Our Staff Alumni
Here are our former staff that have contributed to the mission CAIR-Chicago works so hard to push every day.
STAFF ALUMNI 1 | 2
Erin P.R. Davis, MCM
Communications Coordinator
Erin Davis is CAIR-Chicago’s Communications Coordinator. Davis completed her undergraduate at DePaul University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Communications and Media. She also obtained a double minor in Public Relations & Advertising and the Chinese Language. Davis is also studying at the USC Annenberg School for Communications and Journalism, where she is working on receiving a Master’s in Communication Management with a focus on Marketing Communications. Since 2018, Erin has worked with nonprofit and for-profit organizations to help raise awareness, build and manage business reputation and cultivate consumer relationships. Her work has allowed her to collaborate with many organizations and institutes, such as Lurie Children’s Hospital and the Bears Care Foundation (an official nonprofit organization for the Chicago Bears). In addition, she has helped plan, coordinate and execute special and regional events to implement educational programs for children living in underserved communities. Davis has also worked with establishing her marketing agency called Invested Affairs, LLC. IA is a small marketing enterprise that provides full-service Social Media, Public Relations, and Website development. Since 2018, she has helped local businesses and entrepreneurs use the method of storytelling to help capture attention. Davis aims to add meaning to the information companies want to introduce to their audience.
Mona Balla
Operations Manager
Mona is the Operations Manager at CAIR- Chicago. Mona graduated from Oakland University with a degree in Criminal Justice in the Courts (2019) before starting her Masters of Public Policy at DePaul University (2021). While pursuing her undergraduate degree, Mona worked alongside the Michigan Department of Human Services and Washtenaw County Office of Public Defense to aid in the legal transition to family units through the court system. Previous to CAIR-Chicago Mona has worked in corporate litigation and the judicial system. While at DePaul, Mona's independent research focuses on the use of International Remittances and how they have an effect on migrant families.
Motlatsi Mofolo
Mandela Washington Fellow
Adv. Motlatsi Mofolo is a Summer 2022 Mandela Washington Fellow in the Civil Rights Department. He previously undertook and completed his Mandela Washington Fellowship in Leadership in Civic Engagement at the University of Virginia.
A lawyer by training with a Master’s Degree in Human Rights Law from National University of Lesotho, he is a human rights practitioner with over 5+ years of experience in the non-profit sector implementing projects targeting women and girls, children, vulnerable, indigenous, LGBTIQ+ and other key populations in the Kingdom of Lesotho.
Adv. Mofolo joined CAIR-Chicago in order to enhance his professional skills in the promotion and protection of civil rights of minority groups as a strategy to accelerate development in the context of America.
Emma Melton, Esq.
Staff Attorney
Emma graduated from DePaul University College of Law where she obtained a Certificate in Public Interest Law. Emma has worked in various non-profit organizations throughout Chicago. Most recently, Emma spent three years at Beyond Legal Aid where she practiced immigration, employment, housing and criminal records law. During law school, Emma was the Student Director for DePaul’s Neighborhood Legal Assistance Project (NLAP) where she led a Saturday morning legal help desk for people experiencing homelessness. She continues her work with NLAP as a volunteer supervising attorney. Prior to law school, Emma worked three summers at Cabrini Green Legal Aid where she immersed herself in criminal records law and ultimately decided to apply for law school.
Gerald Hankerson
Outreach Coordinator & AMLE Project Co-Director
Gerald Hankerson was CAIR-Chicago’s Outreach Coordinator, leading community outreach, youth development, and civic engagement efforts. He directs the internship program, presents workshops, coordinates events and international engagement, and advocates policy and voting issues. He serves as a member of the African American Leadership Advisory Council at the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC), which aims to maintain and increase recruitment and retention efforts for students of African and African American descent. He also served three terms on the Board of Directors for Arise Chicago, an interfaith labor rights group. Gerald attended Lindblom Technical High School, graduating an Illinois State Scholar with high honors. A President’s Scholar and Pipeline to Justice Fellow in the Social Justice Initiative at UIC, he graduated with a B.A. in Communications. Gerald served two terms in the Muslim Students’ Association as its Program Coordinator, was an UIC Ambassador through the African American Action Network, a member of the Black Student Union, and was inducted into the National Society of Collegiate Scholars. An alumnus of the Chicago Debate League, Gerald contributed to the urban debate movement for 15 years, including serving as Head Coach and Coordinator of policy debate programs in Chicago Public Schools for six seasons. Given his years of service and activism, the Chicago Debate Commission and the Chicago Debate League honored Gerald as its 2015 Alum of the Year. North Park University (Chicago) recognized Gerald as a “Man of Excellence” in 2012. His personal journey as a new Muslim during high school and college is featured in the book I Believe In...Christian, Jewish, and Muslim Young People Speak About Their Faith (compiled by Pearl Fuyo Gaskins, © 2004), as well as the international public education campaign, MyJihad. Gerald has been committed to sharing his experiences and perspectives on multiculturalism, youth development, volunteerism, writing, research, policy debate and social critiques to bridging gaps between diverse communities.
