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Comment: Merge important details into Black Muslim Leadership Council. Safari ScribeEdits! Talk! 06:35, 17 November 2024 (UTC)
- Comment: See WP:COI. See also WP:BLP. Statements, starting with the date of birth, need to be sourced or removed. Here, the early life section has a single source which makes no mention of the subject. Greenman (talk) 08:05, 3 October 2024 (UTC)
- Comment: Please do NOT resubmit until substantial amendments have been made to the draft, notably the addition of multiple, independent, verifiable secondary sources (please see WP:ANYBIO, WP:RS). Cabrils (talk) 01:27, 2 October 2024 (UTC)
- Comment: Doesn't meet WP:GNG. The first source isn't reliable because it is an WP:INTERVIEW. The second source, a website of the Black Muslim Leadership Council, does present a bare or narrowly, a just verifiable but not reliable source. The same with many sources there. Read helpful essays: WP:42 and WP:CITE. Safari ScribeEdits! Talk! 18:25, 1 October 2024 (UTC)
Salima Suswell is an American political strategist, activist and community mobilizer. She has won numerous awards for her work, particularly for the Black Muslim community.[1]
Suswell is the founder of Black Muslim Leadership Council, Black Muslim Leadership Council Fund, Evolve Solutions, the Philadelphia Ramadan & Eid Fund, and Halal Resources Group, Inc.
Early life and education
editSuswell was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania to a family of Black American Muslims.[2] Her father, Imam Asim Abdur-Rashid, was a prominent imam in the city; she often cites him as an inspiration for her activism.[3]
Suswell studied Business Administration at Drexel University and Organizational Development & Leadership at Saint Joseph's University.
Career
editBlack Muslim Leadership Council
editIn 2024, Suswell founded[4] Black Muslim Leadership Council (BMLC), a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization dedicated to policy advocacy for urban communities, voter turnout, civic education, and leadership development.[5]
BMLC is the first Black American Muslim-led organization of its kind in the nation.[6]
Black Muslim Leadership Council Fund
editIn 2024, Suswell founded Black Muslim Leadership Council Fund (BMLC Fund), the 501(c)(4) advocacy wing of BMLC. BMLC Fund advocates for policies for urban communities, as well as endorses candidates[7] who support the morals, values, and needs of the communities it serves.[8]
In August 2024, BMLC Fund announced its endorsement of Vice President Kamala Harris for president of the United States.[9]
Evolve Solutions
editSuswell founded Evolve Solutions[10] in 2010 and has served as President & CEO since its inception. Evolve Solutions is a government relations and community engagement consulting firm founded in 2010 to address the racial and socio-economic disparities within urban communities.
Litigation Specialist
editFrom 2008 to 2010, Suswell served as a Senior Litigation Specialist in the U.S. Attorney's Office (Eastern District of Pennsylvania).[11] In the role, she provided investigatory litigation support to the Health Care Fraud Department.
Other
editSuswell served as Pennsylvania Deputy Senior Advisor for the Biden-Harris 2020 campaign.[12]
Political Appointments
editIn 2017, Suswell became as the first Muslim woman appointed to the Pennsylvania Commission for Women. She was appointed by Governor Tom Wolf.[13]
Since 2020, Suswell has served as Commissioner for the Mayor's Commission for Faith-Based and Interfaith Affairs in Philadelphia. She was appointed by Mayor Jim Kenney.[14]
In 2023, Suswell was reappointed to the Pennsylvania Commission for Women by Governor Josh Shapiro.[15]
In 2023-2024, Suswell served on Mayor Cherelle Parker’s transition team as Vice Chair of the Immigrant & Multicultural Affairs Committee.[16]
Activism
editSuswell is known for her community organizing and voter mobilization efforts.[17] She has experience in coalition building and working with mosques and other community organizations nationwide on civic engagement efforts.[18] Her work focuses on Muslims, Black Muslims, women, and urban communities, primarily in Pennsylvania.
