Masjid AlSalam

2013-2017 -  Masjid AlSalam

Weekend School Principal & Head CAP basketball program

• Ramadan Youth education & sports programs (Many CAP athletes made their school teams)
• Summer Camps & Masjid Basketball Tournaments
• Sunweb app for weekend school managed developed though AlSalam initiative is now being used nationwide

97-2011- MCA Mosque Michigan

2009-2011 Elected Education Committee Chair – Executive Council -MCA

• Organization of numerous educational programs
• Proactive & persistent invitations of many speakers
• Supersizing the Weekend School and The Quran School
• Organized and offered summer camps with educational and hands on activities at MCA.

2003-2008: Board of Director MCA for a 6-year term

• Oversight & Management of the Masjid Executive Council and Long-Term Planning.
• Established & registered Non-Profit Tristate foundation for MCA Endowment Fund.
• Committee member for selection of board of directors for the TriState foundation. Acted as a conduit between MCA BOD and TriState on investment project.
• Raised funds and invested on behalf MCA (~$300K in 1 year – from a small community) … MCA is still benefitting from these investments till today.
• Amicably resolved complex issues and appointment of Imam.

99-2002 - Elected twice for the Secretary of the Executive Committee of MCA Ann Arbor

• Known for his Transparency and Neutrality
• Organizing & facilitating meetings (Agenda & minutes, general body meetings)
• Elections coordination & organization
• Dearest to his heart, humbly serving the community through social events (Picnics, Outdoor Eid Prayers, dinners, Ramadan Iftar, food serving, washing dishes and cleaning the masjid).

97-98 – MCA Dawah Committee Secretory under Sheikh Mowaffak Al Ghalaieni (AMJA Scholar)

• Dawah activities’ Coordinator (Dawah at University of Michigan Hospital and Clergy).
• Coordinate visitation from local schools and community colleges

2003-2011- Hidaya Mosque- Michigan

Board of Director Hidaya Muslim Community Association for its inception to departure from Michigan

• Formed Hidaya Muslim Community Association to establish a second Islamic center in the area
• Purchased 7 Acers of land through fundraising events, work with architectures to develop site master plan, organized meetings with township planning commissions and architecture for approval.
• Negotiated to purchase a 59,000 Ft. School from 4 million down to 3.5 Million and obtain school board approval.
• Assisted the purchase of 25 Acres of Land for the Local Islamic School MIA through Hidaya with an agreement to donate for free to the Islamic

Other volunteering efforts:

• UNIS Prison Newsletter. Distribution manager & part time editor of the nationwide newsletter for Muslim and non-Muslim (Circulated monthly to >250 prisons across USA)
• Pakistan Earth Quake Relief. Coordinated a drive to collect and ship containers of winter clothing for the victims of 2005 Major Earth Quake in Pakistan
• Assisted Local MSA of Eastern Michigan Universities and U of M organizing activates and bringing Masjid resources to them

GOALS IF ELECTED (INSHALLAH):

• To be advocate for the youth.
• To strengthen the current running programs at the center.
• Work to complete the projects initiated.
• Improve services for the community members.
• To strengthen financial of the center
• Work to enhance the community's experience of the center.
• To improve transparency at the center.

Boys Scout Troop 321 – 5 years

• Assistant Scout Master
• Advancement Chair
• Merit Badge Counselor

Sunday School

• Teacher - 5 years
• Helped in developing School Curriculum
• Principal - 2 years

Arabic Class Coordinator

• One year during Imam Nick’s time

Dawah and Outreach

• Committee member
• Interfaith group meetings
• Ramadan Gift distributions to neighbors

Masjid Council

• Area Rep for 77429 - 2 terms
• Masjid Administrative Secretary since 2016
• Fund raising team member

Other volunteer services

• Carnivals
• Islamic Art Festivals
• Eid Salah set-up and clean-up
• Harvey Relief team

GOALS IF ELECTED (INSHALLAH):

• Unite the community and provide a platform for them to nurture and develop brotherhood/sisterhood. Promote a culture of respect-for-all.
• Encourage volunteer empowerment with accountability.
• Work on and support efforts towards timely communication and transparency all at levels.
• Develop a social networking system where administration and volunteers should be able to connect and respond to needy community members, whether it be financial, psychological, physical or moral support. I would like to see our Area Representatives work closely with their constituents and encourage them to be the eyes and ears of the masjid administration to point out needy families and individuals.
• Support the Houston Peace Academy School. The school building is a big project in the pipeline that will have a long lasting impact on the community. This project needs lot of support from the administration and community members.
• Continue and improve well received programs for all ages and genders.

