Daniel Matthew :
The An-Nisa Fellowship Program celebrated a historic milestone with the graduation of its inaugural class during a special ceremony held on June 30, 2026, at 52 Chambers Street, New York, NY. The event marked the successful completion of the program’s first fellowship cycle, recognizing women who completed a year of leadership development, interfaith dialogue, and community engagement.
Designed to bring together Muslim and non-Muslim women, the An-Nisa Fellowship Program focuses on cultivating leadership, strengthening cross-community relationships, and promoting collective action to address Islamophobia, gender bias, and all forms of hate. Rooted in the values of justice, dignity, mutual respect, and belonging, the fellowship aims to empower participants to become effective leaders within their communities while building lasting bridges across diverse backgrounds.
The graduation celebration honored the accomplishments of the inaugural fellows, who participated in 12 immersive sessions featuring workshops, mentorship opportunities, and interfaith dialogue throughout the program. According to the program presentation, the fellowship maintained an equal representation of 50% Muslim women and 50% women from diverse backgrounds, encouraging meaningful collaboration and lifelong connections among participants.
The fellowship was co-led by Melissa Shaw and Dr. Debbie Almontaser, who guided participants through a curriculum centered on leadership, civic engagement, allyship, and community impact. The graduating class included Hanan Yafai, Ghezal Nazari, Erica Ware, Meredith Sharkey, Lady Pamela Damon, Christine Noel, Areba Ghafoor, Jill Starishevsky, Micali Morin, Sahr Ali, Iman Dakmak-Rakka, and Kathleen DiPerna.
The evening’s program featured welcome remarks from Dr. Debbie Almontaser and Deanna Logan, Director of the NYC Mayor’s Office of Criminal Justice (MOCJ). NYC Mayor’s Office of Immigrant Affairs Commissioner Faiza N. Ali delivered the keynote address, while fellowship reflections were presented by Areba Ghafoor and Christine Noel. Melissa Shaw also introduced participants’ capstone projects before the ceremony concluded with the official completion celebration and a community dinner.
Throughout the fellowship, participants explored a leadership journey built around five core principles: Learn, Connect, Lead, Act, and Impact. The curriculum encouraged deeper understanding, relationship building, leadership development, collaborative action, and long-term community impact.
The inaugural graduation represented more than the completion of a fellowship program. It highlighted the growing importance of cross-cultural collaboration and women’s leadership in New York City. By bringing together women from different faiths and backgrounds to learn, serve, and lead together, the An-Nisa Fellowship Program established a strong foundation for future cohorts committed to building more inclusive, resilient, and compassionate communities.
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