Saadia Pervaiz
Communications Coordinator
Saadia Pervaiz was one of CAIR-Chicago's Communications Coordinators. She recently graduated with a Masters of Arts in History from the University of Chicago in 2017. Since 2014, Saadia has been working with various organizations in documenting oral histories of first generation Partition survivors in the United States. In addition to her historical work, Saadia has been tapped by numerous institutions for graphic design and illustrative commissions, including premier sports start-up ClutchPoints. She has helped curate exhibits focusing on the South Asian diaspora in collaboration with the Field Museum and Indian American Heritage Museum. Her artwork has been published in-print and online on multiple media platforms.
Tauseef Akbar
Research Coordinator
Tauseef Akbar was CAIR-Chicago’s Research Coordinator. Tauseef Akbar studied Arabic and foundational Islamic disciplines in Cairo, Egypt at the Al-Fajr Institute, affiliated with Al-Azhar University. He received a BA in English with a concentration in Creative Writing and a minor in Chemistry at North Park University. He is slated to receive his MA in Islamic Studies from American Islamic College in Spring 2017. His research work has primarily focused on Islamophobia and demographic trends within the Muslim American community. As a researcher he has worked with leading Muslim American organizations and was also a past consultant to Georgetown Univesity’s Bridge Initiative for the study of Islamophobia. He has written and been published on the topic of Islamophobia, the War on Terror and the genocide against the Rohingya Muslims in various news media outlets.
Hannah Faris
Communications Coordinator
Hannah Faris is a multimedia journalist and video editor. She started her work at CAIR-Chicago as a Communications Intern. In Summer 2019, she was promoted to Communications Coordinator. She focuses on highlighting stories of grassroots and marginalized communities.
Nela Dunato
World Chicago Fellow
Nela is the Founder & CEO of Nela Dunato Art & Design, a consulting and brand identity design firm that also runs workshops and seminars for business, non-profit organizations and educational institutions. She is also the author of “The Human Centered Brand” which provides a learning framework for small businesses, non-profit organizations, and independent creatives around brand strategy. Nela is a volunteer mentor at the Rjeka Startup Incubator and also volunteers at 3.Zmaj Society which organizes the annual Rikon Convention. Through this fellowship, Nela would like to expand her knowledge and skills about NGO’s or a creative team that works with NGO’s who run public awareness campaigns that utilize digital technologies, visual communication, and public space intervention in an innovative way.
Tamer Abouzeid
Staff Attorney
Tamer Abouzeid served as Staff Attorney at CAIR-Chicago. Tamer graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) with a degree in marketing (2007) before receiving his law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center (2015) and his Mediation Certificate from Northwestern University (2019). Tamer was an early communications and governmental-relations intern with a nascent CAIR-Chicago in 2005. Most recently, Tamer worked as an investigator at the Civilian Office of Police Accountability, investigating allegations of misconduct against Chicago police officers. Tamer is also a member of the Chicago Alliance Against Racist and Political Repression as well as the Chicago Democratic Socialists of America, where he organizes in pursuit of community control of the police and the long-term goal of abolition of the prison-industrial complex.
Nathaly Espinoza
Operations Coordinator
Nathaly Espinoza serves as CAIR-Chicago’s Operations Coordinator where she helps oversee the daily operations and financial management of the organization. She is a first generation native Mexican woman and developed her passion for civil rights after witnessing the injustices her family and friends encountered due to their race and citizenship status. Nathaly lived in Barcelona, Spain for a couple of months where she became more aware of the legal issues worldwide in regards to immigrants seeking asylum from their country and became determined to find a career path where she could work on protecting the rights of and empowering vulnerable communities.
Brian Huff
Staff Attorney
Brian Huff is recent graduate of Loyola School of Law. Brian previously worked in CAIR-Chicago’s civil rights division as a Law Clerk and then Fellow, and now returns as a paralegal. Prior to joining CAIR-Chicago, Brian studied criminal appellate advocacy while clerking at the Cook County Public Defender’s Office, and the Office of the State Appellate Defender. Brian originally intended on practicing criminal law, but recent trends in U.S. politics have shifted his interests to immigration and civil rights. Brian has taken great pride in his time at CAIR-Chicago, and has enjoyed responding to the legal needs of the Chicago Muslim community.