ABOUT ME:  Here are the areas that I would like to focus on.

Accountability and transparency:

• I will work and support at all levels to benchmark performance against key operational targets and goals.
• Enforcement of organizational hierarchy for efficient functioning at all levels.
• Develop Key Performance Indicators and provide objective feedback to community regarding performance of their elected officials.

Women, Youth, and Diversity within our community:

Women - I would like to focus on female empowerment and provide women with a platform to bring their unique perspectives and skillsets for the betterment of our community. I’ll work to provide them with opportunities for their involvement in masjid activities. We need to work on helping out single mothers, widows, and vulnerable sisters in the community.

Youth - Youth is our future. I’m a strong believer in the notion that it’s okay if they make mistakes while we are around to guide them. I also realize the enormous challenges our youth faces every day, whether it be peer pressure, drugs, religious doubts and many more. I believe in the youth being welcomed into the Masajid, overlooking any and all shortcomings they may have. I’ll work with our future Youth Director on developing programs for them and try to make Masjid Al Salam as the most attractive hangout place for them.

Diversity – I’m a firm believer that diversity is a strength, not a source of weakness, in any community. I’ll strive to work on developing programs and activities that will bring out the best in our diverse community and involve all to build teamwork and unity within our Masjid.

Amel Abdulla is a candidate for the At-Large Sister Seat at Masjid As-Salam (Champions) in the North Zone, and currently serves in the construction committee responsible for the design of the new school building.

Amel Abdulla and her family moved to Spring area in 2007. A proponent of young girls’ programs Ms Abdulla was one of the founders of Masjid As-Salam Girls Scout Troop 13467 in 2008, and is currently the troop leader. Ms Abdulla is an advocate of Islamic schools and was recently appointed as the Chair of the Advisory Panel of Houston Peace Academy. 

Education:

Master of Architecture – Tulane University

Professional:

Ms Abdulla, a licensed Architect, has over 15 years of experience in the United states and the Middle East in architectural design; master planning; program management; interdisciplinary team leadership; client representation and stakeholder interface.    

Volunteer work:

• Masjid As-Salam Girl Scout Troop 13467 – Leader 2009-2012, 2016 – Present
• Masjid As-Salam Construction Committee – joined Oct 2017
• Chair of the Advisory Panel for Houston Peace Academy – appointed July 2017
• American Institute of Architects (AIA)
  • 2009 - 2011, member AIA Houston -Executive Committee of Gulf Coast Green Symposium & Expo.
  • 2014- 2016, Board member of the AIA Middle East Chapter, served as Director of Communication and Treasurer.
• Qatar University Department of Architecture - Advisory Board Member 2015-2016

Goals (if elected Inshallah):

• Represent the Sisters’ voice in all council resolutions and ensure that our concerns and issues are addressed in a timely manner
• Energize and mobilize the sisters to take ownership of defining and implementing programs needed by women and youth in the community
• Facilitate the provision of resources and support for women and youth program
• Empower the youth to take leadership roles and lead “for youth by youth” programs

Proposed Programs (if given the opportunity Inshallah):

• Support programs for sisters in need – single mothers, domestic abuse victims
• Counselling services for women and teenagers
• Monthly Lecture series for women by women
• Rahma committee: embrace new sisters in community; meal trains for people who are sick or just had a baby; babysitter’s data base
• Sister’s social events: ladies’ potluck dinner; tea parties; mother daughter events; hijab swaps
• Youth fun and social nights

Education: Graduate of University of Houston – Management, English

Resident of Spring/Champions for 30+ years

Work: Lone Star College, EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity Commission), Sherwin Williams Corporate HR (retired)

Volunteer work: Social activist, interfaith speaker, promote Islamic Arts festival and manage several other programs involving:           

• Refugee resettlement
• Women and youth concerns
• Address Islamophobia and other factors impacting Muslims
• Interfaith programs all over Texas as well as nationally
• Relief efforts during hurricanes, floods and natural disasters
• Social services for families needing government assistance

Served with Islamic Society of Greater Houston (ISGH) as volunteer for 30 years most recently as Chair interfaith programs

Interfaith Ministries of Greater Houston hosting dinner dialogs in several mosques across Houston.

