Soraya Deen

Soraya M Deen is an award winning Muslim feminist lawyer, interfaith advocate, international activist, community organizer and public speaker.

Soraya is also the Co-chair of the Women’s Working Group of the International Religious Freedom Roundtable in DC and Chairs the International Religious Freedom Roundtable in SriLanka (where she is a native of).

Soraya is the Co-founder of the Interfaith Solidarity Network, one of the largest interfaith organizations in Los Angeles and the founder of the Muslim Women Speakers Movement. The women work in the areas of addressing Religious extremism, #Antisemitism, Hate, Gender Equality & Public Leadership.

Her work prioritizes organizing women for public leadership.

She conducts extensive workshops & presentations in the United States, SriLanka, Bangladesh and several West African countries that include Nigeria, Togo, Kenya and Uganda, on building Leadership and POWER.

She is currently building “Nigerian Women Lead”, a grassroots movement of women, taking action on promoting life and liberty.

Soraya is the recipient of the prestigious Paul Carus Award for grassroots activism by The Worlds Premier Interfaith Convening Organization – The Parliament of the World’s Religions.

She authored the books SERVE: A call to Muslims and PEACE MATTERS: Raising peace conscious children.

Soraya is an Executive Board Member and a coalition partner of AMMWEC – American Muslim Multi-faith Women’s Empowerment Council- the first Muslim American Civic Leadership Organization.

Soraya is currently reading for her Public Leadership Credentials (PLC) at Harvard.

Categories: Campus, Communication, Current Events, News and Politics, Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Inspiration, Judaism, Leadership, Middle East Politics, Teamwork, Workforce Issues

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BUILDING BRIDGES TO COMBAT HATE, MUSLIM BIGORTY and ANTISEMITISM

Hate is generally defined as any kind of communication in speech, writing or behavior that attacks or uses pejoratives or discriminatory language with reference to a person or a group based on who they are; in other words, based on their religion, ethnicity, nationality, race, color, descent, gender, or other identity factors.

This presentation can be tailored to a specific community or group. It is intended to promote understanding and connection between groups and communities and will enable participants to reduce prejudice. Soraya will talk about - Identifying bridge building strategies, committing to dialogue, and building RELATIONSHIPS across conflict and misunderstandings, and why we must humanize those we perceive as enemies. This can be an effective strategy to combat the spread of hate. But Soraya cautions – hatred doesn’t cease by hatred; hatred ceases by ceasing the hatred! Be ready for a spiritual awakening that will be enlightening.

REPAIRING JEWISH-MUSLIM RELATIONSHIPS IN A POLARIZED WORLD

In this presentation Soraya talks about Paul Kessler, a resident of California who was murdered on the streets of Los Angeles for the crime of carrying an Israeli flag. Having reached out to several Muslim leaders in her home city, to condemn the murder, and as no one did, Soraya realized that she was the leader she was waiting for.

Here Soraya traces the close relationships between the Jewish and Muslim leaders in Los Angeles, the interfaith partnerships that existed pre-October 7th, and the lethal hostilities between the communities’ post October 7th. Soraya calls for open, candid conversations with people holding different views. We can then begin to understand more deeply the narratives and move beyond the fight – flight mode and look for new insights that can emerge from our dialogues.

Replete with personal stories and experiences, her trips to Israel, the West Bank, meetings with stake holders, the struggles and celebrations, Soraya makes a strong call to repair the ruptures.

OUR SILENCE WILL NOT SAVE US- Leadership, Organizing and Action

“Leadership is accepting RESPONSIBILITY for enabling others to achieve shared purpose under conditions of uncertainty.”

The challenges we face today require BOLD leaders. Leaders who are willing to stick with a bold course of action and produce more leaders.

This presentation/workshop/leadership training focuses on empowering ordinary people to effectively participate in social justice and other challenges that impact their lives. Guiding people through the process of understanding their values and vision, Soraya skillfully enables her audience to understand their Self-Interest to build power.

This presentation aims at bringing together like-minded people in communities, schools, colleges, and the workplace, to take collaborative action.

BEING MUSLIM IN AMERICA

Here Soraya talks about her story. Her life, growing up in Sri Lanka as a Muslim in a predominantly Buddhist nation and the early lessons she had in her home from her parents, where her father was a Muslim and her mother a Buddhist and the scars from a brutal 30-year civil war she witnessed growing up.

Celebrating diversity of all forms was a corner stone of the lessons she learned in her childhood. Today Muslims in America make up less than 2% of the American population. They have made formidable contributions to America, but they are also highly misunderstood.

A defining moment in her life was her seven-year-old son being bullied after 9/11, her travels across America, moving beyond victimhood to engaging and building Interfaith partnership and strengthening relationships with Christian communities and how she rose to a life of activism for her children and for America she so loves.

There is not one story, but many stories to tell as immigrants.

THE IMPACT OF LANGUAGE: COMMUNICATE COLLABORATE

When was the last time you felt heard and understood? Do you believe that everyone’s needs matter and dialogue can resolve differences peacefully? Nonviolent communication can transform conflict, create resilience in relationships, and build a world where everyone's needs are met collaboratively.

In this presentation we will create a dynamic learning environment that will show you how to create a more compassionate and peaceful culture in your life at home, at work, and in your community, by learning how to:
1. Make Observations by non-judgmental listening and communicating.
2. Express needs and feelings
3. Ask clarifying questions.
4. Practice empathy- (not give advice or reassurance and to explain our own position or feeling).
5. Make specific actionable requests.

INTERNATIONAL RELIGIOUS FREEDOM and GENDER

In this presentation, Soraya born to a Muslim family explores the struggles of all women and particularly Muslim women at the intersection of religion and gender. As the Co-Chair of the Women’s Working Group of the International Religious Freedom Roundtable in DC, she listens to challenges stories women face in patriarchal religions. In the Muslim world in particular, centuries of man-made rules and tribal traditions cloaked as divine law has robbed women’s agency to their creator. The United States governments commitments to advance and ensure religious freedom internationally gives a streak of hope to marginalized, discriminated, and persecuted minorities.

Soraya shares her personal story of empowerment, in which she led a mixed gender congregational prayer to a full house of Muslims, amidst attacks. She also produced her own short documentary “Hidden Identities: The forgotten Women of Sri Lanka,” which won her a global award for highlighting the persecution of 3000 Buddhist Bhikkhuni’s in her native country Sri Lanka.

Books

PEACE MATTERS - 33 Powerful Actions All Mothers Can Take to Raise Peace Conscious Children

PEACE MATTERS - 33 Powerful Actions All Mothers Can Take to Raise Peace Conscious Children

In this book Soraya inspires us to take personal responsibility for peace making. She empowers her readers to move beyond the confines of narrow nationalism, rigid religious dogma and economic disparity to create a world where there is no more a senseless environment of separation. The practical skills she sets out are urgently needed to create a more peaceful world.

Papa Teach Me Peace

Papa Teach Me Peace

Soraya's book is written to help parents and children explore what it means to live life as a peacemaker. Not only will the simple, beautifully-illustrated story inspire you and your child as you read it, but it will provide a launching point to talk with your child about how they can experience real peace in their personal lives. This is a must-have book for any family library.

Mastering the Art of Success

Mastering the Art of Success

In this book, Soraya joins best-selling authors Les Brown (The Power of Purpose), Mark Victor Hansen (Chicken Soup for the Soul), and Jack Canfield (Chicken Soup for the Soul, The Success Principle: How to Get From Where You Are to Where You Want to Be) to offer time-tested strategies for success in frank, intimate interviews.

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