Najah Binbek
Operations Coordinator
Najah Binbek was CAIR Chicago’s Operations Coordinator in 2019-2020. She recently graduated in May of 2019 from Eastern Illinois University. Najah gradated with her bachelor’s degree in psychology with a minor in business administration. What sparked her interest in CAIR was how big of an impact the work done here has on the community as well as the family like culture in the organization. Najah plans on getting her master’s degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. She is proud to be a part of an organization that is meaningful and works hard to defend human rights. In her free time, Najah enjoys cooking, shopping, meditating, and volunteering.
Brianna Pursell
Civil Rights Fellow
Brianna Pursell is a Law Clerk in the Civil Rights Department for the fall session of 2019. She graduated from DePaul University College of Law in May 2019 with a focus on civil and human rights issues, a Certificate in International and Comparative Law, and a passion for immigration and asylum work. A former opera singer, Brianna was driven to pursue a career in law after becoming disabled and finding herself both frustrated and motivated to activism by the inequality and inaccessibility she was met with in her new identity. Having, herself, frequently experienced discrimination, lack of understanding, and bigotry, Brianna feels a deep connection to CAIR-Chicago’s mission of advocating for justice, protecting civil rights, and promoting mutual understanding. When Brianna is not at CAIR-Chicago, you will probably find her curled up with her tea and a book, painting, or sailing on Lake Michigan with her fiancé, Clément, and their puppy, Hugo.
Semir Music
One World Chicago Fellow
Semir Music founded the digital marketing agency Lilium Digital at the age of 25 and in three years managed to establish cooperation with over 300 companies in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Australia, Germany and the USA. So far he has worked for brands such as: Porsche, Mercedes, Audi, Shell and many others.
Prior to his business career, he was a vice-champion of Europe in kickboxing.
Maaria Mozaffar
Legislative Attorney
Maaria Mozaffar is CAIR-Chicago's Legislative Attorney. Mozaffar is a civil rights attorney, policy drafter and legislative consultant. She has spearheaded civil rights coalition building, advocacy programs and consulted political citywide campaigns. She has drafted statewide legislation on criminal justice reform, food justice and academic diversity. Mozaffar is the principal attorney of The Law Office of Maaria Mozaffar where she focuses on policy development, advocacy and mediation. Mozaffar received her JD from University of Illinois at Urbana and is licensed to practice in the state of Illinois. Mozaffar is the Senior Policy Advisor at IMAN and a member of the Human Rights Watch Committee of Chicago.
Iman Boundaoui
TAP Coordinator
Iman Boundaoui is CAIR-Chicago's TAP Coordinator. Boundaoui is an associate at Drinker Biddle & Reath LLP, where she litigates commercial class actions and represents clients in other civil litigation. As a litigator, she also works on pro bono asylum and immigration cases with the National Immigrant Justice Center (NIJC). While in law school, Boundaoui was a judicial extern to the Honorable Ann Claire Williams for the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit in Chicago, Illinois. She also served as president of the Muslim Law Students Association and president of the Moot Court Honor Society. Boundaoui received her Juris Doctor magna cum laude from the Chicago-Kent College of Law, and has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science.
Diaa Ibraham Abdelmotaleb
Operations Associate
Diaa Ibraham Abdelmotaleb graduated with an Associate Degree in Nursing, specializing in Cardiology care. With seventeen years of nursing experience, this has helped cultivate Diaa into a caring, strong and passionate individual who believes in civil rights and equality for all. Diaa is enthusiastic to be part of, and to stand united with the CAIR Chicago team in their efforts to stand against bigotry and to fight against discrimination. Diaa’s ultimate goal is to serve the community and to bring people together. He enjoys volunteering, has a talent for cooking Egyptian cuisine and would love to continue travelling abroad.
Marwa Jumma
Civil Rights Fellow
Marwa was a Civil Rights Division Fellow at CAIR-Chicago. She recently earned her JD Degree from Chicago-Kent College of Law, Illinois Institute of Technology. In 2017, Marwa earned a Master degree in U.S International and Transactional Law from Chicago-Kent College of Law. Marwa is from Damascus, Syria, she came to the United States under 100 Syrian women, 10,000 Syrian lives, Jussor Award in 2016. Marwa is interested in civil rights, plaintiff side employment litigation, immigration law, and international human rights law. Marwa earned her Bachelor in Law from Damascus University of law in 2012, and worked as a lawyer for two years alongside her father’s office in Damascus. Marwa intends to practice law in Illinois and devote her legal profession working for CAIR-Chicago in the future.