Spring Interfaith Dialog Council – member 18 years

• Dinner Dialogs
• Interfaith services, social service projects
• Annual interfaith thanksgiving

Goals for 2018

• Open new avenues for advancement of women and youth
• Bring an awareness of Muslims’ contributions to Houston
• Recognition of our masajid within the interfaith arena
• Be an advocate for those who are underrepresented in our area
• Demand accountability and responsibility from our faith based organizations
• Reach out to community for assistance where ever needed
• Be accessible and open to suggestions and reviews
• Bring positive change as per community needs
• Foster civil dialogue and encourage friendly discussions
• Work for the entire community to create a positive image in print/news and social media

As a resident of Houston for over 40 years and the most outspoken desi auntie in town, I stand up for the oppressed, the needy and those who are underrepresented. May Allah swt help us do what is best for Houston’s Muslim families.  Ameen

• To continue to participate in youth related events and represent their needs and concerns in the masjid council.

PURPOSE
I am a hardworking and reliable real estate professional, committed to serving the community and helping improve in many aspects including finding solutions to long term problems of membership list, social and business networking that will bring economic improvements & empowerment to our community.

EDUCATION
• Bachelor’s Degree in Business Science

EXPERIENCE

Membership Secretary – Masjid-Al-Salam (Spring, TX) 2012 – 2016.
• Improved masjid decision making process by enrolling new members
• Created new ways to generate funds to offset Masjid Expenses
• Promoted healthy community relations

Job Opportunity Specialist – City of New York Human Resource Administration(New
York City) 2005 – 2009.
• Supervised social workers and social welfare recipients
• Aided in economic development of working class families
• Collaborated with businesses and organizations to set up job opportunities for welfare recipients in order that they would become economically independent

Publicity Secretary – Masjid Ibaadul Rahman (New York) 2004 – 2008
• Encouraged community relationships by coordinating events
• Facilitated networking opportunities among community members and professionals
• Development of outreach and welfare programs to benefit community members
• Sustained fund-raising programs

• Pending inputs from candidate

GOALS IF ELECTED (INSHALLAH):

• Help the Associate Director to bring more organization and structure
• Help and promote culture of engagement & accountability

Pending information from the candidate.

• Pending inputs from candidate

GOALS IF ELECTED (INSHALLAH):

• I would like to give back and serve the masjid and musalleen as best as i can.

Pending information from the candidate.

Objectives for running:

• Ensuring the Unity of the community. 
• Ensure the administration operates with maximizing the benefits for the community. 

I worked at Hewlett Packard for the last 17 years in several countries with the last 7 years spent at Houston office - that is the primary reason how my association with AlSalam masjid started. I am currently working at DXC Technology.

GOALS IF ELECTED (INSHALLAH):

• Getting more muslims to the masjid to build a stronger Muslim community that gets noticed by the society at large.
• With honesty and responsibility, facilitate & enable the masjid administration and leadership in my capacity to remove roadblocks and carry out planned projects effectively and on time.
• Ensure unity in diversity within the community.
• Understand and cater to community needs from the masjid and be a voice of the community influencing decision making for consistent improvements in the community.

I am Amjad Usmani, full name is Mohammad Amjad Usmani.  Married with 3 children, residing in this Community for over 20 years.  I completed my undergrad studies in chemical engineering from
University of Punjab and did MS from the PV A&M University in Texas.

GOALS IF ELECTED (INSHALLAH):

Wherever I had been involved, my goal is to develop procedures to streamline work and maintain records for transparency.
Weekend School was started with few children but it grew in a short time to more than 100 kids. Thanks to brothers who initiated this school, may Allah grant them success and removes any hardship.
As area representative in council, I can be reached to discuss issues. Focus here is to facilitate ownership of masjid As-Salam by everyone. Our Masjid represents a dynamic Community in Houston and its suburbs. I believe we will continue to flourish, InshaAllah.

Thahira Ahmed is a graduate of University of Missouri’s Master’s program in Counseling and Education. She graduated with a specialization in Marriage and Family Therapy.  She is credentialed as a Licensed Professional Counselor (LPC) in the State of Texas. She went on to further specialize in working with children and adolescents by obtaining additional certification as a Registered Play Therapist (RPT).

She has been practicing as a Counselor and providing therapy to the community for more than fifteen years. She has volunteered her professional services to the Muslim community in the Houston Metropolitan area since she moved to Houston in 2003. She currently manages and volunteers at the Sakina Center, a Community Mental Health Center for the Muslim community. 

• Pending inputs from candidate

I was born, raised, and attended Islamic schools in Houston at Moonmist and Conrad Sauer (NW Zone, Spring Branch Islamic Center). My family has volunteered for ISGH at NW-SBIC, where my mother was the Sunday school principal, my father was associate director, and I was an area representative for the 77077 zip code for 2 years. Additionally, I hold advanced degrees in electrical engineering with over 12 years of professional experience in a Fortune 100 company.

