values and social leadership.

http://toobauniversity.org/