Mesfin Asfha
Mandela Fellow
Mesfin Asfha is a young Eritrean Mandela Washington Fellow (MWF-2019) doing his Professional Development Experiences at CAIR-Chicago in the Outreach Department with a vision having a strong sense of commitment and purpose who believes in synergy and team work. Mesfin graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree in Political Science and International Relations from the College of Arts and Social Sciences in 2012 with great distinction. Mesfin has over seven years of experience in the community development sector, specifically focusing on empowering young leaders on making peace and stability and rights with disabilities.
Asha Binbek
Communications Coordinator
Asha Binbek was one of CAIR-Chicago’s Communications Coordinators. As a student at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Asha earned two Bachelor’s degrees in English and Communication. Concurrently, she served as the Undergraduate Student Government Interpersonal Relations director and as the first Center for Leadership and Civic Engagement Fellow, overseeing the UIC’s efforts around the 2016 election, Asha helped the campus earn one of the inaugural Voter Friendly Campus Designations along with being recognized as the Most Engaged Campus by the All in Democracy Challenge. Additionally, through her advocacy efforts on campus, she was able to see the creation of the first Arab American Cultural Center at a university, serving on its advisory board until graduation. She was also one of several student leaders that organized the Stop Trump Rally in March of 2016 which had over 15,000 people in attendance. Asha will began her Master's in Public Policy at the University of Chicago in October 2018.
Siham Naser
Operations Coordinator
Siham Naser is CAIR Chicago’s Operations Coordinator. She recently graduated in 2017 from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Siham was an Honors College student and graduated with a degree in Finance. A CAIR-Chicago intern alum, Siham returned to our office to fill the position in the Operations Department. Throughout her undergraduate career, she served as the Senior Vice President of the Business, Finance, and Entrepreneur Association. She is also a Tau Sigma Honor Society inductee, where current social justice topics were addressed around campus. She admires being involved and making a difference in any way she can. As a member of the Management Leadership Association, Siham placed heavy importance on leadership and change. She joined CAIR-Chicago because of its strong mission and purpose of existence. Not only is the work at CAIR-Chicago impactful and meaningful, it also aligns with her personal and professional goals. She is honored to be part of an organization that defends the rights of humanity. In her free time, Siham enjoys shopping, writing, and getting involved in her community.
Lesego Thlwale
Mandela Fellow
Lesego Tlhwale is an avid communications professional from Cape Town, South Africa who has extensive experience advocating for the rights of LGBTIQ and sex workers in South Africa. Lesego’s aspiration is using communication and social activism as a tool to achieving social change in a world that is morally inclined and marred with hyper-masculinities and a heteronormative society. During her stay at CAIR Lesego hopes to gauge how communication is used to advocate and educate against bigotry, hate and prejudice targeted at Muslims in America.
Zachery Taylor
Aizik Wolf Fellow
Zachery recently graduated from the University of Chicago, having majored in Geographical Studies and Comparative Race & Ethnic Studies, with a minor in Human Rights. During his time at UChicago, he was active in Palestine solidarity advocacy and wrote his undergraduate thesis on the construction of the public in Israel through urban planning, land laws, and citizenship. With support from the Pozen Family Center for Human Rights, Zach was awarded the Dr. Aizik Wolf Post-Baccalaureate Fellowship in Human Rights. He chose to work with CAIR-Chicago because he is motivated by the role of the legal profession in advancing the human rights of disenfranchised members of our society. Following his fellowship, Zach hopes to matriculate to law school and pursue a career in immigration law and anti-poverty work.
Eléna Pinot
International Law Fellow
Eléna Pinot is one of CAIR-Chicago’s international fellows, coming from France. She graduated in 2016 from Strasbourg Law School majoring in human rights, with a minor in minority’s rights. She worked with several local and international institutions as a volunteer and an intern, working on legal counsel and advocating for human rights. Eléna has always been very passionate about protecting the rights of those who are most susceptible to suffer human rights violation such as refugees, minorities and women. She sadly witnessed the rise of xenophobia and Islamophobia in Europe and around the world, and as a result decided to take actions. She has been working for the past year and a half on organizing CVE conferences centered on non-punitive policies and is delighted to be working with CAIR-Chicago on defending and advocating for American Muslims.
