Sharifa Alkhateeb
Encyclopedia
Sharifa Alkhateeb was a writer, researcher, teacher, educational consultant, intercultural trainer of trainers, television producer, youth advisor, and international speaker. She received her B.A. in English Literature from the University of Pennsylvania
, and her M.A. in Comparative Religion from Norwich University. For 40 years she worked within and outside the Muslim community on issues concerning cultural communication and cultural competency, Islam and Muslims, Muslim women, Muslims and domestic violence, religion and the workplace, and religious diversity. Her community building work was among Bosnian/Albanians, Arabs, Pakistani/Indian, and African-American communities.
Alkhateeb served as the Managing Editor of the American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences (AJISS), an international social science journal; as co-editor of the Arab World Notebook, a social studies text used throughout public school systems in the U.S.; and as a television producer of a program called 'Middle Eastern Parenting' for Fairfax County Public Schools
, Fairfax, VA.
Alkhateeb was the founder and vice-president of the North American Council for Muslim Women, a national organization that served the educational, training, public affairs, legislative, and networking needs of Muslim women from 1992 to 2004. She was also president of the Muslim Education Council, a regional organization that educated school educators and administrators about Islam, Muslims and Muslim culture from 1989 to 2004.
In 1995 Alkhateeb served as Chair of the Muslim Caucus at the Fourth World Conference on Women
convened by the United Nations in Beijing, China. As a representative of American's Muslim leadership she lectured overseas on behalf of USAID. On several occasions she participated in national dialogues aimed at finding common ground on the role of religion in American public life, including at the Aspen Institute
, and the American Assembly.
Alkhateeb was the Middle Eastern/Muslim Team Leader for the Community Resilience Project, a post-9/11 crisis counseling and referral program in Northern Virginia funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
(FEMA). She was also the founder and Director of the Peaceful Families Project
, a nationwide family dynamics and violence awareness program within the Muslim community, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women
.
As an independent researcher, Sharifa Alkhateeb conducted the first nationwide survey of domestic violence in the Muslim community from 1998-2000. Sharifa was a member of the Bi-National Advisory Committee of FaithTrust Institute (formerly the CPSDV) in Seattle, WA, was a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Religion and Abuse, and was an expert consultant with the Office for Victims of Crime (USDOJ) and the Maryland Crime Victims' Resource Center, Inc.
Since her passing, several efforts continue to honor her legacy. Among these are the Peaceful Families Project http://www.peacefulfamilies.org, the Sharifa Alkhateeb Community Service Award given annually by the MAS Freedom Foundation, and the Sharifa Alkhateeb Memorial Scholarship of Fairfax County Public Schools http://caf.squarespace.com/scholarships/.
University of Pennsylvania
The University of Pennsylvania is a private, Ivy League university located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States. Penn is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States,Penn is the fourth-oldest using the founding dates claimed by each institution...
, and her M.A. in Comparative Religion from Norwich University. For 40 years she worked within and outside the Muslim community on issues concerning cultural communication and cultural competency, Islam and Muslims, Muslim women, Muslims and domestic violence, religion and the workplace, and religious diversity. Her community building work was among Bosnian/Albanians, Arabs, Pakistani/Indian, and African-American communities.
Alkhateeb served as the Managing Editor of the American Journal of Islamic Social Sciences (AJISS), an international social science journal; as co-editor of the Arab World Notebook, a social studies text used throughout public school systems in the U.S.; and as a television producer of a program called 'Middle Eastern Parenting' for Fairfax County Public Schools
Fairfax County Public Schools
The Fairfax County Public Schools system is a branch of the Fairfax County government which administers public schools in Fairfax County and the City of Fairfax...
, Fairfax, VA.
Alkhateeb was the founder and vice-president of the North American Council for Muslim Women, a national organization that served the educational, training, public affairs, legislative, and networking needs of Muslim women from 1992 to 2004. She was also president of the Muslim Education Council, a regional organization that educated school educators and administrators about Islam, Muslims and Muslim culture from 1989 to 2004.
In 1995 Alkhateeb served as Chair of the Muslim Caucus at the Fourth World Conference on Women
Fourth World Conference on Women
The United Nations convened the Fourth World Conference on Women: Action for Equality, Development and Peace on 4-15 September 1995 in Beijing, China. 189 governments and more than 5,000 representatives from 2,100 non-governmental organizations participated in the Conference...
convened by the United Nations in Beijing, China. As a representative of American's Muslim leadership she lectured overseas on behalf of USAID. On several occasions she participated in national dialogues aimed at finding common ground on the role of religion in American public life, including at the Aspen Institute
Aspen Institute
The Aspen Institute is an international nonprofit organization founded in 1950 as the Aspen Institute of Humanistic Studies. The organization is dedicated to "fostering enlightened leadership, the appreciation of timeless ideas and values, and open-minded dialogue on contemporary issues." The...
, and the American Assembly.
Alkhateeb was the Middle Eastern/Muslim Team Leader for the Community Resilience Project, a post-9/11 crisis counseling and referral program in Northern Virginia funded by the Federal Emergency Management Agency
Federal Emergency Management Agency
The Federal Emergency Management Agency is an agency of the United States Department of Homeland Security, initially created by Presidential Reorganization Plan No. 1 of 1978 and implemented by two Executive Orders...
(FEMA). She was also the founder and Director of the Peaceful Families Project
Peaceful Families Project
The Peaceful Families Project is among the pioneering Muslim organizations working to end domestic violence in Muslim families and communities...
, a nationwide family dynamics and violence awareness program within the Muslim community, funded by the U.S. Department of Justice, Office on Violence Against Women
Office on Violence Against Women
The Office on Violence Against Women , a component of the U.S. Department of Justice, provides national leadership in developing the nation's capacity to reduce violence against women through the implementation of the Violence Against Women Act ....
.
As an independent researcher, Sharifa Alkhateeb conducted the first nationwide survey of domestic violence in the Muslim community from 1998-2000. Sharifa was a member of the Bi-National Advisory Committee of FaithTrust Institute (formerly the CPSDV) in Seattle, WA, was a member of the Editorial Board of the Journal of Religion and Abuse, and was an expert consultant with the Office for Victims of Crime (USDOJ) and the Maryland Crime Victims' Resource Center, Inc.
Since her passing, several efforts continue to honor her legacy. Among these are the Peaceful Families Project http://www.peacefulfamilies.org, the Sharifa Alkhateeb Community Service Award given annually by the MAS Freedom Foundation, and the Sharifa Alkhateeb Memorial Scholarship of Fairfax County Public Schools http://caf.squarespace.com/scholarships/.
External links
- Washington Post Obituary: http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A766-2004Oct26.html
- New York Times Obituary: http://www.nytimes.com/2004/11/04/arts/04alkhateeb.html
- Middle East Affairs Obituary: http://www.wrmea.com/archives/December_2004/0412051.html