The Peaceful Families Project (PFP) is an initiative devoted to ending domestic violence in Muslim families by facilitating awareness workshops for Muslim leaders and communities, providing cultural sensitivity trainings and technical assistance for professionals, conducting research, and developing resources. PFP was founded by Sharifa Alkhateeb (1946-2004) in the year 2000. As a pioneer of Muslim anti-domestic violence advocacy, Sharifa worked tirelessly on behalf of Muslim victims and collaborated with Muslim leaders, communities, and activists across the U.S. as she provided workshops to raise awareness levels.
In an effort to affect change in all areas impacting victims and survivors of domestic violence, our programming includes prevention and intervention in its approach to community education and development, training and technical assistance, and research. We encourage a holistic approach to addressing domestic violence among Muslim families and communities through collaboration with imams, community leaders, community members, social service professionals, activists, educators, legal providers, and youth leaders.
Our Staff and Board of Directors are visionary community leaders who are dedicated to the mission of ending domestic violence through prevention work. Through their talent and expertise, the Peaceful Families Project is able to execute its mission and vision to promote attitudes and beliefs that emphasize justice, freedom from oppression, and family harmony.
In an effort to affect change in all areas impacting victims and survivors of domestic violence, our programming includes prevention and intervention in its approach to community education and development, training and technical assistance, and research. We encourage a holistic approach to addressing domestic violence among Muslim families and communities through collaboration with imams, community leaders, community members, social service professionals, activists, educators, legal providers, and youth leaders.
Our Staff and Board of Directors are visionary community leaders who are dedicated to the mission of ending domestic violence through prevention work. Through their talent and expertise, the Peaceful Families Project is able to execute its mission and vision to promote attitudes and beliefs that emphasize justice, freedom from oppression, and family harmony.
Executive Team
Dr. Denise Berte |
Dr. Denise Ziya Berte is a licensed doctoral level clinical psychologist with over 25 years experience in forensic psychology and trauma (including domestic violence) and international issues related to mental health , war and refugees. Dr. Berte graduated from Temple University in Philadelphia with a Bachelors degree in Psychology and from the State University of New York at Albany with a Masters and Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology. She is a licensed psychologist in Pennsylvania, Delaware and the State of Palestine. Dr. Berte was previously the Director of the Liberty Center for Survivors of Torture and the Clinical Director of An Najah Child Institute in Nablus, Palestine as well as a visiting professor for over five years at the Medical faculty at An Najah National University of Palestine. Dr. Berte has worked in Latin America, West Africa, the Middle East and Asia. She speaks Spanish and English fluently and French and Arabic with moderate fluency. Dr. Berte had published over 17 articles in professional journals and three book chapters. Dr. Berte is an international trainer in the areas of Mental Health and Trauma presenting to community and professional audiences on a regular basis. Dr. Berte is currently practicing in the PA, NJ and DE areas. Dr. Berte is a practicing Muslim and strives to enrich and enhance Muslim communities whenever possible.
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Tahani ChaudhryCoordinator of Research and Resource Development
tchaudhry@peacefulfamilies.org |
Tahani Chaudhry is currently pursuing a PhD in Clinical Psychology at George Mason University. She is passionate about serving the mental health needs of the Muslim and South Asian communities. Her research focuses on trauma and resilience, particularly the role of religion in facilitating resilience for Muslim survivors of intimate partner violence. Beyond research, she is passionate about community work with marginalized communities, facilitating access to services, and promoting resilience. Tahani has volunteered with domestic violence organizations serving South Asians and Muslims, creating professional development workshops for residents at a local shelter. Tahani recently moved to Northern Virginia and is looking forward to becoming a part of the Muslim community in the area.
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Volunteers & Interns
Oluwakemi Haseeba Jinadu-TesunbiIntern
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My name is Oluwakemi Haseeba Jinadu-Tesunbi. I am a Nigerian. I completed my secondary education in Nigeria and travelled abroad for further studies. I have a Master's in Education from the University of Gloucestershire in England, majoring in Continuing Education. My doctoral dissertation is on hold while I pursue my Master's in Social Work at Northcentral University in the U.S.A. I am currently a case manager with the Maryland State Department of Human Services. I was an educationist for over twenty years, teaching at the elementary through adult education level, and I was also the director of a daycare and manager of an after-school program in the U.S.A and abroad. I am with Peaceful Families Project as a field practicum intern for the next 24 weeks. I am blessed to be placed with PFP and others in the organization who have been very helpful to me in settling in and navigating its programs and resources.
