The Drawing Board is pleased to announce that our very own, Nakita Valerio, has been named as a Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International.  The recognition comes as a result of Rotarian Jaima Gellar’s nomination in the wake of Nakita’s commitment to international development, community work in Canada and multiple initiatives focused on the status of women, Islamophobia and Indigenous rights and reconciliation.

Past and present initiatives include:

• Political and social engagement as Director with Alberta Muslim Public Affairs Council
• Muslim-Jewish Women’s Dialogue Group with Beth Shalom Synagogue
• Muslim Women and Hijab Discussion Panel
• Women’s Safety Classes
• Partnerships with WRIP, Humanities 101, FGSR’s Community Outreach, Native Studies Program at the University of Alberta
• Muslim community education on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission
• Representative of Islam at City Hall’s Interfaith Conference (December)
• Public Policy development in the area of historical education with Alberta Muslim Public Affairs Council
• Commitment to International Development and Global Cooperation, the building of a primary school in Morocco and various social justice initiatives in the country
• Inter-religious Academic Historical Research aimed at Public Policy development in the area of historical education in the Kingdom of Morocco
• Youth engagement through education programs with Edmonton Public School Board
  • and much more…