"And We have not sent you forth but as a mercy to mankind.” (Quran, Al-Anbiyaa: 107)
We Build bridges in the community
Connecting through education, community service, and collaboration
Goals
Clarify Misunderstandings
To clarify misunderstandings about Islam and Muslims through education and outreach in the local community.
Establish Working Relationships
To establish a working relationship with educational institutions, faith-based organizations, government entities, corporations, and local healthcare facilities.
Create & Maintain Alliances
To maintain active alliances with local groups on social issues of common concern.
Establish Engagement Opportunities
To establish opportunities for Muslim youth to actively engage in the public sphere through professional activities and community service.
— Our Story
The Muslim Coalition of Connecticut (MCCT) was founded in 2004 by a group of local leaders in an effort to provide an alternative to the negative illustrations of Muslims. The leadership of the Berlin, Waterbury, and Hartford Muslim communities came together with other activists to establish an organization that would focus on educating the public on Islam and Muslims and building alliances with other faith communities in Connecticut through social activism and collective civil programming.
— Our Mission
The Muslim Coalition of Connecticut (MCCT) is a non-profit organization with a mission to promote American Islamic Values through education, outreach, and community service.
— Our Vision
To provide opportunities for the Connecticut Muslim community to integrate with the greater community, while maintaining core Islamic values.
Who We Are
We'll be adding lots of content this year, including recordings of our live speaking engagements as well as the stories behind our community service and outreach programs.
Through partnerships and community focus, we broaden understanding of Islam and facilitate interreligious and multicultural cooperation.
Now in our 17th year as an organization, we continue build bridges amid modern challenges and world events that polarize people; we strive for peace, tolerance, understanding and the promotion of Islamic values in America.
Board Members
Aida Mansoor
Aida was born in London, England. Her parents are from Sri Lanka. She obtained her Honors B.S degree in Biochemistry/Physiology at King’s College, University of London. She has a Masters Degree in Community Health. Aida also received a Masters Degree in Religious Studies with a focus in Christian-Muslim Relations from the Hartford Seminary. She received her Islamic Chaplaincy Certificate in 2012. She is a board member of the Connecticut Council for Interreligious Understanding and has been awarded the Human Relations Award from the National Conference for Community and Justice. Aida serves as the Director of Field Education at the Hartford International University for Religion and Peace working with students in the Peacebuilding and Chaplaincy programs.
Mukhtar Suleiman
Mukhtar is currently a Medical Laboratory Technician at the University of Connecticut Health Center’s Department of Laboratory Medicine where he has worked since 1987. He has been actively involved with MCCT for many years, currently serving as chair for the annual Eid Carnival. Mukhtar enjoys serving at the Hartford Mercy shelter every month. He has assisted in the building of the Abrahamic house with the Habitat for Humanity collaborating with Muslim, Christian and Jewish volunteers. He is also an active member of the Islamic Association of Greater Hartford in Berlin. Mukhtar has received the Honorable Husky Hero Award and was one of the first recipients of the Black and Hispanic Award. He has also received an award from the Islamic Council of New England for many years of selfless service to the community”.
Farah Choudhry
Farah Choudhry earned her degree in medicine at the Fatimah Jinnah Medical University in Lahore, Pakistan. She has been a board-certified doctor of Pediatric and Adolescent medicine for the last 23 years here in CT. She did her pediatric residency at Yale-New Haven Hospital and has practice medicine in the Waterbury-Middlebury area since 1998. She is married with three adult children. She enjoys gardening, outdoor activities, and working to benefit the community.
Nermin Miki Duric
Nermin is a Bosnian-American who came to the United States as a refugee in 2000. He has experience since 2002 in insurance, real estate, and tax preparation. As a business owner since 2005, he has been servicing his clients for many years in CT and NY.
Nermin received his Bachelor’s degree from Central Connecticut State University and his MBA from the University of Hartford. He takes the most pride in his work done with the Bosnian-American Islamic Cultural Center in Hartford. He also serves as a board member on the Town of Wethersfield Insurance Commission. Nermin lives in Wethersfield with his wife Leila and four children
Reza Mansoor
Dr. Mansoor is board certified in Internal Medicine and Cardiology and practices as a Cardiologist at Starling Cardiology and Hartford Hospital. He is an Assistant Clinical Professor of Medicine at the University of Connecticut School of Medicine. Dr. Mansoor is President of the Islamic Association of Greater Hartford, advisory board member of MSA-CT Council, and founding president of MCCT. He is a past president of the Islamic Center of Connecticut and Islamic Council of New England. He is actively involved in the inter-faith community and provides ongoing didactic presentations on Islam. He was First Vice Chair of the Board of Trustees of Hartford Seminary. Dr. Mansoor is the author of a book ‘Stigmatized: From 9/11 to Trump and Beyond – An American Muslim Journey’.