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Dania PratiwiIntern
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Dania Pratiwi is a student of Master of Science in Nonprofit Leadership, University of Pennsylvania. Dania is originally from Jakarta, Indonesia. She has 11 years of working experience in various international NGOs before she received scholarship from the Government of Republic of Indonesia to continue her study at UPenn. In her spare time, she loves to read historical fiction and cook.
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Malena Ramadan
Volunteer
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Malena is currently a B.A. candidate at George Mason University pursuing Communications and Legal Studies. She is a Muslim Egyptian, and deeply values giving back to a community that has given her many blessings throughout her life. She hopes to go to law school after undergrad and eventually serve underrepresented women and families as a family lawyer. Malena brings specialties to Peaceful Families Project such as public relations experience, non-profit interorganizational communication, social media background, research assistance, and a significant connection to Muslim Student Associations on the east coast. Malena greatly looks forward to the work and opportunities ahead as part of Peaceful Families Project!
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Brunah VenterIntern
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Brunah Namaya Mukoya is a senior legal officer in the Ministry Of Justice ( Namibia), working for the office of the Prosecutor-General and stationed at Ondangwa magistrate court (Oshana Region) to represent the state in criminal proceedings. She joined the prosecution office on 22 August 2016 at the age of 22, At the beginning she was placed in the district court which basically deals with not so serious offenses, however it's important to note that, it is in the district court where one meets several Domestic violence cases on a daily basis. After 3 years in the disctrict court she was promoted to the Regional court, which deals with more serious cases such as Murder, Rape and so on, in this court she mostly deals with Sexual and Domestic violence cases. Her interest is more in sexual and domestic violence cases and she longs to be extensively trained in that area so that she can become a specialised prosecutor. She holds an LLB Honors degree from The University of Namibia which she attained in April 2016.
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Board of Directors
Lina HashemPresident
President@peacefulfamilies.org |
Lina Hashem is a native to Northern Virginia and has worked with several organizations over the years to help facilitate and organize opportunities for others to learn and support social and humanitarian causes through organizations such as the Muslim Students Association, Islamic Relief, Foundation for Appropriate and Immediate Temporary Help's (FAITH) ‘Herndon without Hunger’ program, and the ‘United Against Malaria’ campaign. She has worked with the Deen Intensive's Rihla program to organize academic and spiritual trips in the US, Spain, and Turkey where students studied and learned from scholars on various topics including the social sciences of Islam. Lina has over 10 years of experience in the IT industry as an IT consultant and has worked in the DC metro area for business and management consulting firms. Her experience was nationally recognized through the Women of Color STEM award. She served as VP of MSA National and chaired the advisory board which connected her to students across the US and Canada where she organized and promoted student leading programs in activism, leadership, spiritual guidance, and helped organize regional and national conferences. Her passion in connecting people and resources led her to form her own company, Lina Hashem PR. Her first client was Zarqa Nawaz, creator of the Canadian hit sitcom, ‘Little Mosque on the Prairie’. Through Lina Hashem PR, Lina has represented authors, social media personalities, and organized speaking tours and events.
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Saman QuraeshiSecretary
Secretary@peacefulfamilies.org |
Saman Quraeshi is the Program Director at Ikram Foundation. She received her Bachelors at the University of North Florida in Communications, and is currently pursuing her masters in Social Work and Conflict Analysis. Saman is interested in gender based violence and healthy relationships. She has been working in the non-profit sector for over 10 years and feels passionately about the empowerment of Muslim women. She worked for the national civil rights organization, CAIR (Council on American Islamic Relations), as the Community Relations Director, and was also the youngest board member for the Jacksonville chapter of The National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ).
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Noorin KhanTreasurer
treasurer@peacefulfamilies.org |
Noorin Khan is an Assistant Director of Global Brand Marketing for a large consulting firm carrying out digital strategies across diverse business cultures. A “boomerang” to the DC area after 8yrs, Noorin is enthusiastic to be reunited with her roots in service to her native community and beyond. She brings over 13 years of experience in Business Consulting, Program Management, Marketing and Strategic Planning. Noorin was awarded a service coin by the U.S. Navy Nurse Corp for her role in leading programs and initiatives for military professionals with PTSD. She brought Program and Financial Management guidance to these programs whose success further implemented similar programs for other military branches that continue to thrive today. Outside of work, she serves as a formal mentor for UStrive, a Strive for College program dedicated to alleviating inequity in access to higher education and is a life skills workshop leader for the Junior Achievement Program. Noorin has a passion for bringing people together to share their unique perspectives in exploring solutions for complex community issues. Her articles on misconceptions of Islam and modern-day Muslims in America are published in the “Arts of the Islamic World” by The Smithsonian Freer and Sackler Galleries. Noorin is committed to every effort she takes on, starting with raising her three beautiful children with her loving husband in the community that helped spark her passions.
