It began with a desire for a new kind of connection. The idea for the ALF Muslim Affinity Group was first introduced by board member Muhammed Chaudhry (Class XXVI), who wanted to connect with the diverse Muslim Senior Fellows in the ALF network and identify other Muslim leaders in the Silicon Valley—and beyond—that could benefit from ALF’s approach to leadership. A call was sent out and answered. Soon, a few seasoned leaders agreed to meet over Zoom to clarify the group’s intentions and vision for the future.
Born from their virtual planning meetings were a triad of intentions: identify Muslim-Americans who might benefit from ALF’s methodology, identify a project the affinity group could collaborate on with another nonprofit or organization, and identify topics that could be presented to Senior Fellows.
The affinity group had its second in-person gathering at Aftab Jamil’s (Class XXXVII) home for an evening of dinner, dialogue, and connection. The dinner allowed for a deeper connection within the budding group and served as a welcoming for people to commit to the work. Despite juggling busy schedules, the group understood the importance of bringing civic-minded individuals together to discuss the pressing issues of the region and the planet at large.
“The question of whether we’ve inherited the planet from our parents or if it’s simply on loan from our children is a pivotal distinction that’s explored in the faith.”
One topic the group discussed at the dinner was environmental sustainability. While environmental issues are not the only subject the group is passionate about, a presentation was given at the dinner that offered a unique perspective on the matter.
Dr. Mohammad Qayoumi (Class XXV) presented Islam and the environment: how religion, beliefs, and paradigms play an integral part in how we treat our environment. Knowledge is paramount in Islam. The question of whether we’ve inherited the planet from our parents or if it’s simply on loan from our children is a pivotal distinction that’s explored in the faith.
How does our perspective on the environment influence our actions? What beliefs or paradigms do we hold that affect how we treat our planet? These were only a few of the questions from the presentation posed by Dr. Qayoumi.
While dialogues regarding the environment, sustainability, and climate change are essential, they are only one type of initiative the group will explore. The affinity group endeavors to present other civic topics to the ALF network, including, but not limited to, democracy and governance, food security, positive and negative impacts of technology, and wellness and health care. They have considered ideas such as inviting Senior Fellows to participate in a panel, creating a forum for presentations and conversations and identifying individuals who might benefit from ALF.
“The Muslim Affinity Group encourages any Senior Fellow who identifies as Muslim to be a part of their efforts and to respectfully engage with leaders of different levels of faith, background, and perspective.”
The affinity group aims to further the work on these topics by partnering with other organizations or nonprofits to pool resources. Acting as bridge-builders and positive contributors, the group will support organizations that are already doing the work to solve the important issues of our lifetime.
Yet the whole is more powerful than the sum of its parts. The Muslim Affinity Group encourages any Senior Fellow who identifies as Muslim to be a part of their efforts and to respectfully engage with leaders of different levels of faith, background, and perspective. The group has connected with Muslim leaders within Silicon Valley and has already reached out to other ALF chapters.
These chapters include ALF Mountain Valley in Sacramento and ALF Houston/Gulf Coast to discuss social issues such as the refugees from Afghanistan and resettlement. Their goal for connecting with other chapters is to build a larger community of different sects of Islam, provide resources or information about Islam, and address the civic topics previously mentioned.
While the affinity group is new, they have already built meaningful relationships across different sectors and states. They are eager to find ways to address the issues of our world, encourage open-minded leadership, and welcome others to join them in their mission.
Learn more about the ALF Muslim Affinity Group
Allyson relocated to San Jose from Central California and joined the ALF team in June 2021 where she’s grateful for the diverse communities she gets to work with everyday. In her free time she enjoys writing stories, drawing, and reading the latest fantasy novel on the beach.
