We Are Inspired By This BOSS: Ilyasah Shabazz

Ilyasah Al-Shabazz leads a life dedicated to empowering young people by capitalizing on the arts & entertainment to encourage the undertstanding of history, culture and self-expression. 

As Assistant Coordinator for the Office of Academic Affairs - City University of New York, Ilyasah organized training programs to encourage higher education for innercity at-risk youth. She continues to mentor at various group homes, lock-up facilities and high schools through production of The WAKE-UP Tour™ X-Tra Credit Forums—her exclusive youth empowerment program.

In the area of Government – Ilyasah served for approximately twelve years on the Executive Youth Board for the Office of the Mayor in the City of Mount Vernon, New York. She also served the City of Mount Vernon as Director of Public Relations, Director of Public Affairs & Special Events, and was later promoted to Director of Cultural Affairs. Ilyasah served as an official member of the United States delegation that accompanied President Bill Clinton on the historic tour of Capetown, Soweto and Johannesburg, South Africa to commemorate the election of President Nelson Mandela.

Ilyasah is Executive Producer of the 2009 television pilot, SHARE the eXperience©, a compilation of in-studio and on-location interviews of leaders in Entertainment, Sports and Politics, as well as citizens making a difference in their respective communities. Ilyasah’s book, Growing Up X, has won critical acclaim including nomination for the NAACP Image Award for Outstanding Non-Fiction Literary Work and the United Press International book of the week. She is currently working on her second book scheduled to be released in the fall of 2010.

Ilyasah bint Al-Shaheed Malik Al-Shabazz retraced her father’s footsteps to the Holy City of Mecca. She has also explored religious and historical sites in Egypt and in Jordan as the guest of Her Royal Highness Princess Alia bint Al Hussein. Ilyasah has participated in Inter-faith dialogue study programs at The Garrison Institute and at American University.  She is corporation president and Board Member of The Malcolm X & Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Educational Center, Inc. at The Audubon, the place of her father’s martyrdom in 1965.  Ilyasah is also honorary Co-Chair of All For Africa, a campaign which aims to plant 1 million oil palm trees on approximately 17,000 acres of land in Africa to ‘knockout poverty’. Ilyasah served as a member of the American Interfaith Leadership delegation that participated with the Malaria No More foundation, to provide 2 million bed nets which ultimately saved the lives of 95% of at-risk children, ages 0-5, in Mali, West Africa.

Ilyasah Shabazz persists as a committed author, lecturer, and activist for social jusice as she lectures to capacity audiences on university and college campuses across the United States.  She holds a Masters of Science in Education & Human Resource Development and a Bachelors of Science in Biology. 

For further information, please visit www.ilyasahshabazz.com

Come meet these BOSS "Influencer" honorees, at The BOSS Network's "Influencers" event on November 10, 2010 in in New York, NY. You can register for the event here. Come out and be inspired!