Addressing Islamophobia: Dispelling Myths to Break down Barriers

Join us for an evening with Dr. Amer F. Ahmed who will share more about Islam and Islamophobia, providing needed context for us to help bridge divides.  

The post-9/11 era in the U.S. has exposed a significant degree of prejudice and bigotry towards Muslim people.  More recently, as a result of the 2016 presidential election, broad villification of Muslims has served political agendas resulting in calls for bans, registries, and otehr civil liberty threats to the lives of Muslims in America.  In addition, there have been dramatic increases in hate crimes against Muslims due to the toxic climate of hateful rhetoric.  In 2012, a violent hate-motivated attack on a Sikh temple in Wisconsin highighted the fact that Islamophobia is not just an issue that only impacts Muslims in America.  Meanwhile, underscored by the horrific murders of three University of North Carolina students, there continues to be widespread racial profiling, hate crimes and bullying in educational environments throughout the country.  

About our speaker:

Dr. Amer Ahmed is an organizational strategist who helps institutions and leaders address diversity and inclusion, equity, race, and intercultural development through consulting, coaching, group facilitation, and keynote speeches. A frequently requested speaker nationwide, Dr. Ahmed’s approach is grounded in a commitment to inclusive community and excellence. He brings his identity as the son of Indian Muslim immigrants and extensive years as an intercultural and diversity consultant as the sources of a pivotal understanding of the depth of equity and inclusion work. Throughout his career, Dr. Ahmed has worked with large organizations, higher education institutions, nonprofit agencies, schools, and community groups to create understanding and change among key constituents and institutional leaders.

His thought leadership and keen sense of the latest trends informs his approaches to helping groups address potential areas of opportunity to grow and develop. Dr. Ahmed incorporates deep theoretical knowledge of the field combined with a variety of methods including storytelling, discourse on current events and connections to art and music to move audiences to profound awareness of issues and next steps. He is the host of “The Eclectic Inclusion Podcast” featuring prominent figures from the world of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and beyond. Dr. Ahmed has published key opinion pieces and has been featured in media such as MSNBC, documentary film, and other national press outlets for his commentary and critical perspective on news and significant topics in society. He also has keynoted prominent conferences including the National Conference on Race and Ethnicity (NCORE) in Higher Education, the Global Engagement in the Liberal Arts Conference, and the Society for Intercultural Education (SIETAR) Conference.

Dr. Ahmed is the Founder and CEO of AFA Diversity Consulting, LLC, a consulting practice dedicated to enhancing the development of organizations through efforts around leadership, professional development, assessment, and strategic change. In addition to his consulting work, Dr. Ahmed currently serves as Vice Provost for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion and Faculty in the Higher Education and Student Affairs Administration program in the College of Education and Social Services at University of Vermont.

https://www.amerfahmed.com/