Profile of Shahina Siddiqui

Original address: http://www.uia.ca/UIA/index.php/faculty/past-instructors/233-shahina-siddiqui

Source: Understanding Islam Academy (UIA is described at the bottom of the reproduction as “a project of DawaNet Canada. DawaNet is a not for profit orgnaization [sic] that is focused on education and bridg [sic] building.”

Date (Google Cache): January 5, 2014

ORIGINAL TITLE: Shahina Siddiqui

Shahina Siddiqui is a paraprofessional in the field of social work and counseling. She has  B.A. from St Josephs College University of  Karachi with major in English honours and philosophy. She immigrated to Canada in 1976 with her family.

She is the founding member and has served as the Executive Director for ISSA USA and Canada from 1999 to 2003.

She is currently serving as the president/ executive director of  Islamic Social Services Association Inc. (ISSA) Canada.

She is senior national Board member of Canadian Council on American Islamic Relations

Shahina serves on the National  RCMP Commissioner’s Advisory Committee  on diversity as well as on the RCMP Commanding Officers’ Advisory committee on Diversity, D- Division, Manitoba.

She is one of the founding member of AlHijra Islamic School, Winnipeg and has served on the board directors from 1996 to 2005.

She founded the Canadian Muslim Women’s Institute and is one of  the founding member of Canadian Muslim Leadership Institute.

She also sits on the National Advisory Board for the Canadian Association for Muslims with Disabilities.

Shahina has served many years on the board of the Social Planning Council Winnipeg, Manitoba Federation for the not-for-profit Organizations, city of Winnipeg anti racism committee, Hospice and Palliative Care Manitoba and the  Manitoba Coalition for Human Equality She has also served in voluntary position of  community Relations coordinator and media out reach   for the Manitoba Islamic Association from 1998 to 2003.She has served as member of the Agreement Advisory Committee of The Manitoba Voluntary Sector Initiative.  She was member of advisory committee on United Against Racism.

She is often invited to present at numerous national conferences on Racism, Policing, Civil Liberties and Ethno Cultural, gender, Islam and human rights issues. She is a regular guest and commentator on Radio, TV, locally and nationally. She frequently conducts cultural and spiritual literacy trainings on Islam and Muslim culture.

Shahina has published multitude of articles on Islam and social issues.  She has been published, locally, nationally and internationally. She has been helping Muslims in North America for over 18 years.  She is a speaker, spiritual counselor, educator and social activist.

Shahina has organized several national and international conferences, conventions and training programs. She has organized and administered training programs in North America for Muslim volunteers and professional in social work and counseling.  She organized and administered the first month long educational retreat for Muslim youth in North America in 1995.  Shahina regularly conducts trainings  on counseling and social work for Muslim imams and community service providers.

She has compiled marriage preparation course for Muslims that is in use across North America and Europe. She has published booklets on how to address  domestic violence and sexual abuse  in Muslim communities.

She has done pioneer work in Islamic spiritual counseling and has developed training programs and manuals for Muslim professionals and paraprofessionals in the field of social services, health care and counseling. Shahina presented her unique Spiritual Counseling in Islam program at International Conference on ‘Spirituality and Mental Health’ at national spirituality and social work conferences .

She has completed a public education project funded partly by Multiculturalism program of the Department of Canadian Heritage. This has produced handbooks for journalist, educators, police officers, health care providers, Social service providers- on Muslim’s culture and faith, and a booklet on dispelling myths about Islam and a brochure on Canadian Muslims. These are in great demand. Shahina’s expertise and her work is frequently profiled and recognized.

Shahina was awarded the YMCA-YWCA (Winnipeg) ‘Peace Medal 2002’ “ For her work since September 11 in fostering understanding between Muslims and other religious and cultural groups in Winnipeg. Ms. Siddiqui organized and hosted numerous community events and articulated the importance of harmony in our diverse society.”   In 2010 she was recognized by  Grassroots Women Manitoba  for her life in struggle for justice. She was also awarded  Grass Roots Women of Manitoba  Award in 2010 in recognition of r her social justice activism.