2021 People’s Choice Awards:

EDUCATION- (A Continuous Charity) https://acceducate.org/why-acc/

(Al Bayaan) https://www.bayanonline.org/

(America's Islamic Heritage Museum) https://aihmuseum.org/

(Barakah, Inc) http://www.barakahinc.com/

(CLARA MUHAMMAD SCHOOL OF MASJID KHALIFAH) http://www.cmsbrooklyn.org/

(Pearls Academy) https://pearlsacademy.org/

The Islamic Community School https://www.myics.school/

(W. D. Muhammad School) -Atlanta https://www.mohammedschools.org/

(Yaqeen Institute) https://yaqeeninstitute.org/

Frontline Worker-

Dr. Isam Omeish

Dr. Malik Jackson

Dr. Safiyya Shabazz

Dr. Susanne Baaqee

Meliya Mohamed

Omar Ibn Abdul Malik

Shuron Abdullah

Nadia Auxila

Best in Education - 2017

Jameelah Malik - Maryland

Jameelah Malik holds MA and BA degrees from Morgan State University and an AAS degree, Associate in Applied Science from Fashion Institute of Technology – FIT, State University of New York. She has extensive knowledge of history, art and civilization specializing in Museum Studies and Historic Preservation at Morgan State University. Her skills also include exhibition design and photography. She has taught for several years in Muslim schools in New York. Presently, she teaches third grade for Prince George’s County Public Schools (PGCPS) and has been honored as PGCPS Irreplaceable Teacher of the Year 2015-2016. Her classroom has partnered with the Smithsonian Teach it Forward Institute. Ms. Malik’s affiliations include Prince George’s County Muslim Council, American Alliance of Museums, Institute of Muslim American Studies, Smithsonian National Museum of African American History and Culture exhibition on Muslims, National Education Association and Kappa Delta Pi (International Honor Society of Educators).

Executive of the Year - 2017

Omar Karim - Maryland

Mr. Karim serves as President of Banneker Ventures which he has led since its founding in 2005. He has grown Banneker Ventures from a boutique real estate development firm to a diversified, full-service construction firm, also specializing in facilities and construction management with federal government, local government and commercial clients. Since its founding, Mr. Karim has been responsible for Banneker Ventures winning more than $30M in contracts and overseeing the construction of more than $200M in public and private projects. Prior to founding Banneker, Mr. Karim served as General Counsel for a Washington, DC-based development company. Before that, he served as a Corporate Associate with a large New York law firm. Mr. Karim received a Juris Doctor degree from Howard University where he was a member of The Howard Law Journal; and a B.S. degree in Mechanical Engineering – also from Howard – where he became the first undergraduate student to serve two terms on the University’s Board of Trustees.

Public Servant of the Year - 2017

Sylvester Johnson - Pennsylvania

Mr. Johnson is a retired law enforcement executive. He served on the Philadelphia Police Department for forty-three years, including six years as the city’s 13th Police Commissioner from January 4, 2002, until January 7, 2008, becoming the first Muslim American to lead a police department. Johnson joined the Philadelphia police department in 1964 and was soon assigned to the city’s High Patrol. In 1972 Johnson was awarded the medal of valor, the police department’s highest award, for stopping the armed robbery of a supermarket in Cheltenham, Pennsylvania, while off-duty. Philadelphia Mayor John F. Street appointed Johnson as Police Commissioner in 2002. Johnson was credited with lowering Philadelphia’s murder rate during his first year in office.. He also improved community relations. Chief Johnson retired in from the Philadelphia Police Department in 2008.