Storytelling & Public Speaking Stories
Rana Abdelhamid
"When I was bullied for being Muslim, I always felt like I had an army of unapologetic North African aunties who had my back... What started as a self-defense course in a basement of a community center, is now an international grassroots organization focused on building safety and power for women around the world."
Background:
Born in Queens, Rana became a civic leader as a teenager–after being attacked on the street by a man who tried to take off her hijab (headscarf). She channeled that event into a life of activism and empowerment.
Superpowers:
Activist, Political Candidate, Nonprofit Leader
Notable Accomplishments:
- As part of her healing process she founded and became Executive Director of the international nonprofit organization Malikah (formerly the Women’s Initiative for Self-Empowerment) – a global collective of women committed to building security and power for communities
- Created a Self-Defense Starter Kit, which includes resources and videos for Muslim women
- Founder of the social media project “Hijabis of New York”
- Ran for the U.S. Congress in New York’s 12th district
Lydia Darly
“I’ve been a New Yorker since 2004, but got the right to vote in 2022 when I became a U.S. Citizen. Voting was important to me as the next step in my civic journey, and allowed me to choose candidates who represented my views and policies I believe in. At last, MY voice was being heard. I feel like I am paving the way for my fellow immigrants.”
Background:
Born in France (of Guadeloupean descent), and a current Brooklynite, Lydia is an actor and award-winning filmmaker who has spent her life raising the stories of people from marginalized communities and supporting women in film. Lydia proudly became a U.S. citizen in 2022.
Superpowers:
Storyteller, Activist, Nonprofit Leader, Immigrant
Notable Accomplishments:
- In 2022, proudly voted for the first time in New York and national elections
- Co-founder of the Nova Frontier Film Festival which showcases films from and about the global African diaspora, Middle East and Latin America
- Creator of the Lab which mentors youth and emerging filmmakers from underrepresented communities
Karine Jean-Pierre
“When it comes to our democracy, and who we determine to have the right to vote – our most sacred of rights – patience is no virtue. We must never be patient when someone else's rights are in the balance. We cannot wait on laws, or elected officials, or anyone else. The only virtue when it comes to the right to vote is impatience.”
Background:
Born in Martinique and raised in Queens, Karine is the daughter of Haitian immigrants. She was inspired when she heard a speech by Congresswoman Barbara Jordan – the first Black woman in politics she had ever witnessed. From there Karine pursued a life in public service.
Superpowers:
Public Service, Advocacy, Public Speaking, Leadership, Teaching
Notable Accomplishments:
- First Black person and openly Lesbian woman to serve as the White House Press Secretary
- Political Director for Barack Obama’s presidential campaign
- Author of her memoir, Moving Forward
- Professor of Public Affairs at Columbia University (her Alma Mater)
Spirit Tawfiq
“I think coming to New York made me realize that I still need to be doing this work– I need to be doing social justice work, I need to be doing education work, and I need to carry this torch that my mother is handing to me.”
Background:
Born and raised in Canada, current New York City resident Spirit Tawfiq is the daughter of Civil Rights trailblazer Minnijean Brown-Trickey. Like her mother, she is committed to help uproot racism and spent the last two decades educating and speaking out against racism in various ways, most notably with educators, in k-12 classrooms, colleges and various organizations who are invested in learning, unlearning, and enacting antiracism policies and practices within their respective communities.
Superpowers:
Storytelling, Social Justice Activism, Public Speaking, Teaching, Effective Communication
Notable Accomplishments:
- Founder of Roots of the Spirit, an organization and podcast created to uproot racism through storytelling, education and the arts
- Has worked in public service for the National Park Service, Smithsonian Institution and WomensActivism.NYC
- Wrote the play, 1/9th, based on her mother’s experiences as a member of the Little Rock Nine