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Sana AhmedBoard Member
sana.ahmed@peacefulfamilies.org |
Sana Ahmed, LCSW is the Director of Therapy and Rehabilitation Services at Stanford Children’s Hospital’s Immune Behavioral Health Clinic. Sana is the primary psychotherapist for all clinic patients at the first established PANS clinic in the country. She received a B.S. in Media, Culture, and Communications from NYU and a Masters' degree in Social Work from Columbia University. She has previously provided therapy to women with disabilities at NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases, worked with at-risk children in a public middle school in the Bronx, and conducted group therapy for adolescents and adults in a psychiatric hospital's intensive outpatient program (IOP). She has worked with children, young adults, and families over a broad spectrum of issues including domestic abuse, depression, anxiety, OCD, addiction, adjustment to illness, and eating restriction. Sana practices CBT and ERP and pulls techniques from a variety of other therapies. One of the main motivating factors that inspired Sana to become a psychotherapist was to help lift the stigma around help-seeking behaviors for mental health and domestic abuse related issues within the Muslim community.
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Antonio GlennBoard Member
antonio.glenn@peacefulfamilies.org |
Antonio graduated from the University of Dayton School of Law in 2008, with a focus in Business Law. He passed the Maryland Bar in 2010 and Texas Bar in 2016. Antonio was also selected and licensed to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States in 2017. While in law school, Antonio held law clerk positions at several law firms as well as the Maryland Public Defender’s office. In February 2007, he took a position as a Consultant at the National Association of Home Builders (NAHB) where he assisted home building executives to develop corporate entity strategies, business plans, and sales techniques, so they could successfully navigate the housing downturn from 2008-2011. Antonio remained at the NAHB until March 2012, when he founded The Law Office of Antonio M. Glenn, LLC, a solo practice specializing in small business consulting, succession planning and family estate planning. Antonio has built his practice into a profitable brand with a strong reputation by providing sound legal advice to his clients and developing lasting relationships built on a foundation of trust, rapport, and reliability. The law office has been newly formed in Maryland and Texas and named AMG Counsel, but the Antonio remains committed to offering high quality, yet affordable, legal representation. Antonio is a member of the State Bar of Texas Estate Planning Section, Dallas Bar Association, the American Bar Association Business Law and Estate Planning Section. He is currently studying to become a Certified Financial Planner. Antonio regularly provides pro bono estate planning and probate services through Wills for Heroes or the Dallas Volunteer Assistance Program. In his spare time, he enjoys yoga, horseback riding, kayaking and is training for a triathlon in April 2019. He is also an avid traveler and a sci-fi enthusiast.
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Bonita McGeeBoard Member
bonita.mcgee@peacefulfamilies.org |
Ms. McGee is a trainer, facilitator, consultant, and instructor, building community capacity and supporting organizational outcomes. Ms. McGee is a Certified Public Manager, holds a Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, and has a Master's in Islamic Studies and Bachelor's degree in Business Administration.
Ms. McGee has over 20 years of experience in domestic violence and sexual assault awareness advocacy, 20 years in community advocacy, facilitation, capacity building, and 13 years of public health experience. Previously Bonita worked at a domestic violence shelter and volunteered at Sexual Assault Response Network of Central Ohio (SARNCO) in Columbus, Ohio. Bonita served as Program Chair for Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Domestic Violence Awareness Activities and developed a domestic violence website for ISNA in 2000. Ms. McGee is a member of the Muslim Advocacy Network Against Domestic Violence (MANADV) and continues to provide training and assessments for communities in need to address gender-based and sexual violence issues. She is a former board member of the Islamic Social Services Association-USA (ISSA-USA) and a former board member and co-founder of the Muslim Family Services of Ohio. Ms. McGee is one of the founding members of the Islamic Seminary Foundation. |
Advisory Board
Salma Abugideiri |
Salma Elkadi Abugideiri is a founding board member of PFP, currently serving on the Advisory Board. She provides workshops and training for community leaders, imams, faith communities, domestic violence service providers and mental health professionals on Healthy Relationship Dynamics, Muslim Mental Health and Domestic Violence Prevention. She has presented at national and international conferences on these topics. Among her numerous publications in the fields of domestic violence and mental health, she authored the facilitator guide for the training program Garments for One Another: Ending Domestic Violence in Muslim Families, and the chapter entitled Domestic Violence in Counseling Muslims: Handbook of Mental Health Issues & Interventions. She has co-authored What Islam Says About Domestic Violence: A Guide for Helping Muslim Families, and Before You Tie the Knot: A Guide for Couples. Salma is a Licensed Professional Counselor in private practice, specializing in couples counseling and the treatment of trauma. Her passions include the prevention of relationship and mental health issues, and integrating spirituality into prevention and treatment approaches.