In April 2024, Suswell met with President Joe Biden, Vice President Kamala Harris, National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, and other senior members of the Biden Administration to call for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza, safe return of all hostages, and for the resumption of humanitarian aid to Palestine. She also emphasized the longstanding solidarity between Black Muslims and Palestinians.[19] She also discussed domestic policy concerns with President Biden, including gun violence in urban communities, Black maternal health, affordable housing, economic opportunity, and environmental justice.[20]
In July 2024, Suswell attended an interfaith roundtable with Second Gentleman Doug Emhoff.[21] The roundtable included discussions about how to combat hate crimes and religious-based discrimination.[22]
Suswell regularly gives interviews and writes op-eds about the importance of civic engagement and voting, as well as about civil and human rights. She has been interviewed by the Philadelphia Inquirer[23], the New York Times,[24] the Washington Post,[25] the Wall Street Journal,[26] Al-Jazeera,[27] NBC News,[28] the Philadelphia Sunday Sun,[29] ABC6 Action News,[30] and more. She also has written op-eds on the importance of voting and representation. Her op-eds have been published in the Religion News Service,[31] the Philadelphia Tribune,[32] MSNBC,[33] and more.
She also regularly gives speeches, including at Mayor Cherelle Parker's electoral victory reception and at the 2017 Women's March on Philadelphia, which had over 60,000 attendees.[34]
Volunteer Work
editSuswell is the founder of Philadelphia Ramadan & Eid Fund (PREF), a nonprofit that hosts the annual City Hall Ramadan Iftar Dinner,[35] Eid holiday celebrations, community food distributions,[36] educational programming for youth and families, and advocacy for Muslim students. PREF's Philadelphia Eid Coalition led a successful campaign to obtain the recognition of the two Islamic (Eid) Holidays on the academic calendar for Philadelphia Public Schools. In 2019 PREF presented its inaugural Philly Eid in the Park Festival, which attended by over 15,000 community members.[37]
Suswell serves on the Leadership Council for the United Negro College Fund, Philadelphia Chapter, as well as on the host committee for the annual United Negro College Fund Mayor's Masked Ball, which raises nearly one million dollars annually to support historically Black college and university education.[38]
Suswell served as Vice President and Organizer for the Women's March on Philadelphia in 2018, which drew over 60,000 attendees, and in 2019, and 2020.[39]
Suswell served as Chair of the Muslim American Host Committee for the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia.[40]
Awards and recognition
editSuswell has won a wide variety of awards in recognition of her community leadership efforts; these awards include:
- City & State Pennsylvania, Pennsylvania Impact Award, December 2023[41]
- UNCF Keeper of the Flame Award, May 2023[42]
- Recognized by Center for American Progress, as 2022 Faith Leader to Watch[43]
- Philadelphia City Council Citation honoring leadership of Please Touch Museum's groundbreaking exhibition, America To Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far, January 2019[44]
References
edit- ^ Danailova, Hilary (2023-12-11). "The 2023 Impact 75". City & State PA. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
- ^ Lear, Len (2020-06-03). "Germantown activist and American Muslim makes history". The Chestnut Hill Local. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
- ^ "On The Square". Spotify. Retrieved 2024-10-10.
- ^ Santos, Kiara (2024-03-08). "Nation's first council for Black Muslims launches in Philadelphia". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ "Newly formed Black Muslim Leadership Council announces 2024 GOTV and accountability strategies". The Philadelphia Sunday Sun. 2024-03-10. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ MacDonald, Tom (March 8, 2024). "The BMLC wants to highlight the needs of Black Muslims". WHYY. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Alcindor, Yamiche (2024-08-02). "Black Muslim group endorses Harris after its 'uncommitted' stance on Biden". NBC News. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Bernard, Layla A. Jones | Katie (2024-07-22). "Black and Asian American leaders in Philly hope Kamala Harris' candidacy will energize Democrats". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Salam, Erum (2024-08-02). "Key Black Muslim group backs Kamala Harris for president over Gaza stance". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Holmes, Kristin E. (2019-02-01). "Please Touch Museum stages groundbreaking Muslim exhibit with a place to pray". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
- ^ "Philadelphia Public Record". 3 October 2019.
