- Mansoor Alam
-
Syed Mansoor Alam (born 24 July 1993) is the founder and current director of The Enough Foundation, and its sister group, Enough Advocacy, a student-led nonprofit organization based out of Cheshire, Connecticut.[1] He is a published author, businessman, a social entrepreneur focused on non-profit marketing, as well as a political activist concerned with issues pertaining to race and youth engagement.[2]As of August 2011, Alam is the youngest organization consultant to the United Nations, specifically to the Department of Economic and Social Affairs. [3]
Alam with Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
Contents
Personal life
Alam is a graduate of Dodd Middle School, and graduated from Cheshire High School in Cheshire, Connecticut.[4] He matriculated at Wesleyan University in the fall of 2011.[5][6][7] Alam is a practicing Muslim of Irish-Pakistani descent.[8] He is a noted speaker on social entrepreneurship, religious and racial discrimination, as well as youth activism and Muslim engagement in government.[9]
Humanitarian work
Alam founded the nonprofit organization Enough Advocacy, known simply as "Enough", as a junior in high school. The group's focus is to promote "peace, progress, and unity" through collaborative work in communities and in schools.[10] On January 1, 2011, Alam launched The Enough Foundation as the "charitable sister" to Enough Advocacy. The focus of the foundation is to encourage global community service by utilizing the "creativity and passion" of youth.[11] Alam has headed many charitable initiatives. Notable among these initiatives is the "Project Pakistan", a student-led project that is working to build a school in a remote area north of Islamabad in Pakistan. The group has partnered with Ibtida USA to aid in competition of the project.The fundraising efforts for this project were marked by a benefit concert hosted on May 23, 2010 in Alam's home town, featuring Immortal Technique and many others.[12] The group plans to finish the project by 2012.[13] Another benefit concert is slated for this summer. Alam has spoken on race relations at Capitol Hill,[14] the State Department, and the White House.[15] His work earned him a nomination for the 2011 World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland. Alam was awarded the 2010 Be The Change award.[16] Alam has been recognized for his work in race relations and humanitarian aid by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and U.S. Rep. Christopher Murphy, D-5th District, among many others.[17][18] He was featured in the 2011 Inaugural edition of the State Department newsletter.[19] He is also a 2011 recipient of the Prudential Award for service to others.[20][21] He will also be awarded the Presidential Award for Volunteer Service later this year.[22][23] The Princeton Prize in Race Relations recently named Alam as a finalist for their annual award, though Alam asked to have his nomination rescinded before the final decisions were made, on account of what he claims was "improper judging etiquette". Alam was also the youngest attendee of the Secretary's Global Forum on Diaspora communities in Spring 2011.
Political work
Alam has lobbied for many Political Activism Committees, focusing on reform in legislation that may be considered discriminatory on the basis of race or religion. In early 2010, Alam spoke before members of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the National Security Agency regarding radicalization in Islam,[24] as well as effective, constitutional legislation. Alam has also spoken before State and Federal legislatures, as well as members of the Senate, in an effort to increase federal funding and support of emergency relief programs, particularly in Pakistan and the Middle East. He has additionally volunteered extensively for the Democratic Party.[25] On May 23, 2011 Alam testified at a Capitol hearing on hate crimes and racial profiling, in which he expressed the continued work that needs to be done in minority community relations. [26] He is currently a project manager for CAIR, as well as the social media director for Michael John Williams, a candidate for Connecticut's 5th Congressional district.
As an author
Alam's first book, entitled "Ten Years Older", was released on September 11, 2011 .[6] According to the official book description: "A self-reflective memoir of activist and noted teen humanitarian Mansoor Alam.The stories revolve greatly around the September 11th attacks and the life changing events that would follow. Alam chronicles his childhood through stories and memories of growing up - from being forced to eat grass, to having dinner at the State Department. Please note that all profits will go directly to The Enough Foundation which is currently working to build a school in Pakistan."
Alam signing copies of his book[27] Alam has pledged to donate all profits to The Enough Foundation.[28] Since its release, "Ten Years Older" has sold over 2,000 copies.[29]
In Business
In November 2011 Alam announced the launching of Fort Box Publishing LLC, a not-for-profit publishing service targeted to "cause-minded" authors.[30] According to the website, the name of the company was inspired by a former art teacher Alam had in school. The concept behind the company is the topic of Alam's next book entitled "A Cardboard Box", in which the theme of resourcefulness will play a major role.[31] The website also makes mention of "Threads of a Generation : The Stories that Define Us", a collaborative effort of high school and college students to put together a collection of essays and other writings that work to show the "moments and events" that have shaped them.[32]
References
- ^ Teen's nonprofit tackles big issues - MyRecordJournal.com: Cheshire News - Myrecordjournal.com
- ^ Mansoor Alam | 9/17 - CTnow
- ^ United Nations: Search results for CSOs
- ^ CHS Announces Final Honor Roll For 2008/09 | The Cheshire Herald
- ^ Embassies & Consulates Directory - News - Pakistani-American Inspiration
- ^ a b ‘That Muslim kid’ has got a book out — and yes, it’s about Islam - MyRecordJournal.com: Cheshire News - Myrecordjournal.com
- ^ http://www.ctnewsjunkie.com/ctnj.php/archives/entry/occupy_hartford_meets_antiwar_movement1
- ^ Understanding Radicalization And De-Radicalization Strategies
- ^ Mansoor Alam - Deradicalization Conference Session II Speaker IV - YouTube
- ^ http://enoughadvocacy.org/about
- ^ The Enough Foundation - a student-led charity
- ^ http://www.unitedforpeace.org/calendar.php?state=CT&bydate=2007-03-17
- ^ ENOUGH Concert To Benefit Planned Pakistani Orphanage | The Cheshire Herald
- ^ Panel 4- Saud Anwar. Shahid Buttar, Kulsoon Lakhani, Mansoor Alam, Aysha Chowdhry | Flickr - Photo Sharing!
- ^ http://enoughadvocacy.org/contact
- ^ Cheshire High School, Petit Women Be The Change Awards (5/20/2010) - Petit Family Foundation
- ^ Remarks at the Annual State Department Iftar
- ^ The Day - Pakistani-American group turns attention to victims of massive flooding | News from southeastern Connecticut
- ^ http://www.state.gov/documents/organization/155334.pdf
- ^ Honorees
- ^ Prudential Newsroom: Top Youth Volunteers in Each State Selected in 16th Annual National Awards Program
- ^ Connecticut's Top Two Youth Volunteers Selected in 16th Annual National Awards Program | Business Wire
- ^ MarketWatch.com
- ^ Understanding Radicalization And De-Radicalization Strategies
- ^ Al Adinolfi comments on Hayes, Komisarjevsky upset Elizabeth Esty supporters- The New Haven Register - Serving New Haven, Connecticut
- ^ CT-N Connecticut Network::Media On-Demand
- ^ Amazon.com: Ten Years Older (9781466284296): Mansoor Alam: Books
- ^ The Day - Local Muslims and others reflect on the impact of the terrorist attacks | News from southeastern Connecticut
- ^ http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/1466284293/ref=dp_olp_new?ie=UTF8&condition=new
- ^ http://www.fortbox.org/
- ^ http://www.fortbox.org/#!about-us
- ^ http://www.fortbox.org/#!library
External links
Categories:- American activists
- Living people
- 1993 births
- Humanitarians
- Wesleyan University alumni
- People from Connecticut
- Writers
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