Waheeda is a licensed mental health clinician with over two decades of experience working with adolescents, families, and communities. She began her career as a Guardian ad Litem (child advocate) in the Florida Court System. Since 2008, she has been providing critical incident response services for the state of Massachusetts, including leading a mass casualty reunification team. Waheeda also assists both public and private institutions in developing crisis protocols for use in the aftermath of critical incidents.

In addition to her consultation services following traumatic events, Waheeda conducts national trainings on a range of issues, including crisis response, trauma, and suicide prevention. She is specifically trained in evidence-based trauma therapy modalities, such as EMDR (Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing), with a particular expertise in trauma and traumatic loss.

Her passion project is the Muslim Women’s Giving Circle, a philanthropic endeavor she launched that unites Muslim women to fund women-centered non-profits.

Social-Organizational Psychologist, Founding Executive Director at Sanad Trust Foundation

As Founding Executive Director of Sanad Trust Foundation, I am part of a team that strives every day to build a family education center which embraces the heart, spirit, and grace of children, families, and elders. We believe children should learn in an environment that listens to their soul and their emotion, and nurtures both as they need. We are a ‘village’ of individuals, professionals, philanthropists, and parents that have come together to preserve our spiritual nature and the sanctity of family. Envisioning a place for our elders, and eventually us in our later years, to feel loved and give love.

I graduated from Teachers College, Columbia University (New York, NY) with a Masters Degree in Social-Organizational Psychology, augmenting studies with internships at the Organization of Islamic Conference, United Nations and courses at the Columbia Graduate School of Business. I have also completed doctoral classes in Clinical Neuropsychology at Nova Southeastern University (Ft. Lauderdale, FL). I continue to be inspired too by my travels and the teachers I have been blessed to sit with near and far.

Imam Azhar Subedar is a Spiritual Leader and coach, a Pastoral Counselor, and a Strategic Consultant. He is the Development Director at the South Florida Muslim Federation. He was born and raised in the West. He was also educated on the Religion of Islam in the West. He graduated from his 10-year studies of Islam in the U.K. Being a Religious Scholar with a Master’s Degree in Islamic Sciences and Arabic Literature, his vision is to address the contemporary needs of the Muslim community by bringing relevance to the Holy text while confronting the social issues of today’s world from a moral perspective.

He has been serving the needs of Muslim communities across the United States of America, Florida, and beyond, since 2002. He is the First Muslim to give the opening prayer at the Florida State Capitol, and Florida Senate, and He delivered the opening prayer at the House of Representatives as well– Tallahassee, Florida.

Imam Azhar currently serves as the Imam at The Islamic Association of Collin County (IACC) in the heart of Plano, Texas. He is also the Author & Founder of the Quran Trek Application and the co-author of ‘I Am the Other’.

Neelam is a Registered Clinical Social Worker Intern in the state of Florida. She currently works as a High School Learning Coach and Wellness Coordinator at Sanad Trust Foundation (STF). In this capacity, she works with students to develop and implement learning plans, provide academic coaching and advising, and works alongside STF leadership to develop, implement, and coordinate Wellness initiatives, including naseeha (supportive listening and counseling) sessions for STF students and the community. Prior to this, Neelam worked as an Associate Director at Florida International University’s Transfer & Transition Services office, where she oversaw a nationally recognized transfer pathway program, and led a team of academic advisors trained in strengths-based coaching/advising.

Neelam has extensive experience working with children and families through her work at a family preservation agency, where she facilitated both youth support groups and parenting classes. She continues to support children and families in the Muslim community independently and through her role at STF, community workshops/events, and at the Islamic Center of Greater Miami (ICGM)’s annual Ramadan Qiyaam night for female Muslim youth.

Neelam graduated with a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Social Work from Florida International University, and is on track to becoming a Licensed Clinical Social Worker.