Fellows 2015-16

Ali Jakvani is the youth coordinator of the Alumni Association at the Islamic Center of San Gabriel Valley, and also serves as the Chairman for the Young Muslim American Leaders Advisory Council – a partnership with LASD. He has degrees in psychology / law and society and is currently working on preventing homegrown violent extremism through a multidisciplinary approach with various NGO’s, academic and governments institutions. Professionally he is an international businessman who frequents the gulf countries for business development and consulting, but his passion for public safety is reflected in his extracurricular works. He spoke on several occasions in the Washington, D.C. Area -twice at the White House, The Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) headquarters in Langley, VA, the National Institute of Justice(NIJ) forum and he most recently spoke at the annual police executive research forum in Minneapolis to promote outreach efforts as a tool to build healthy relationships for a more resilient community. He continues to speak to local communities about the importance of engagement between minority communities with both local and national government entities. He believes that, in order to prevent all types of violent extremism is to promote alliances, educate, and to bridge the trust deficits that prevent healthy relationship building. Ali also serves as an advisor to a NPO called “One Medium: Coexist for Humanity”, a humanitarian aid group founded by his younger sister in high school as a response to racism she experienced. His most recent project is cofounding Avicenna Center for Pursuing Peace, a global initiative to restore and preserve the image of Islam by establishing a covenant signed by international religious leaders declaring the denouncement of terrorism. The initiative will be launched Early 2016 in Washington DC.
  • Ali Jakvani is the youth coordinator of the Alumni Association at the Islamic Center of San Gabriel Valley, and also serves as the Chairman for the […]
  • Deanna Neil is a multifaceted writer, educator, ritual facilitator and performer. She is currently the Director of the Jewish Learning Center at the Silverlake Independent JCC […]
  • Avi Fine is a rabbinical student at Hebrew Union College. He grew up in Seattle. He earned a B.A. in Psychology from Carleton College, in Minnesota. […]
  • Julia is a recent graduate from USC’s Marshall School of Business with a focus on social entrepreneurship. A native Los Angeleno, Julia currently works as a […]
  • Heba Elzawahry is a family physician with special training in global health, geriatrics and palliative care. She has been passionate about caring for the underserved and […]
  • Tom Earl is a Poet, Musician, and Facilitator with a mission to create a world free from discrimination through art, activism, and inclusion. Tom Earl believes […]
  • Writer and photographer Sylvia Sukop grew up in rural Pennsylvania and lived in Boston and New York City before settling in Los Angeles, where she currently […]
  • Sarah got her B.A. in French Language, History, & Culture and Women, Gender, and Sexuality Studies from Goucher College in Baltimore, Maryland. As a student in […]