Soumaya Khalifa is the founder and executive director of the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta. [1] She is an American Muslim of Egyptian origin, with a career in Human Resources and a consulting practice specializing in intercultural communications, leadership development and corporate diversity. [2]
Soumaya Khalifa was born in Alexandria, Egypt and moved to Houston, Texas at the age of 9. She holds an undergraduate degree in chemistry from the University of Houston and after moving to Atlanta, Georgia in 1988, received an MBA in human resources from Georgia State University.
In August 2001, Khalifa invited a group of Atlantans to launch the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta (ISB) to be a resource for faith and civic cooperation, to promote understanding and inclusion, and to fight bigotry through education and collaboration. A week after the ISB's first training, 9/11 happened, proving without a doubt the importance and potential impact of their mission. When some preconceptions about Muslims became more entrenched, the ISB sent trained speakers churches, police agencies, and schools. Since then, ISB has been providing opportunities for people to learn about Islam and Muslims in an objective and educational manner through dialogue, outreach programs, presentations, and panels. [3]
As ISB's executive director, Khalifa brings together American Muslim communities to develop active partnerships with a wide range of civic and faith-based groups, bringing Muslim voices to places where they have not been before. The ISB opens a window into Islam and into the lives of Muslim neighbors and colleagues, a window that showcases the diversity in Islam, the richness of the Muslim communities, and how they contribute to society every day. [4] By telling true and positive stories about Islam and Muslims, the ISB shares a powerful narrative that counters negative stereotypes so often associated with Muslims.
In addition to her work with the ISB, Khalifa is president of her intercultural consulting firm Khalifa Consulting. The firm provides Fortune 100 companies, [5] non-profits organizations, and governmental institutions with wide-ranging expertise and practical solutions to cross-cultural operations in the Arab world and the US. Collaborating with a team of top-level Diversity and Inclusion experts, [6] Khalifa offers training and coaching services including: Understanding the Diversity and Cultures of Arab Americans, Intercultural Communication, Managing a Cross Cultural Team, Cultural Competency for Law Enforcement, and Keys to Success as a Woman Executive in the Arab World. [7]
Since 2009, Khalifa has been an adjunct faculty member at Emory University's Center for Continuing Education where she offers courses on intercultural communication and Human Resources Certification. From 2013 to 2015, Khalifa taught at the Federal Executive Institute (FEI) as adjunct faculty. [8]
Working as a Human Resources professional at Georgia-Pacific corporate headquarters from 1993 – 2006, Khalifa built a reputation as a leader in corporate diversity strategies and leadership development. She led the development and implementation of company-wide Women and Minority Leadership Development Forums, identified resources for bilingual training, facilitated supplier diversity programs and designed company's Mentoring Circle program. [9]
Khalifa serves on the Atlanta Jewish Film Festival's Community Engagement Committee [10] and is the Founder and executive director of the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta. [11]
Khalifa serves on the Georgia Interfaith Public Policy Center [12] Board.
Interfaith dialogue refers to cooperative, constructive, and positive interaction between people of different religious traditions and/or spiritual or humanistic beliefs, at both the individual and institutional levels.
Prince El Hassan bin Talal is a member of the Jordanian royal family who was previously Crown Prince from 1965 to 1999, being removed just three weeks before King Hussein's death. He is now 20th in line to succeed his nephew King Abdullah II.
The United Nations Alliance of Civilizations (UNAOC) is an initiative that attempts to "galvanize international action against extremism" through the forging of international, intercultural and interreligious dialogue and cooperation. The Alliance places a particular emphasis on defusing tensions between the Western and Islamic worlds.
Dar Al-Hijrah Islamic Center is a mosque in Northern Virginia. It is located in the Seven Corners area of unincorporated Fairfax County, Virginia, in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
The Islamic Society of Britain (ISB) was set up in 1990 for British Muslims to promote Islamic values. Its youth wing is The Young Muslims UK (YMUK).
Karen Rochelle Mock, is a human rights consultant, well known as a dynamic lecturer, workshop coordinator and facilitator. She was Executive Director and CEO of the Canadian Race Relations Foundation from 2001 to 2005 and prior to that was National Director of the League for Human Rights of B'nai Brith Canada for twelve years, as well as executive director of the League’s Human Rights Education and Training Centre, after several years as a teacher educator.
Hossam AlJabri is an activist, preacher and speaker on Islam and Muslims. He is the former Executive Director of a national Muslim organization, the Muslim American Society. He is the former president of the Muslim American Society – Boston Chapter, and a trustee of the Interreligious Center on Public Life (ICPL). He is a signatory of the "Building a Community of Trust" declaration of peace, affirming a positive relation between Jews and Muslims and the right of both people to live and prosper in Israel/Palestine. AlJabri is a speaker in national conferences, such as the MAS-ICNA national conventions.