Mohammad Waqas Farooqi
Outreach Fellow
As a Muslim student living in the Netherlands Waqas noticed an increase in Islamophobia, intolerance and discrimination. Not only in the Netherlands but in the West in general, especially in the United States. It is why he chose to study Public Management, so he can help his community. In the Netherlands he saw a few bright individuals that came forward, however he noticed that there were very few organizations that came forward with a reply to this bigotry. The organizations that did are often lacking on many levels. Thus, when the Public Management program that he currently is studying under offered the opportunity to do an internship, he chose to do it at CAIR-Chicago. CAIR-Chicago has shown how to effectively defend civil rights, fight bigotry and promote tolerance. His goal is to learn how CAIR-Chicago works and to connect with other organizations in the American Muslim community in order to have a proper understanding of the organizational structures, professionalism and networks that are present. After finishing his internship he will return to the Netherlands with the hope to benefit the Dutch Muslim community, improve and help the existing organization and maybe start his own NGO.
Tsedenya Bizani
Operations Coordinator
Tsedenya Bizani graduated from University of Kansas with degrees in International Studies and Political Science with a minor in Middle East Studies. She was an Intern and a Fellow with CAIR-Chicago before taking on her current role. Tsedenya also works with the organization Mercy Without Limits, which is focused on tackling the current Syrian Crisis. She served as an Event Coordinator in her universities “Students for Justice in the Middle East” and has since then expanded on that through her involvement with various organizations. CAIR-Chicago fits her personal and professional goals as it emphasizes a community oriented culture that pushes its members to utilize and advance their talents to bring about tangible change. Tsedenya enjoys reading, watching foreign films, and reading funny memes on her free time.
Fatima Ahmed
Operations Coordinator
Majoring in Political Science with a minor in Arabic Studies, Fatima Ahmed expects to attain her bachelor’s degree from DePaul University in 2015. While spending most of her time as a teen avidly involved in IHSA speech competitions as a competitor, she now works as an IHSA Speech Judge during the high school season. She also works at IQRA-foundation as a researcher and book editor, striving to help educate the Muslim youth. Previously heavily involved in mentoring and leadership programs, she hopes to use her past experiences to help educate and assist the Muslim youth to strive and live up to their full potential, so that they too can one day give back to their community. While politics and current events are her passion, in her spare time, she likes to read and travel, work on various culinary projects and stay up to date with her favorite sports teams.
Layne Hillesland
Communications Coordinator
Layne Hillesland graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 2016 with a BA in Communication Studies while also minoring in international studies and visual communications. She was the Arts & Entertainment Editor for her school newspaper, the Loyola Phoenix for two years and has volunteered for Human Rights Watch the past three years. Layne is committed to social justice work and is excited to apply her combined knowledge of communications, international studies, and visual communications to her job at CAIR-Chicago.
Christina Abraham
Civil Rights Director
Christina Abraham is a former Civil Rights Director at CAIR-Chicago. Christina has spoken and written on issues related to Arab and Muslim civil rights, and actively works to pursue successful resolutions to incidents of discrimination through legal and non-legal channels. Christina is a member of the Advisory Board for the Chicago Committee to Defend the Bill of Rights and a member of the Advisory Board of the Brussels International Tribunal. Christina holds a Masters in the Arts of Social Sciences (M.A.) from the University of Chicago where her focus was on Politics in the Middle East, and a Juris Doctorate from DePaul University College of Law, where she received membership in the Order of the Barristers.
Renner Larson
Communications Coordinator
Renner Larson is the Communications Director at CAIR-Chicago. In 2013 he graduated from Columbia College Chicago with a BFA in graphic design. Having taught English in Tanta, Egypt, he continued practicing volunteerism through the global leadership program Up With People and more recently as Secretary of the Board of Directors for Families In Vietnam, an NGO working to alleviate poverty through education in northern Vietnam. After working professionally as a graphic designer, Renner is excited to apply his expertise in creative problem solving and design thinking to further the mission of CAIR-Chicago.
Rabya Khan
Staff Attorney
Rabya Khan is the Staff Attorney at CAIR-Chicago. Rabya received her Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the College at the University of Chicago, and her Juris Doctorate from DePaul College of Law. Rabya is a former volunteer attorney with CAIR-Chicago, and previously worked in a variety of areas including family law, domestic violence, and in house corporate counsel. In her current position, Rabya focuses on asylum and immigration matters, employment discrimination, national security and civil liberties issues, hate crimes, and know your rights community education. Rabya also works on policy and advocacy issues related to immigrant rights, constitutional rights, and government surveillance. Rabya’s favorite movie is Ghostbusters. Rabya is excited for the opportunity to work on promoting social justice and protecting civil rights.
