Intro
Intro
I am an Arab American from Upstate New York, dedicated to building a more just world where all communities are considered valuable and no one is left behind.
When I was seven years old, I became aware of the toxic waste issues in my community, that my neighbors and friends were destined to struggle with high rates of cancer because the poor white town I was from was considered expendable. This was a hard thing to face.
But there were avenues to channel my anger and passion. I set out to participate in and then help lead an eight year struggle to pass state legislation that would refinance the Superfund Program in New York State. When I was 16, we finally succeeded.
After the legislation was passed, I received the Yoshiyama Award from the Hitachi Foundation and the Brower Youth Award from the Earth Island Institute.
Upon graduating high school, I was faced with a few options. I could go to a private school and take out astronomical loans in order to continue my education, I could stay at home and go to community college, or I could strike out on my own and find my way in the world.
With my background in organizing, I found a job in Washington D.C. mobilizing students of color around climate change issues. I worked for the Environmental Justice and Climate Change Initiative as the youngest Campaign Coordinator in the Energy Action Coalition.
It was through photographing the work of my students and bearing witness to the burgeoning youth climate movement that I began to see a gap that needed to be filled.
My Story
I believe that in order for people to even dream of another world, they need to see it’s possible.
My Story
I believe that in order for people to even dream of another world, they need to see it’s possible.
Visual Media
Visual Media
Visual Media for Movements
I began to see that our movements while they were beautiful and powerful and so full of potential, weren't good at telling our most critical stories. We weren't utilizing all the incredible tools that we had available or the passion and talent of so many media makers who are craving meaningful work.
So, I fused my two loves of organizing and visual media together, focusing on developing a network of media makers across the globe. I have started both a non-profit organization and a for-profit media agency to further this cause
I strongly believe that the people behind our cameras are just as important as those in front. People who come from communities most impacted by environmental injustice, or police brutality, or Islamophobia will tell those stories differently. They will grasp and convey nuance in a way that our world so desperately needs right now. The coordinated visual media infrastructure that I have helped build for our movements keeps this close to heart.
My Projects
My Projects
My Projects
I am a builder.
I have a rare capacity to ideate, create, follow through, and lead. The non-profit and for-profit that I started work in tandem with one another. Within those entities I lead teams of creatives to execute a variety of media projects throughout the year. While I have a variety of skills that allow me to execute on my own, collaborating with a team of capable brilliant creatives always gets the goods.
I direct films, draft scripts, plan production, run interviews, shoot b-roll, capture sound, and of course, I take photos.
SURVIVAL MEDIA AGENCY
I am the Founder and Executive Producer of the Survival Media Agency, a company that connects filmmakers, photographers, and animators to non-profit organizations and grassroots movements. We provide visual media and storytelling solutions to groups that need to take a critical initiative to the next step.
Movement photos
For the last decade, I have been photographing the initiatives that people around the world are taking to make our communities healthier and safer. My work has been used to mobilize communities to action and to show the movement how big and beautiful it is.
project survival media
I'm the Founder of Project Survival Media, a global media network producing photo and video documentaries on climate change.
Film Photography
When I am not shooting photos or video or capturing sound for social and environmental movements, I am meandering along with my old 35mm camera deliberating over every shot as a meditation.
Music & song writing
One of the few ways I can let go of the day to day work and the ever-mounting things to be done, is playing music and writing songs.
Published In...
As seen in...
Published In...
As seen in...
My work has been published in the digital and print versions of the following outlets...
