SALMA’S STORY

“I was struck with how similar you and your faith and values are to my family. I am a Jewish woman who grew up in Ohio but my grandparents and their families were from all over Europe. Your struggles are identical to ours in terms of our wanting to pass on traditions, worrying about perceptions from the public, and the trials and tribulations of raising our children and grandchildren and passing on our core values. I realize that people from all over the world have more similarities than differences and your writing brings that to light.”

I realized then the power of a personal story. We each have a story. It may seem ordinary to us, but it is our ordinariness that connects us to one another, that helps us cultivate a relationship and develop a sense of familiarity. Our stories help us go beyond generalizations and stereotypes so we can simply get to know each other as people.

I’ve written personal essays, reflections, op-eds, profiles, and features, all with the intention of helping us understand each other better. My 30 Days Ramadan blog, which I started as a way to share the essence of the month with my young children, has grown into an international storytelling platform read by people of all backgrounds around the world—a testament to the power of our stories to connect us. On its 10th anniversary in 2021, I published a commemorative, limited-edition, handmade book, 30 Days—Stories of Gratitude, Traditions, and Wisdom. The following year I published a 30 Days Journal; by answering a meaningful prompt each day, by the end of a month you’ll have your own book of personal stories. My newest book is BenchTalk: Wisdoms inspired in Nature, which was recently reviewed in The Washington Post and launched by Italian designer Brunello Cucinelli. Each of my books is handmade, uniquely designed, and includes original art. My humanKIND newsletter captures everyday stories of compassion and humanity that I come across on a daily basis. If you’d like to receive an occasional dose of inspiration in your inbox, hope you’ll subscribe here.

My work has been featured in The Washington Post, NPR, NowThis, and other local, national, and international media outlets. It’s been an honor to share my stories at national and international events including at the United Nations, the U.S. State Department, and at schools, conferences, and storytelling workshops around the world.

Understanding the power of a personal story to communicate and connect, I set up a storytelling consulting business  – SHA Storytelling Consulting – to help people and organizations figure out their “story.” I help them hone, develop, write, and share it effectively and with purpose. My clients range from businesses who want to share their origin story, to nonprofits who want to reveal the “why” of what they do, to individuals who want to share something personal for a speech or event, or who want to record their immigrant experience, love story, lessons they want to pass on, and more. We are all mortal, but our stories endure. 

In my volunteer capacity, it’s been a privilege to help lead a nonprofit called KindWorks, since its founding 15 years ago, as their CIO – Chief Inspiration Officer. I help create campaigns to promote volunteerism, like the “KINDdemic” and “KindSoup for the Soul”, and capture and share tales of ordinary people doing good.

As Vice Chair of The Concordia Forum, a by-invitation international group of change makers who are Muslim, I am committed to ensuring that vital ideas and passionate people are connected for the greater good. I’ve served as Secretary for the Board of KARAMAH – Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, and as a member of the Project Turquoise team mentoring refugee students at Zaatari Refugee Camp in Jordan.

It was an immense honor to be a finalist for the 2019 March of Dimes Heroines of Washington Award, which honors women for their dedication to community service; and to be nominated twice for the El Hibri Foundation Community Builder Award. 

Previously, I worked as a writer, editor, and press and information leader for international organizations in Geneva, Paris, Stockholm, Bahrain, and New York City. As Senior Information Officer for The Commission on Global Governance, I organized the publication, marketing, and dissemination of Our Global Neighborhood, including events with President Nelson Mandela, Nobel Peace Prize Laureate Wangari Maathai, Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, and other world leaders. As Head of Communications for the International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance, I set up the communications department, edited several books, and formulated information and press strategy.

I attended Columbia College, and received a master’s degree from the School of International and Public Affairs at Columbia University.