Gwinnett County Residents Honored as 'Influential Georgia Muslim' at Islamic Speakers Bureau Gala

Three residents of Gwinnett County were among the 50 honorees recognized as “Influential Georgia Muslims” at the first gala sponsored by the Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta on September 20. The awards were presented in eight categories and were introduced by key Georgia leaders selected by an independent panel of judges., The categories include education; arts, media & sports; business & leadership; community involvement & religion; engineering & technology; philanthropy; law, law enforcement, & politics; science & medicine, and “Under 30.”

Aziz Dhanani (Duluth), CEO of his own firm, Premier Petroleum, is an active member of the Atlanta Muslim community through his involvement with Masjid Omar bin Abdul Aziz, and Dar-ul-Uloom, as a philanthropist, he has donated to causes such as the interfaith peace garden on the Atlanta campus of Mercer University. started an orphanage in an Indian village, and is co-founder of the Fatima Charitable Foundation.

Maria Ebrahimji (Suwanee) is co-founder of I Speak for Myself, a book publishing platform delivering narratives on faith and culture. A journalist, strategist, and speaker, she earned degrees at Brenau University in Gainesville as well as Georgia State, and worked as a journalist and producer at CNN for 15 years. [photo attached]

Farooq Mughal (Buford/Suwanee) serves as Managing Partner at Mughal S.G. Partners, LLC - Global Government Affairs Advisory. A graduate of Mercer University, Mr. Mughal was co-chair of the White House Initiative on Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders’ Southeast Summit, held in Atlanta in 2012. He works closely with the Georgia legislature, supporting justice and Muslim rights on a local level.

For more information on this event, go to YouTube online at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dRDUf9YXgrA.

The ISB, a 501(c)(3) non-profit, apolitical educational organization, is dedicated to promoting awareness and understanding of the Islamic faith between the many diverse communities across the state of Georgia. As part of the organization’s mission, in March 2014, the ISB called for nominations for “100 Influential Georgia Muslims” to recognize and honor these outstanding leaders who have had an extraordinary impact on their community, who positively challenge those around them, and who instill passion, conviction, and confidence in others. A complete list of honorees is available online at http://www.100gamuslims.com/index.php/2014-honorees.

“It was a wonderful evening and a privilege to honor these outstanding Georgia residents, Muslims men and women who have contributed so much to their communities and to our state,” said said ISB founder and executive director Soumaya Khalifa. “They exemplify our ongoing effort to “Continue the legacy and Change the Narrative’ of Muslims in America,”

For more information visit http://www.100gamuslims.com/index.php/2014-honorees, or find the gala on Facebook (https://www.facebook.com/100gamuslims/timeline). Follow the conversation: #100GAMuslims, #isbatlanta.

(Photo: Maria Ebrahimji)