- ^ Khabir, Aliya Z. (2020-11-23). "Philly Muslims Bring It Home In the 2020 Presidential Election!". Muslim Journal. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
- ^ Bailey, Samaria (2017-11-15). "State Commission for Women gets first Muslim member". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ Graves-Fitzsimmons, Guthrie. "22 Faith Leaders To Watch in 2022".
- ^ "Governor's Advisory Commission on Women Swears in New Members | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania". www.pa.gov. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
- ^ "Sub-Committees – Transition 2023". Retrieved 2024-10-02.
- ^ aliyafaust (2024-07-01). "Black Muslim Leadership Council Hopes To Empower Black Muslims To Take Political Action". Elev8. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
- ^ Tucker, Afea (2021-01-18). "Islam: Looking at African American leaders past and present from Elijah Muhammad to imams at local masjids". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
- ^ Woodson, Jr., Cleve (April 17, 2024). "Biden's handling of Gaza shakes his support in the Black community". The Washington Post.
- ^ Harb, Ali. "Why Biden's White House iftar unravelled amid Gaza war". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ "Doug Emhoff Holds Interfaith Roundtable | C-SPAN.org". www.c-span.org. Retrieved 2024-10-02.
- ^ SARISOHN, Hannah (2024-07-18). "'We cannot become divided': Doug Emhoff meets interfaith leaders at White House". The Jerusalem Post | JPost.com. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Armstrong, Jenice (2024-03-12). "Philly's new Black Muslim group seeks to pressure — not abandon — Biden over Gaza | Jenice Armstrong". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Green, Erica (April 3, 2024). "How Biden's White House Gathering for Ramadan Unraveled Over Gaza". The New York Times.
- ^ Woodson, Jr., Cleve (April 17, 2024). "Biden's handling of Gaza shakes his support in the Black community". The Washington Post.
- ^ Siddiqui, Sabrina. "Biden's Approach to Gaza Conflict Angers Both Sides at Home".
- ^ Harb, Ali. "Why Biden's White House iftar unravelled amid Gaza war". Al Jazeera. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ "VP Harris endorsed by Black Muslim Organization". NBC News. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ "Newly formed Black Muslim Leadership Council announces 2024 GOTV and accountability strategies". The Philadelphia Sunday Sun. 2024-03-10. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ "Action News 6ABC Clip, Black Muslim Leadership Council Launch and Press Conference". Black Muslim Leadership Council. 2024-03-09. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Suswell, Salima (August 30, 2023). "Black Muslims will play a big role in the next election. Join us". religionnews.com. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Suswell, Salima (2020-04-14). "I am not your token: American Muslims and the 2020 election". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Suswell, Salima (2024-09-04). "Opinion | Fellow Muslims keep asking me why I support Kamala Harris. Here's what I say". MSNBC.com. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Slaughter, Dustin (2017-01-22). "Philadelphia Women's March Demonstrates Massive Resistance to Trump Presidency". The Philly Declaration. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ "Philadelphia holding annual Iftar meal, fundraiser, Maghrib prayer at City Hall". CBS News. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Khalifa, Heather (May 2020). "Food boxes replace community Iftars during Ramadan". Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Alvarez, Alejandro (2024-04-10). "See Philadelphia Muslims celebrate Eid al-Fitr to mark the end of Ramadan". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ "The 2023 Impact 75". City & State PA. 2023-12-11. Retrieved 2024-10-01.
- ^ Orso, Anna (2018-01-20). "Women's March on Philadelphia: Thousands protest for the second time". www.inquirer.com. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ "Philadelphia Muslim Community Gears Up For The Democratic National Convention - CBS Philadelphia". www.cbsnews.com. 2016-07-22. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ "2023 Pennsylvania Impact Awards". www.cityandstatepa.com. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ "2024 UNCF Women of Faith for Education Afternoon Tea - Philadelphia". UNCF. 2024-07-27. Retrieved 2024-09-30.
- ^ Graves-Fitzsimmons, Guthrie. "22 Faith Leaders To Watch in 2022".
- ^ Bailey, Samaria (2020-01-08). "Philadelphia entrepreneur Salima Suswell appointed to Please Touch Museum board of trustees". The Philadelphia Tribune. Retrieved 2024-09-30.