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Imam
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Imam Magid is the Executive Imam of All Dulles Area Muslim Society. He is also the Chairman of International Interfaith Peace Corp. and the co-President of Religions for Peace. Imam Magid has a long history of commitment to public service, training religious leaders on the issues of violence against women, leading initiatives to protect religious minorities in Muslim majority countries, and working with other faith leaders to promote peace and tolerance all over the world. Imam Magid also served as the Former President of ISNA
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Mona MalikAdvisory Board Member
mona@peacefulfamilies.org |
Mona Malik served as the President of Peaceful Families Project (PFP) from 2010-2017. As a social worker with over 15 years of experience, she has worked with abused children, recent immigrants, youth and victims of domestic violence. She is a Founding Member of Muslim Mothers Against Violence (MMAV). MMAV educates communities about bullying and teaches nonviolent conflict resolution skills to Muslim teenagers. Ms. Malik serves on the Virginia State Board of Social Services. She serves as a Commissioner for the County Office of Human Rights in Fairfax County, VA. She serves as a Board Member for the National Underground Railroad Freedom Center Museum in her hometown of Cincinnati, Ohio. Ms. Malik serves as a Board member for the Duke Islamic Studies Center. Ms. Malik received her M.A. and B.A. degrees in Social Work from the University of Cincinnati. She resides in Northern Virginia with her husband and three children.
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Irfana AnwerAdvisory Board Member
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Irfana Anwer was recently the Pakistan Program Associate at Inclusive Security, where she increased the capacity of women leaders to enhance peace and security so that they can take an active part in countering violent extremism in their country. Previously, Irfana was Director of the Language Access program at Ayuda, a legal services organization in Washington, DC. She also represented women in matters of humanitarian-based immigration law. Prior to her position at Ayuda, Irfana was Director of the Family Law Division, at Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, an international human rights organization in Washington, DC. Irfana has worked for over 10 years on issues of interfaith dialogue, violence and gender in Muslim communities.
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Dr. Altaf HusainAdvisory Board Member
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Dr. Altaf Husain is a native of Cleveland, Ohio , and a double alumnus of Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland , Ohio , having earned his B.S. in Biomedical Engineering and his M.S. in Social Work. He received his Ph.D. in Social Work from Howard University in Washington, D.C. Dr. Husain's research interests include the mental health and integration of immigrant and refugee families, and especially Muslim adolescents, in the United States. He serves as Vice President of the Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research and an advisory board member of the Peaceful Families Project - dedicated to the prevention of domestic violence. His past service to the community includes serving as a two-term national president of the Muslim Students Association (MSA National), an executive committee member of the Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA), a board member of the Peaceful Families Project and board member then Vice President of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). Dr. Husain and his family live in Northern Virginia.
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Lubabah AbdullahAdvisory Board Member
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Lubabah Abdullah serves as the Executive Director of CAIR-Houston. Prior to joining Cair-Houston, Lubabah was a practicing attorney in St. Louis, Missouri, where she has served many families in the areas of Islamic estate planning, family based immigration and family law for the past 10 years. Before starting her own firm, her journey began with Karamah: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, where she counseled women on the interplay between Islamic law and civil law, especially in matters pertaining to family law. Later, she served as the Executive Director of the Muslim Alliance of Indiana (MAI), where she spent most of her time developing and overseeing 4 legal programs including a modest means legal clinic, a refugee legal assistance program, a protection order project and immigration services for victims of domestic violence through one of the only Family Justice Center's in the US. She organized trainings and served as a speaker on domestic violence, immigration law, Islam and Muslims. Today, she also serves on the boards of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and her Islamic school in St. Louis.
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