Samir SelmanovićPhD, PCC is a Leadership and Life Coach from New York City helping people as a companion on their hero to sage journey through leading retreats, online courses, consulting, coaching, and speaking. Samir serves his clients with experience and insight harvested from a long list of individuals and organizations with whom he has worked. Samir’s passion for ideas and practice propelled him through a B.Sc. in Engineering, an M.A. in Psychology, a Master of Divinity, and a Ph.D. in Human Development. Samir is also a graduate of Georgetown University’s Leadership Coaching Program and is an ICF Professional Certified Coach (PCC). He is the founder and CEO of WISDOM WORKROOM. He has been helping his clients be present, tell a bigger story, and befriend the unknown.
Peace Islands Institute (PII), formerly known as Interfaith Dialog Center (IDC), is a non-profit, tax exempt organization founded by Turkish-Americans of North Jersey in 2003. PII endeavors to promote respect and mutual understanding among all faiths and cultures by organizing educational and cultural activities such as lectures, seminars, conferences, discussion panels, luncheons and trips to Turkey. By this mission PII aims to contribute to improvement of diversity, pluralism and multiculturalism in the society.
The Khalili Foundation is a UK-based charity promoting interfaith and intercultural understanding through art, culture and education. Its founder and chairman is the London-based philanthropist, art collector and scholar Sir David Khalili. A Persian Jew who grew up in Iran, he is notable for having the world's largest private collection of Islamic art. Established in 1995, the foundation has created interfaith and intercultural links through "cultural, academic, sporting and educational programmes".
Project Interfaith, based in Omaha, Nebraska, is a nonprofit organization [501(c)(3)]. Founded in 2004 by Executive Director Beth Katz, Project Interfaith aims to create a sustainable interfaith program. Through donor support, Project Interfaith was formally launched in December 2005. Project Interfaith has since formally incorporated and received tax-exempt status. Project Interfaith started a multimedia video website, RavelUnravel on May 17, 2012 which explores spiritual and religious identities that make up the world. Project Interfaith closed its doors in February 2015.
Nahid Angha is an Iranian-American Sufi scholar, author, lecturer and human rights activist, with a focus on women's rights. She is the co-director and co-founder of the International Association of Sufism (IAS), founder of the International Sufi Women Organization, the executive editor of Sufism: An Inquiry. Nahid Angha is the main representative of the IAS to the United Nations.
Muhammad bin Abdul Karim Issa is a Saudi Arabian religious leader, Secretary General of the Muslim World League, President of the International Islamic Halal Organization, and former Saudi Minister of Justice.
The King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Centre for Interreligious and Intercultural Dialogue, mostly referred to as "The International Dialogue Centre – KAICIID" and globally known by its abbreviation, KAICIID, is an inter-governmental organization that promotes interreligious and intercultural dialogue to prevent and resolve conflict. It was established in Vienna, Austria, but relocated to Lisbon, Portugal on 1 July 2022.
Rabbi Yehuda Sarna is Chief Rabbi of the Moses Ben Maimon Synagogue of the Abrahamic Family House in Abu Dhabi, UAE. He is also Executive Director of the Bronfman Center for Jewish Student Life at New York University (NYU), Adjunct Assistant Professor of Public Administration at the Robert F. Wagner Graduate School of Public Service and University Chaplain at NYU.
Indonesia and Italy established diplomatic relations on 29 December 1949. Italy has shown strong desire to improve its relations with Indonesia, especially in intercultural understanding and trade. Indonesia recognizes Italy's strategic location and important role in the middle of Mediterranean region, while Italy has favoured relations with Indonesia, and sees Indonesia as the leader in Southeast Asia. The relations between two countries not only important to bridge the two regional communities; European Union and ASEAN, but also vital as intercultural and interfaith dialog, since Indonesia has the largest Muslim population in the world, and Italy is the heart of the Catholic faith.
The InterFaith Leadership Council of Metropolitan Detroit is a faith-based civic organization founded in 2010 by members of a Detroit-based interfaith group known then as the Interfaith Partners. Its headquarters are in Oak Park, Michigan.
Baitus Samee Mosque is a prominent Ahmadi Muslim mosque in Houston, in the U.S. state of Texas. It was developed in stages during 1998 to 2004; its doors opened in 2001 or 2002.
Kathleen Hogan is Executive Vice President for human resources and Chief People Officer at Microsoft.
The Abraham Conference is an annual interfaith conference held in Australia and organised by the Affinity Intercultural Foundation in partnership with religious associations in Australia from the Christian, Muslim, and Jewish communities in Australia.