Kevin Vodak
Litigation Director
Kevin Vodak is the Litigation Director at CAIR-Chicago. In this position, Kevin analyzes all of the complaints received in the Civil Rights Department and determines the best strategy for reaching the most successful resolutions, as well as working to strengthen policies in the public and private sectors to combat Islamophobia. Kevin has a Juris Doctor degree from DePaul University College of Law and a Bachelor’s degree in Philosophy from North Central College. Prior to joining CAIR-Chicago in July 2008, Kevin dedicated his legal career to protecting individuals’ civil rights by working in small law firms for 8 years, gaining extensive experience in litigating employment discrimination matters. Outside of his work in private law firms, Kevin has been committed to working with the National Lawyers Guild, the only bar association which has the primary goal of valuing human rights over property interests.
Mohamed Abdelati
Finance Manager
Mohamed Abdelati is CAIR-Chicago's Finance Manager. He is a graduate from the University of Illinois at Chicago with a degree in Biological Sciences and English. Mohamed is a former communications intern with CAIR-Chicago. Mohamed works daily to keep a fully functional office. His primary responsibilities include working along outside vendors to fulfill administrative and operational needs for the office. He works with many IT specific issues and financial records for CAIR-Chicago. Mohamed appreciates the opportunity to work with the fantastic staff at CAIR-Chicago to promote a civil equality and a higher understanding of Islam to the community.
Alaa Abdelati
Auxillary Staff
Alaa Abdelati is the Auxiliary Staff at CAIR-Chicago. Alaa is a current student at DePaul University who is majoring in Computer Science. Alaa, who also goes by the name Al, is a contemporary Egyptian-American who is dedicated to lending a hand at CAIR whenever possible. Al makes up for his reservedness with gleams of spontaneity and an awe-inspiring sense of perceptibly which aids his self-driven, yet selfless nature. Outside of work and school, Al is a Chicago sports fanatic, who continuously roots for his Bears and stays up to date on the latest in computer technology.
Hanaa Kaloti
Summer Fellow
Hanaa completed her undergrad at Loyola Chicago and majored in accounting. She graduated summa cum laude and just graduated from Northwestern law school with honors, focusing on litigation. Hanaa gathered a lot of experience in law school. She externed with federal judges in the Northern District of Illinois and in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals. She also worked in the immigration clinic and in the civil rights clinic. Hanaa has participated in women’s leadership coalitions and the Muslim Student Association. She has worked as a summer associate at Kirkland & Ellis, where she will begin work in the litigation department in the fall. Hanaa grew up attending CAIR-Chicago events and wanted to give back to a community she long was a part of and that is why she decided to join CAIR-Chicago as a summer Fellow. Her hobbies include traveling and spending time with family and friends.
Hind Makki
Interfaith Director
Hind Makki is an interfaith educator who develops and delivers trainings on civic integration and community empowerment. An internationally recognized speaker, Hind has been invited to deliver speeches and workshops on interfaith cooperation, civic integration and developing Muslim women's leadership throughout North America and Western Europe. She is involved in building Muslim-Jewish relationships in Chicago and is an alumna of the American Muslim Civic Leadership Institute and is focused on challenging misogyny, racism and sectarianism in Muslim communities across the country. She is the founder and curator of Side Entrance, a crowd-sourced website that documents women's prayer experiences in mosques around the world. Hind holds a degree in International Relations from Brown University.
Austin Huette
Communications Coordinator
Austin is the Communications Coordinator at CAIR-Chicago. He is a graduate from Robert Morris University in Chicago with a degree in Graphic Design. A self-proclaimed "Renaissance Man" in regards to design, Austin has no plans on stopping the train that is his creative mind. He was previously a Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago before accepting the Coordinator position. In addition to being a member of AIGA, the professional association for design, he is also the Art Director for The Eagle - Robert Morris' school newspaper. In his free time, Austin enjoys playing golf, collecting records, making candles, and has watched every season of The Office at least eight times.
Josh Tikka
Communications Coordinator
Josh Tikka is the Communications Coordinator at CAIR-Chicago. Josh graduated from DePaul University in 2012, receiving a bachelor's in Communications and two minors in Arabic and Mandarin. He has previously authored two children's books, consulted on behalf of various non profits and NGOs, administrated a homeless outreach initiative, as well as taught abroad in Palestine for a semester in 2013. Josh has spoken extensively on issues of housing in Chicago and Palestine and has stayed active in activist communities domestically and abroad since 2008. In his free time, Josh enjoys writing, designing clothes, riding bicycles, and eating everything in sight.
