March 28, 2014

As Women's History month draws to a close, MPAC and the White House recognized American Muslim women and their accomplishments in the fields of STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math), business development, government, communications and entrepreneurship. Today's event, “Beyond the Ceiling: Groundbreaking Voices of American Muslim Women,” brought together more than 70 successful women from across the country to the White House.

In the past few months, Muslim women have taken center stage, from Malala Yousafzai speaking at the U.N. to Ms. Marvel hitting comic book shelves. According to Gallup, American Muslim women are among the highest educated groups in the U.S., and the traces and influence of that education can be found everywhere, from the halls of public policy to the high-rise buildings of the business world. The forum at the White House engaged participants in thought-provoking dialogue on leadership, identity and personal/professional development.

Today’s panelists included Dr. Hina Chaudhry who was featured in Esquire magazine for her work in making new heart cells as a remedy for cardiac arrest; Maria Ebrahimji, former CNN executive and cofounder of I Speak For Myself Inc.; and Huma Abedin, Secretary Hillary Clinton’s Chief of Staff. Speakers from the White House included Joanna Rosholm, Press Secretary for the First Lady; Bess Evans, Senior Policy Advisor for the Office of Public Engagement; and Danielle Carnival, Senior Policy Advisor for the Office of Science and Technology Policy. MPAC’s Hoda Elshishtawy and Haris Tarin led the discussion in two panels.

MPAC’s commitment to women’s empowerment is based on the Quranic decree of shared social responsibility between men and women. Earlier this month, MPAC’s 2nd Annual Women and Girls Retreat in Southern California outlined steps and strategies to make their voices heard.

MPAC advocates for the development and inclusiveness of American Muslim women’s voices and stories in the continued celebration of our achievements during this month and beyond.