The Peace Awards Program is an opportunity to recognize individuals who have demonstrated courage and the ability to build collaborative relationships to create positive social change. We are grateful to everyone who nominated a leader.
The El-Hibri Foundation is delighted to announce the following list of eligible nominees for the 2016 Peace Awards.
The following leaders were nominated for the 2016 El-Hibri Peace Education Prize ($30,000), for dedicating their lives to making outstanding contributions and demonstrating long-term leadership in building inclusive and socially just communities in the United States. These individuals are recognized for using cutting-edge approaches to catalyze positive social change across widespread and diverse audiences:
Ghada Abdulaziz, Georgetown Jewish-Muslim Women's Group
Dr. Mohammed Abunimer, American University
Ambassador Akbar Ahmed, American University
Paul "Khalid" Alexander, Pillars of the Community
Debbie Almontaser, Muslim Community Network
Dr. Evelyn Alsultany, Arab and Muslim American Studies at the University of Michigan
Najah Bazzy, Zaman International
Rais Bhuiyan, World Without Hate
Sheikh Musa Drammeh, New York Peace Coalition
Tarek El-Messidi, CelebrateMercy
Rev. Laura George, The Oracle Institute
Khadija Gurnah, Project Ejaba
Mirna Haidar, Z-Collective
Chaplain Asma Hanif, Muslimat Al-Nisaa
Nadia Hassan, Young Leaders Institute
Dr. Charles Haynes, Newseum and Newseum Institute
Laurin Hodge, Mission: Launch
Malek Jandali, Pianos for Peace
Aaron Jenkins, Center for Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships, Department of Commerce
Soumaya Khalifa, Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta
Azim Khamisa, Tariq Khamisa Foundation
Omer Kiyani, Sentinl
Rev. James Lawson, Jr., United Methodist Church
Aisha Lbhalla, Muslim Women’s Council
Dr. Hillel Levine, International Center for Conciliation
Brie Loskota, USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture
Dr. Rami Nashashibi, Inner-City Muslim Action Network
Mary Joan and Jerry Park, Little Friends for Peace
Dr. Eboo Patel, Interfaith Youth Core
Dr. Marc Pilisuk, Saybrook University
Amanda Saab, Amandasplate LLC
Azadeh Shahshahani, Project South
Jihad Turk, Bayan Claremont Islamic Graduate School
Rev. Jim Wallis, Sojourners
Larry Yang, East Bay Meditation Center
The following leaders were nominated for the 2016 Young Leader Award ($5,000), for promoting inclusion and developing community-building resources and collaborative relationships necessary for mobilizing social change:
Rana Abdelhamid, Women’s Initiative for Self-Empowerment
Sadiya Abjani, Muslim Alliance for Sexual and Gender Diversity
Sumaya Abubaker, USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture
Ahmad Abuznaid, Dream Defenders
Dr. Sameera Ahmed, The Family and Youth Institute
Madihha Ahussain, Muslim Advocates
Hana Alasry, Muslim American Society - Detroit
Laila Alawa, The Tempest
Naureen Ali, Houston Independent School District
Rajeen Amin, Islamic Center of Scranton
Shannon Erwin, Muslim Justice League
Maryam Eskandari, MIIM Designs
Tawfiq Farraj, Council for the Advancement of Muslim Professionals
Mirna Haidar, Z-Collective
Umar Hakim, ILM Foundation
Milia Islam-Majeed, South Coast Interfaith Council
Namira Islam, MuslimARC
Sarwat Jafri, Mubarakville
Sarah Jawaid, PICO Los Angeles
Wardah Khalid, Poligon
Sondos Kholaki, Two Faiths, One Friendship
Younus Mirza, Allegheny College
Jenan Mohajir, Interfaith Youth Core
Arbazz Mohammed, Sahaba Initiative
Essraa Nawar, Chapman University
Asha Noor, National Network for Arab American Communities
Sahar Pirzada, Council on American-Islamic Relations - LA
Chaplain Kameelah Rashad, Muslim Wellness Foundation
Lori Saroya, Council on American-Islamic Relations
Amina Spahic, EmergeUSA
The following leaders were nominated for the 2016 Fearless Ally Award ($5,000), for demonstrating outstanding courage in challenging Islamophobia and working alongside American Muslim communities to support inclusion, collaboration, and capacity building:
Ruth Broyde Sharone, Southern California Parliament of the World’s Religions
Frank Chi, Chi/Donahoe
Jordan Denari Duffner, Bridge Initiative at Georgetown University
Rev. Dr. Joshua Graves, Otter Creek Church
Dr. Todd Green, Luther College
Traci Ishigo, Japanese American Citizens League
Jem Jebbia, Northeastern University Center for Spirituality, Dialogue, and Service
John Kiser, The William and Mary Greve Foundation
Nathan Lean, Bridge Initiative at Georgetown University
Brie Loskota, USC Center for Religion and Civic Culture
Michal Meulenberg, Two Faiths, One Friendship
Joelle Novey, Interfaith Power and Light
R. Skyler Oberst, Spokane Interfaith Council
Catherine Orsborn, Shoulder to Shoulder
Christopher Records, University of Southern California
Aaron Stauffer, Religions for Peace USA
Rabbi Dr. Burt Visotzky, Jewish Theological Seminary
Congratulations to all of the nominees! Peace Award winners will be announced in the fall of 2016.