Nour Zein
Youth Development Fellow
Nour Zein is a Youth Development Fellow at CAIR-Chicago. She is an alumna of the Illinois Center For Broadcasting with a focus in radio and tv production. She plans on pursuing a baccalaureate degree in Islamic Studies and a minor in Communications. Passionate about helping others, Nour strives to make a difference whether it's through inspirational videos or through articles. A freelance producer and lyricist, Nour actively volunteers at relief organizations, such as the Zakat Foundation and in community engagement such as MAS Outreach Chicago. Some of her broadcast experience includes internships at WGN-TV as an Entertainment Producer for Dean Richards, WBBM-FM B96 as a Promotions Intern and WVLI as a Producer. She plans on using her interests in television and radio to educate people of all ages and nationalities about Islam.
Angieszka Karoluk
Communications Coordinator
Agnieszka is the Communications Coordinator at CAIR Chicago. Agnieszka Karoluk graduated from DePaul University with a B.A. in Geography and spent one year studying at the New School University in New York. She previously has worked in the Islamic World Studies department at DePaul as an administrative assistant and interned at CAIR Chicago’s Communications department. Agnieszka has been a regular contributor and editor for the New School Free Press, DePaulia and more recently The Chicago Monitor. In 2011 Agnieszka traveled to India to conduct research on people’s movements in Mumbai and has taken this research to various conference presentations in Chicago and abroad. In her free time she enjoys attending lectures, concerts and movies.
Milo Markicevic
Office Coordinator
Milos is the Office Coordinator at CAIR-Chicago. He recently completed his Bachelor’s degree in Political Science with a minor in Journalism at DePaul University. A dual citizen (Serbian-Australian), Milos moved to Chicago in 2009 as an international student. He previously lived in the Middle East for over a decade with his family. Outside of CAIR he is a contributing writer and photographer for the music blog Brooklyn Vegan Chicago. A shameless geek, in his free time he collects vinyl records, reads comic books, and tries to put a dent in his large Steam backlog of video games.
Feras Alkhouri
IT Consultant
Feras is the IT Consultant at CAIR-Chicago. He recently graduated from the Faculty of Information Technology of Damascus University in Syria with a Bachelor's degree
Maryam Arain
Communcations Coordinator
Maryam graduated from the University of London’s School of Oriental and African Studies with a Master’s in Post/Colonial Studies. She is also a graduate of Dartmouth College, where she studied History modified with African and African American Studies with a minor in Gender Studies. She is passionate about race, gender and identity politics and is interested in issues of neo-imperialism and human rights. In her free time, she enjoys reading literary fiction and poetry; some of her favorite authors and poets include Haruki Murakami, Nazim Hikmet, bell hooks, Kurt Vonnegut, and Kishwar Naheed. She also has a penchant for art and design and is an avid music appreciator.
Noor Salahuddin
Office Coordinator
Noor Salahuddin is the Office Coordinator at CAIR-Chicago. Noor has a Bachelors degree in English literature from the University of Illinois at Chicago and has volunteered and trained under various non-profit organizations. Noor's responsibilities include enabling staff and interns to perform at their highest professional level by maintaining an organized work environment. Aside from operational duties, Noor also assists the Executive team with day-to-day tasks and special projects in order to keep the office running smoothly. Prior to this position, Noor has worked as a Communications intern at CAIR-Chicago and has written extensively on topics related to civil rights and social advocacy. As a young activist, Noor believes in CAIR-Chicago's mission of promoting tolerance and fighting bigotry, and is excited to become a part of the CAIR-Chicago team.
Yaser Tabbara
Executive Director
M. Yaser Tabbara, an attorney by profession, served as the executive director of CAIR-Chicago until 2006. During his tenure, he helped to establish CAIR-Chicago as a vibrant institution that continues to foster cutting-edge professional activism today. Yaser has a Bachelor’s degree in Political Science from the University of Illinois at Chicago and a Juris Doctor degree from the DePaul University College of Law. Prior to joining CAIR-Chicago, Yaser initiated the Post 9/11 Immigrant Legal Rights Project, which provided legal representation, outreach and education on immigration law and civil liberties to the Chicagoland Muslim and Arab communities. Later, he taught at the college of International Relations and Diplomacy at the University of Kalamoon in Damascus, Syria. He has received awards for his academic excellence and community service including a State Proclamation presented by Illinois State Senator Mattie Hunter. Tabbara is currently the Director of Chapter Development at the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) and serves as a board member at CAIR-Chicago, the Arab-American Bar Association, and the Muslim Educational and Cultural Center of America.
