In this episode, you’ll hear from Aliza Kazmi, born to immigrant parents in the Bay Area, is a former educator and a fierce advocate of empowering unheard and overlooked voices. As a brown Muslim woman growing up “in the thick of 9/11,” Aliza experienced a deep level of racism, sexism, and Islamophobia, and was constantly treated as an “other” or labeled as a “terrorist.”

Her different intersecting identities and a social psychology class she took in middle school sparked her curiosity to explore topics like implicit biases and learn how to combat those. Aliza currently works as the co-executive director at HEART, a national anti-harm, faith-driven organization with a mission to uproot gendered violence and advance reproductive justice, rooted in ethical frameworks and advocacy supporting health and safety of Muslim communities.

Her few nuggets of wisdom:

1. Irrespective of your intersecting identities (whether you’re Black and Muslim or Queer and Muslim, etc.), you’re still Muslim and you belong.
2. Engage on social media, read books, and connect with new and different people and surround yourself with like-minded people.
3. Find safe and brave spaces where you can be yourself and be vulnerable, and ask questions from people who are willing to listen and receive you how you are.

Few additional resources:

1. Request a workshop with HEART
2. Sign up to join our reader community for the soon-to-be-published Sex Talk: A Muslim's Guide to Healthy Sex and Relationships
3. Educational resources by HEART

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