GOALS IF ELECTED (INSHALLAH):

• Engage the community to make sure your voices are heard
• Making Masjid al Salam a model masjid for the rest of Houston
• Support the youth by helping them shape the future of the masjid, volunteering to lead special events (e.g. robotics), coaching them to work with the administration, and helping the Youth and Programs Director
• Develop the best masjid event video/streaming system in the state and help propagate it to other masajid.

I will strive to operate with integrity, objectivity, dedication, and hold paramount the knowledge that I will be held accountable for my actions on the day of judgement. I pray that, if Allah gives me the opportunity by being elected, that Allah also gives me the ability to carry out the role to the best of my ability, and for the betterment of the community. Ameen.

GOALS IF ELECTED (INSHALLAH):

• To create stable programs for youth ranging from 5-24 years of age. 
• Maintain effective communication with all members of my zip code.
• Continue to listen to youth concerns and suggestions in making masjid programs better and more suitable for everyone. 
• Continue working with the youth of the masjid to become independent and allow them to take on leadership roles. 

• Pending inputs from candidate

• Abdurrehman Ansari works as Software Engineer at HPE.
• He moved to North Houston in 2015 and has been an active member of the community since then.
• Abdurrehman and his wife feel blessed to be part of ISGH community.
• They have a 4 year old daughter who is a Pre-K student at Houston Peace Academy.

GOALS IF ELECTED (INSHALLAH):

• Regular communication with my zip code members.
• Due Diligence on expenses.
• Help Houston Peace Academy & Sunday school so that schools can grow and prosper.
• Keep my zip code membership list updated and help new members in the area.
• Use my engineering background to leverage technology for the betterment of schools and the masjid.

Pending information from the candidate.

• Pending inputs from candidate

• Pending inputs from candidate

Pending information from the candidate.

• Pending inputs from candidate

• Pending inputs from candidate

Other Masajid

• Involved in various levels in other Masajid over the years

GOALS IF ELECTED (INSHA ALLAH)

• Help increase Masjid attendance and ISGH memberships with more focus on youth, women, and diversity. Higher attendance and robust membership strengthens our center’s financials which will enable us to expand the center and add more needed programs for the youth and women. Furthermore, higher memberships give us a more powerful voice on local, state, and national levels of government.
• Improve the overall experiences of the congregants at the center by providing best customer service practices to exceed their expectations. Make this center the best run center in Houston.
• Help promote higher standards of accountability, professionalism, transparency, and common courtesy.
• Explore alternative means of efficiency to reduce the center’s operation expenses

A united community is a stronger community! Therefore, we must strive to achieve unity thru mutual respect, trust, appreciation, compassion, kindness, understanding, acceptance, team work, tolerance, and forgiveness for the sake of our Creator.

• Pending inputs from candidate

Education: B.S. in Electrical Engineering from the University of Houston

Professional Experience:

• ~ 5 years at NASA working on the Space Shuttle and then the International Space Station programs
• ~ 15 years of experience working in various software development related positions

Goals

I am simply interested in helping to run our masjid as efficiently and smoothly as possible.  Serving in the masjid council is an honor but it is also a serious responsibility that does make me nervous.  I am far more comfortable serving while staying in the background.  There are other candidates running for my zip code that will probably be more effective as our Area Representative, but if I happen to get elected, I promise to do my best to honor the trust that comes with that position.  Here is what that specifically means:

• I promise to not cater to specific groups or people but focus on each proposal or decision that comes before the council on its own merit.
• I will strive for an open and transparent relationship between the council and the people it represents (though I cannot promise to deliver this as it requires support from many).  That means:
  • That council meetings should be advertised in advance across all the media channels available to the Masjid
  • Any resolutions to be discussed in each meeting should also be advertised on our media channels so community members can contact their area representatives to voice their opinion before the meetings where these resolutions are to be discussed.
  • The outcome of these resolutions should also be published for all to see.    

May Allah (SWT) always guide me and my fellow candidates to fulfill our obligations to the community in a righteous and honorable way. Ameen.

Served in many areas of the masjid and Inshallah will continue to do so.

• Coordinator weekend School  Lunch
• In charge of Friday Night dinner
• Volunteer Parking and Security team
• Manage volunteers for Shifa Salam Clinic 
• Worked with the Construction Committee

• Pending inputs from candidate