Maaria Mozaffar
Legal Advisor
Maaria is CAIR Chicago's Legal Advisor. Maaria founded and currently chairs the Civil Liberties Coalition of Illinois (CLCI), a coalition of 13 legal/advocacy organizations whose focus is to lobby Illinois elected representatives on the US Patriot Act and other civil liberties issues. Maaria also serves as legislative consultant for the Developing Justice Coalition (DJC), an interfaith community based coalition, on sentencing reform. In addition, Maaria serves as legislative consultant and member of Project Restore, the legislation/lobby arm of the Inner City Muslim Action Network (IMAN). Prior to her joining CAIR Chicago, Maaria clerked for the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, working on low income housing and welfare issues. Maaria graduated with a JD from the University of Illinois at College of Law in 2003, and received her Bachelors degrees in English and Political Science from University of Illinois at Chicago in 1999.
Sultan Mohammad
Communications Coordinator
Sultan Muhammad is CAIR–Chicago’s Communications Coordinator. His professional background and life experience have been highly concentrated in the field of audio-visual communications and the development of Islamic media as educational tools. Sultan produced ‘Muslim Daily Prayers - A learner’s Guide,' is a multi-media producer by trade, having trained in broadcast editing and production at NBC/Universal and is the co-founder of MPD studios based in Chicago. At an early age Sultan studied Arabic and Islamic studies, on scholarship, at the Minaret al-Riyadh International school in Riyadh Saudi Arabia. His experiences abroad and a seventy-five year family tradition of prominent Islamic activism in America have contributed largely to his life-long focus on building understanding through education, cultural dialog, and accurate representation of Muslims and minorities in America. Sultan is the son of the late Imam Sultan Muhammad, nephew of Imam W.D. Muhammad, and the grandson of Elijah Muhammad. He is married to a Mexican-American Muslim convert and currently resides on Chicago’s South side.
Hady Taslim
Community Organizer
Haady Taslim is the community organizer for CAIR-Chicago and runs a voter registration drive and get-out-the-vote campaign in Chicago's southwest suburbs. His main reason for becoming an organizer was to give Muslim and Arabs throughout Chicago a greater voice in our political landscape. Haady holds a Master's degree in public policy from the University of Chicago and a B.A. from the George Washington University in political science and French language and literature. Haady's prior organizing experience includes a brief stint with UNICEF working in Tamil Nadu, India. Before coming to Chicago, he also taught early elementary school for two years in inner-city New Orleans with Teach for America.
Amal Khan
Operations Coordinator
Amal Khan is CAIR-Chicago’s Operations Coordinator. She is a graduate from the University of California at Berkeley, with a degree in Middle Eastern and Southeast Asian History. A native of California, she feels that giving back to the community is vital in creating an environment conducive to self-preservation; for this reason Amal has been considerably involved in the Muslim community, volunteering with organizations such as Muslim-American Society (MAS), Islamic-Networks Group (ING), and Human Development Foundation (HDF.) As Operations Coordinator, Amal works closely with all inter-office departments in order to cultivate an environment which galvanizes energies to ensure a fully functional and efficient chapter. Amal brings her charismatic charm, animated personality and admiration for the cause to CAIR-Chicago.
Heena Musabji
Staff Attorney
Musabji is CAIR-Chicago’s Staff Attorney. She is a graduate of the DePaul University College of Law. Previously, Heena initiated the Women and Human Rights Law Initiative at DePaul, and served as director of the Sex Trafficking Opposition and Prevention Project with the International Human Rights Law Institute. Heena has also worked with the Midwest Immigrant Human Rights Center where she provided legal assistance and outreach to asylum seekers and immigrant survivors of violence, and is still involved with the organization as a pro bono attorney. She is dedicated to serving the community and advocating for those who are denied equal access to justice.
Rima Kapitan
Staff Attorney
Rima Kapitan is a Staff Attorney at CAIR-Chicago. She is a graduate of DePaul University College of Law and Indiana University and a partner with Amal Law Group, LLC, a general practice law firm. Her main areas of interest and specialization are plaintiff-side employment discrimination, civil rights law, workers’ compensation and estate planning. She is active in the National Lawyers Guild Middle East Committee. Previously, Rima worked as an extern at the ACLU Racial Justice Project and at the United States Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit.