Bareeq Albarqawi: Stumbling Upon Passion for Advocacy with Muslim and Arab Activist Groups

Bareeq Albarqawi Speaking at an Event

Bareeq Albarqawi was always a leader throughout her life but she always underestimated her ability to create any real change.  When she went to college she pretty much focused on her studies because her university was not very diverse. She didn’t feel like she could connect with anyone because no one could relate to her regarding her culture and its traditions.  After she finished college, she realized that she had excellent grades but no friends from her college experience.

She started to seek out organizations where she could connect with fellow Arabs and Muslims.  She became involved with various groups and started attending their meetings and events.  She met her closest friends through these organization, but the more she got involved, the more she realized how fragmented the community was. She began proposing ideas and getting heavily involved in further developing these organization without even realizing it.   Through all her hard work, she become known as the person “to know” within the Arab community in Philadelphia.  She has spoken at several colleges and universities about the Arab culture and Muslim religion in efforts to build a better understanding and relationship with the outside communities.   She also started creating more social educational events because there was a strong need within the Arab community for someone to get them together for networking and building relationships.  She is especially proud to admit that since her involvement with the Arab community development in the Philadelphia area it has significantly improved.  She hopes the organization will remain strong without her involvement.

She currently is actively involved with Playgrounds for Palestine as their Non-Profit Administrator and the Network of Arab Professionals. Albarqawi also supports and promotes the Boycott of Lowe’s Home Improvement. She has found her passion as an activist and is pursuing a career in raising awareness for Muslim rights.  She has always loved volunteering and has been involved with other organizations including the American Red Cross and Habitat for Humanity. She is now able to combine her passion for volunteering with her desire to connect with her Arabic roots.

 

~ by sheelbhuta831 on December 15, 2011.