13th Annual Awards Banquet: Faith Led, Justice Driven

Linda Sarsour is an award winning racial justice and civil rights activist, community organizer, every Islamophobe’s worst nightmare and mother of three. She is a Palestinian-Muslim-American born and raised in Brooklyn, New York. She is the former Executive Director of the Arab American Association of New York and the co-founder of the first Muslim online organizing platform, MPower Change. She is a member of the Justice League NYC, a leading force of activists, artists, youth and formerly incarcerated individuals committed to criminal justice reform through direct action and policy advocacy. Most recently, she was one of the national co-chairs of the largest single day protest in US history, the Women’s March on Washington. She has been named amongst 500 of the most influential Muslims in the world. She has won numerous awards including Champion of Change from the Obama Administration. She was recognized as one of Fortune’s 50 Greatest Leaders and featured as one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people in the world in 2017. She is a frequent media commentator on issues impacting Muslim communities, Middle East affairs and criminal justice reform and most recognized for her transformative intersectional organizing work and movement building.

Hassan Shibly, the son of Syrian immigrants, was raised in Buffalo New York. His father, an oral surgeon, and mother, an orthodontist, instilled in Hassan an immigrant’s wonder and determination.

Hassan graduated Magna Cum Laude from the State University of New York at Buffalo with a degree in Political Science concentrating on International Relations. He subsequently graduated amongst the top of his class from the University at Buffalo Law School. During his time in Law School, Hassan served as a Public Interest Law Fellow and on the Human Rights Advisory Committee. He was admitted to the Florida Bar in December 2011. Additionally, Hassan was admitted to practice in Florida’s federal courts in April 2012.

He interned with the New York Civil Liberties Union and has written opinions for two New York Supreme Court Judges. In Western New York, Hassan has worked with various legal organizations including Muslim Advocates, National Lawyers Guild, Erie County Bar Association and Erie County Family Court, to help develop programs that protect the Civil Rights of all Americans, and help the American Muslim Community integrate and contribute to America.

Hassan lectures regularly on issues relating to Islam, American Muslims and Civil Rights. Hassan has taught courses on Islamic belief, law, history, spirituality and culture. He actively works with various inter-faith and social service organizations to assist those in need and promote cooperation and understanding between diverse faiths and cultures. Hassan often serves as a consultant on Islam for NGO’s, non-profit organizations, government agencies, media organizations, youth groups, and law enforcement.

He has appeared numerous times in both local and national media outlets including CNN, NPR, Voice of America, the New York Times, the Toronto Star and the Buffalo News for his work protecting civil liberties and promoting understanding of the Muslim faith. He runs a successful academic publishing company focusing on the traditional Islamic sciences, and is the founder of the Center for American Muslim Understanding. Hassan’s work has earned him the attention of various Islamophobic publications, which criticize Hassan for “deceiving the American People” by “promoting a peaceful and tolerant image of Islam.”

Moses The Comic is a seasoned Muslim comedian with a diverse range of innovative concepts who began his comedy career in Philadelphia at the world famous Laff-House. Since then Moses has performed all over the world with his routine bridging the gap between Muslims & Non-Muslims from Caroline’s on Broadway, The Hollywood Improv, The Laugh Factory, Uptown Comedy Corner, Jokes & Notes & many more. Moses has toured and/or performed domestic and internationally with superstar entertainers Kevin Hart, Michael Blackson, Steve Harvey, George Wallace, Charlie Murphy, Kelly Price, Snoop Dogg, Tommy Davidson, Deen Squad, Omar Regan, Preacher Moss, Jill Scott, Kindred The Family Soul among many others and has been featured on the BBC IPlayer and British Muslim Television Network in the UK.

Moses performed and headlined in the sold out international & domestic comedy shows “The Super Muslim Comedy Tour” which has sold out over 50 shows across six countries and has been a huge success receiving rave reviews & raised over 3 million dollars for various relief efforts worldwide. Due to the success of the tour it won the “Fundraising Campaign of the Year” at the Muslim charity Awards in the United Kingdom.

Moses The Comic starred in a Comedy Central Test Pilot “Minimum Wage” and is a registered writer with the Library of Congress and a member of the ‘Writers Guild East’ for writing an episode of the animated show “Family Guy”. Moses continues to establish innovative content for his fan base across his various social media platforms from viral videos and live performances through shows he produces such as “Let My People Laugh” and “The Soul & Laughter Series”, the latter of which is a full scale R&B Concert/Comedy show. Moses is currently producing a web series entitled “It’s Always Sunni In Philadelphia” and can be seen performing in multi-city venues touring domestic and internationally.