Uplifting Black Muslim Youth

“An incredibly important work that begins to crack the code on the unseen and often ignored daily plight of African-American Muslims who, ironically, remain one of the most visible symbols of the original Islamic presence in this country.”

Jaleel Abdul-Adil, Ph.D., University of Illinois at Chicago, Co-Director of the Urban Youth Trauma Center, Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology in Psychiatry

“This work provides a comprehensive analysis of some of the ways Black Muslim youth experience the world and is an excellent place to start for anyone looking to deepen their engagement with and understanding of Black Muslim youth.”

Fatimah Jackson-Best, Ph.D., Black Health Alliance, Toronto, Canada

“Rooted in research and centering the voices of young Black Muslims, this book provides clear directions on how to better support Black Muslim youth. Concise, nuanced, and practical, it is essential reading!” 

Irshad Altheimer, Ph.D., Rochester Institute of Technology, Associate Professor of Criminal Justice, Director of the Center for Public Safety Initiatives (CPSI)

Sameera Ahmed, Ph.D. is the Director of The Family & Youth Institute. She holds a Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology and specializes in American Muslim youth and Muslim mental health. She serves as an Associate Editor for the Journal of Muslim Mental Health (JMMH) and is a Board Certified Licensed Psychologist in Michigan. Her areas of interest include: risk behaviors and protective factors of Muslim adolescents and young adults; promoting culturally and religiously meaningful psychotherapy; and skills-based parenting and marital interventions to strengthen families. Dr. Ahmed has published numerous journal articles, book chapters, reports, and is the Co-editor of Counseling Muslims: Handbook of Mental Health Issues and Interventions. She speaks nationally at academic conferences and has been invited to speak at the White House, the Department of Health and Human Services, Substance Abuse Mental Health Service Administration, and the Department of Education. She has been quoted by media outlets such as The Washington Post, New York Times, and Huffington Post for her expertise. In addition, she has been a community activist within the American Muslim community for more than thirty years and is regularly invited to speak at conferences and mosques across the nation.

Hanan Hashem, M.A. is a Research Assistant and Community Educator at The Family &Youth Institute. She completed her Master's in Counseling Psychology at Wayne State University and is currently pursuing her Doctorate in Counseling Psychology at The University of Texas at Austin. Hanan's focus lies in community-based research and program evaluation. Her current research explores contextual factors that influence American Muslim youth development, including the role of racial, religious, and gender identities in their everyday experiences. She has published numerous manuscripts and regularly presents at professional conferences. Hanan has been a community activist for the last ten years and focuses her efforts on youth empowerment through local Muslim Students' Associations, youth groups, regional camps and conferences, as well as serving as an educator for varying institutions.

Muneer Khalid, M.A. served as a Research intern at The Family and Youth Institute. He has a Masters in Educational Studies from the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. He is a middle school teacher at Scarlett Middle School, an International Baccalaureate school located in Ann Arbor, MI. Muneer has been involved with building curriculum to promote social-emotional development of middle school students and mentoring young people in after school activities, retreats, and camps for the past fifteen years.