PANA’s Founder and Executive Director, Ramla Sahid is committed to nurturing authentic, community driven campaigns to champion policies and practices that address racial disparities, expand protections, and promote belonging for refugee and immigrant families. Nearly ten years later, PANA is a San D
Nao Kabashima is the co-founder and Executive Director of Karen Organization of San Diego (KOSD), a community based organization serving refugees from Burma resettled in San Diego. She is originally from Fukuoka, Japan and first came to the U.S. as a graduate student. After she earned her Bachelor’s
Born in the 70s in Somalia, Muna Shegow was a new graduate excited to get her High School diploma at her school's ceremony when civil war broke out. Her family fled Somali to neighboring Kenya and was registered as a refugee at Ifo refugee camp along with her family. In 1999, Muna found her way to S
Cory began practicing law in 1995 with Mundell, Odlum & Haws in San Bernardino, California, where he primarily litigated commercial and employment-related disputes. In 1998, he moved to Washington, D.C., and added environmental law and regulatory compliance to his practice while pursuing graduate de
John is a physics graduate from Imperial College, London and has over 40 years of experience managing product development with R&D groups in the U.S., Mexico, UK, Norway, India & South Korea. John emigrated to California in 1993 as head of product R&D at Counterpoint Electronic Systems, modernized n
Imam Taha Hassanecurrently serves as the imam of the Islamic Center of San Diego. Hassane graduated from the Institute of Islamic Sciences at the University of Algiers in his native Algeria. He served as a high school teacher and imam in Tenes, Algeria for 10 years before coming to the United Stat
Reverend Carl Crider grew up in rural Arkansas, graduated from Hendrix College (BA) and from St. Paul School of Theology (MDiv). He is ordained in the United Methodist Church and has served parishes in Arkansas and Kansas.Carl spent four years in the mid-70s as a training consultant with the U. S. N
Dr. Ahmad Bailony is a pediatrician in National City, California and is affiliated with multiple hospitals in the area, including Paradise Valley Hospital and Sharp Chula Vista Medical Center. He received his medical degree from University of Toledo College of Medicine. Ahmad was born and raised in
A civil rights attorney and long-time democracy reform advocate, Jonathan became the Executive Director of California Common Cause on May 1, 2020, after 10 years on the California Common Cause Board of Directors and four years as Board Chair. Jonathan previously spent four years as the head of the V
Mohamed Mbengue is a dedicated college student studying engineering, renowned for his leadership roles within the PANAYouth Congress. He is an avid basketball player and volunteers regularly at the local masjid. His commitment to community service is evident through his frequent volunteer work and a
