The Orange County register featured Anila Ali as the first Pakistani Muslim woman to be elected to represent Orange County at the DNC. “When I came to California for vacation, I felt welcomed. I felt like I blended in. And now, our American Dream has definitely come true.”
Under the theme “To Empower U.S. Muslim Women,” AMWEC held its annual leadership conference at the Hyatt Regency. Anila Ali welcomed Congresswoman Maxine Waters, as well as State Department Special Representative to Muslim communities Farah Pandith, US Attorney Andre Birotte Jr., White House Senior Advisor on Civil Rights Amanda Baran, Pakistani Consul General Riffat Masood, and Deputy Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department Michael Downing. See coverage in The Los Angeles Times.
The Huffing Post spotlights the release of “Americans on Hold: Profiling, Prejudice, and National Security,” a powerful documentary that tells Anila Ali’s and Zuhair Mahd’s stories and exposes the widespread impact of profiling in citizenship applications and at the borders.
Anila Ali received the Dr. Donald Hecht Philanthropy and Service Award – presented annually to a CalSouthern student, alumnus, or community member who has made a difference in his or her community through distinguished work, scholarship, innovation, or service. Ali was presented with the award at the university’s 2018 commencement ceremony, held at the Irvine Barclay Theatre on August.