FIRST WOMAN SERVES AS BOARD CHAIR

FIRST WOMAN SERVES AS BOARD CHAIR

The Islamic Center has long welcomed women in participation and leadership roles throughout the organization’s history, with Betty Jean Alsabery being the first woman who served on the Board in various capacities from 1958-1967. The trio of Alice Audeh, Pat Awad and Ruth Akbarut were considered the community’s mainstay in the early years. Another milestone was reached in 2016, the year a woman was elected Chair of the Board. When Hedab Tarifi arrived at the Islamic Center in 1992, she was struck by the sense of community, outreach, service and family. “I remember walking in and was immediately put to work helping the community. I loved it and knew that I was home,” she says. Since then, she has dedicated countless hours to the community, spearheading the creation of the 9/11 Remembrance Quilt and serving on the board for the Center as well as the Muslim Public Affairs Council. She was elected Chair in 2016-17 and also 2017-18.