CHIEF ADVISOR

Adeyinka Muhammad Mendes is the Founder and Resident Scholar at Marhama, a family-centered community focused on building sustainable institutions through empowering service, prophetic spirituality, traditional knowledge, and the arts. He previously served as Imam and Resident Scholar at the Muslim Center of Greater Princeton. A native Ohioan of Yoruba, Brazilian, and African-American ancestry who also spent some of his formative years in Nigeria and Houston, Texas. He has a background of working with interfaith, Muslim, academic, permacultural, and peace-building institutions. Adeyinka’s studies and work have taken him to countries worldwide including Syria, Mauritania, Morocco, Singapore, Turkey, Senegal, Malaysia, and back to Nigeria. He is fluent in Arabic, received a degree in Arabic Language and Cultural Studies from the Ohio State University, and has been trained for over two decades in the spiritual, scholastic, and aesthetic traditions of Muslim civilization by teachers worldwide.

Dawud Walid is currently the Executive Director of the Michigan chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-MI), member of the Imams Council of Michigan, and advisory board member of Muslim Endorsement Council (MEC). He has studied Fiqh, Hadith, and Tafsir under qualified Islamic scholars.

Imam Kamau Ayubbi received his Bachelor's Degree from San Francisco State University in 1998 and received his religious and spiritual education under the Islamic Supreme Council of America before becoming appointed as Imam in 2002. He also gained chaplaincy training at Beaumont CPE Center and has experience working at University of Michigan Hospital.

Ustadh Atiba Jones grew up in West Philadelphia in a household where he watched both of his parents constantly reaching out and helping to uplift inner-city youth. After high school, he moved to Atlanta to attend Morehouse College. It was there that he decided to dedicate his life to uplifting under-served youth. He went on to earn a BA in Psychology and a Masters Degree in Educational Leadership. He has worked as a teacher, counselor, school leader, program director and community organizer.

Dr. Meraj Mohiuddin is an American physician and writer. The son of Indian immigrants, he was raised on the East Coast with a strong emphasis on sports and education. With a college background in neuro-science and medical degree from Northwestern University, he moved to Boston to complete his training in Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine. While teaching at Harvard Medical School and its affiliated hospitals, Dr. Mohiuddin developed an interest in international relief work and created a curriculum to encourage young American doctors to share their skills in the developing world.

Mohammed El Farooqui has been serving the Houston community as imam at the Islamic Society of Greater Houston for over 5 years. A significant chapter in his journey commenced in July of 2022, when he assumed the esteemed mantle of Imam at the Maryam Islamic Center. His duties are directed towards the orchestration of education, youth, young professionals and programming pursuits within the precincts of this center.