Fatima Fiazuddin
Fatima was born and raised in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Her parents are from India. She is a paralegal and works in an Intellectual Property Law firm based in Washington D.C. She is actively involved with a food & hygiene pantry that regularly serves the Muslim community of the Greater Hartford area. She also coordinates with other interfaith organizations in the resettlement of Muslim refugees. She is the Connecticut Ambassador for “Helping Hands for Relief & Development”, an organization running clothing drives for Muslim countries around the world. In addition, she is the Sunday School principal at Al-Noor Islamic Center in Ellington, Connecticut. She is both passionate & committed to working for the betterment of the Muslim community and facilitating interfaith dialogue. Fatima lives in South Windsor with her husband and three children.
Tamkanat Mohiuddin
Tamkanat Mohiuddin earned a B.S. degree in Economics from Punjab University, Lahore, Pakistan, and has diplomas in interior design and a certificate in domestic violence assistance. She has taught ESL in private and public schools in the US and in Pakistan. She has also served on the board of the CT Council for Interreligious Understanding and was a member of the Interfaith Clergy Association of Glastonbury, CT. She played a number of social service and teaching roles aiding refugees and immigrants in Houston, Texas prior to returning to CT where she is currently active in community service. Tamkanat is married and has two adult children.
Colleen Keyes
Colleen Keyes currently teaches courses on Islam at Hartford International University for Religion and Peace as adjunct faculty. She taught English and Spanish for over 20 years and served as bot faculty and academic dean/vice president at Tunxis Community College and Zaytuna College. Colleen earned a Ph.D. in Arab Studies/Theology at the University of Exeter, an M.A. in Islamic Studies & Christian Muslim Relations at Hartford Seminary, an M.A. in Education at Fairfield University, and a B.A. in Psychology and Spanish at Clark University. She is active in community service, interfaith relations, social justice and human rights issues.
Suhair Kader
Suhair Kader, originally from Nablus, Palestine, graduated from Hebron University in English Language Arts. She began her career as a teacher in Amman, Jordan at Hiteen College. She immigrated to CT in 1991, worked at Webster Bank and currently works at Holmes Elementary School in New Britain. Suhair is married and has three adult daughters. She passionately organizes and provides direct aid to local Muslim immigrants and refugees in need and has developed a strong network to carry out this work in central CT for the last six years.
Ali Shakibai
Ali is an Iranian-American citizen who has been practicing adult internal medicine and clinical cardiology in Connecticut, since 1973. He is a member of several non-medical and medical associations including Islamic Medical Association of North America, Physicians for Social Responsibly, and Doctors Without Borders. He is a member and representative of Jafary Association of Connecticut and Islamic Inst. of Ahl Albeyt as well as a Corporate member of the Hartford Seminary. He is also one of the Board of Directors and Treasurer of Alavi Foundation in NYC. He has been a board Member of MCCT for several years now.
Moeen Sharaf
Moeen Sharaf has been the President and CEO of DME Living Well, a medical supplies company in Manchester, CT for over 11 years, following more than 2 decades with Pfizer. He is a graduate of Kean University and West Chester University of Pennsylvania. He is married and has 2 adult children. Moeen and his wife, Safia, have coordinated MCCT’s monthly shelter service at Mercy Shelter in Hartford for the last 5 years. Moeen also supports a charity in Pakistan that provides food, education, basic technical training, and water pumps in underserved areas.
Staff
Saima Malik
Program Coordinator
Saima grew up in England, where she earned her Bachelor of Arts degree with Honors, majoring in English Language and Literature. She then earned a Master of Arts degree in Religious Studies with a Concentration in Christian-Muslim Relations from Hartford International University, CT. She has also worked at Hartford International University where she held the position of Director of Educational Outreach Programs. Saima was a founding member of the faculty at Madina Academy in Windsor, CT and served as a teacher at the school for many years. She has also held the position of Literacy Coordinator and Interim Director of Administration at Madina Academy.