The Sapelo Squad

Su’ad Abdul Khabeer, Sapelo’s Founder and Senior Editor, is a scholar-artist-activist, author of the groundbreaking book, Muslim Cool, and was named as one of 25 influential American Muslims by CNN, but is best known for reppin’ Brooklyn HARD.

Aisha Caruth, Sapelo’s Operations Managing Editor, is a publications manager specializing in supporting donor-funded international development projects. She is a behind-the-scenes pragmatic agitator.

Rashida James-Saadiya, Sapelo’s Arts & Culture Editor, is an award-winning multidisciplinary artist and cultural educator exploring Black Muslimness through storytelling and cultural memory in West Africa and the American South.

Narjis has been shaping a narrative around Indigenous Shi’a Muslims in the United States, using her unique perspective to shape young Muslim minds as an English teacher, and is responsible for making sure that every child she touches knows about the rich and diverse history of Black Muslims.

Zaheer Ali, History Editor, is an oral historian, educator, and most importantly Sapelo OG. His oral history interviews have informed a Pulitzer Prize-winning biography of Malcolm X, spawned a viral video on Muslim bakers, and inspired a critically acclaimed art installation on Muslims in Brooklyn. He understands the recovery and sharing of our histories as more than just a journalistic mission or scholarly enterprise--it’s a sacred rite and community obligation.

Mahassin Muhsin, Sapelo’s Special Features Editor, is a globetrotter, a polyglot, and an aspiring librarian. She is a long time student of the sacred sciences who has multiple ideas for world domination, but no time to implement them.

Ambata Kazi-Nance is a writer, editor, and teacher born and raised in New Orleans, LA and currently calling the California Bay Area home. A graduate of University of New Orleans Master of Fine Arts Creative Writing program, Ambata has been writing professionally for more than 10 years and has loved words since before she could even read. She enjoys helping people find and cultivate their own unique writing voice, amplifying artists from all parts of the world, and celebrating the power and beauty of language to express humanity.

Nisa Muhammad, Sapelo’s Internship Coordinator, is a highly acclaimed university Muslim chaplain that specializes in sharing the joys and challenges of being Black and Muslim on college campuses.

Aïdah Aliyah Rasheed, Sapelo’s Special Projects Lead, recognizes the power of art and culture as a means of cultivating communal awareness and connectivity. She is a lover of light and all things beautiful.

Latasha Rouseau, Administrative Coordinator, is a writer and youth advocate, specializing in areas of criminal justice. Striving to empower and support the most vulnerable groups in our communities, she has been involved in assisting youth and their families within the juvenile justice system for over a decade.

Summiyah Austin Siddeeq, Web Manager, is a St. Louis native and an Atlanta based technology professional. Using technology and innovation to inspire youth is her primary passion. This passion has taken her across the African diaspora to conferences and working with young adult mentees in Rwanda, Haiti, and Jamaica.