Epsilon Alpha Sigma is honored to share this month’s Empowered Arab Woman recognition with the radiant and eloquent Maysoon Zayid. Through her work as an actress and stand up comedian and her advocacy, Maysoon Zayid is challenging the negative stereotypes of Arab-Americans in media and the way people look at different-abled bodies. Zayid was born in New Jersey into a Palestinian family who taught her to embrace her disability of cerebral palsy with strength and determination. During her TED talk in 2013, Zayid tells her crowd “I’m Palestinian, I’m disabled, I’m female and I live in New Jersey.” However, instead of seeing her life as a series of problems and obstacles, Zayid uses her personal experiences and professional platform to share what it is like to come from an under-represented community and be a part of the largest minority in the world. While her comedic performances allow her to express the witty and charming woman she is, Zayid also brings her disability and ethnicity into the conversation, discussing the serious issues of racism and ableism which plague both her Arab and American audiences. 
    Maysoon Zayid received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in acting from Arizona State University. Zayid is the first person to perform stand-up comedy in Palestine and Jordan, and one the first Muslim women comedians from the U.S. to perform around the world. She is the co-founder and co-executive producer of the New York Arab American Comedy Festival and can be seen on Comedy Central's The Watch List, and PBS's America at a Crossroads: Muslim Comics Stand Up. In the fall of 2006, Zayid debuted her one-woman show Little American Whore at LA's Comedy Central Space, which was produced and directed by Kathy Najimy. In 2008, her screenplay LAW was chosen for the Sundance Screenwriters Lab and is now scheduled to begin production with Zayid as the lead. Maysoon is a graduate of The Hala Salaam Maksoud Foundation for Arab-American Leadership and was a delegate from the state of New Jersey to the 2008 Democratic National Convention. She also uses her experience to help others in her parents’ homeland, running a scholarship and wellness program – Maysoon’s Kids – a charity for disabled, blind, deaf and orphaned Palestinian children in the refugee camps of the West Bank. She teaches the children to use art and humor to help deal with trauma and to bridge the gap between disabled and able-bodied children. 
     Maysoon Zayid inspires the women of the Empowered Arab Sisterhood. Her words, stories, and experiences speak to many of the struggles we face as Arab-Americans. Zayid’s fearless and passionate spirit humbles us, and we are proud to have a strong woman voice that is humorously and gracefully putting the spotlight on the darker parts of our society and encouraging cultural understanding and education. We celebrate the message you live by: being confident in yourself and never accepting the limitations others try and place on you. We look forward to more laughter and thought-provoking messages from this empowered Arab woman!

"While the old may have died, we have not forgotten" -Lila Sharif addressing the youth at the Palestinian American Women's Association International Women's Day banquet.

     This month Epsilon Alpha Sigma is honoring the work and achievement of a local empowered Arab woman, Lila Sharif. Sharif is a Palestinian-American graduate student whose passion and intelligence has had a positive influence on the members of our organization and inspires young Arab women to seek empowerment through education and community involvement. 
       Lila Sharif was born to Palestinian refugees and she is the first generation born in America. She comes from a family of activists and dedicates her time and effort participating in organizations and events that focus on celebrating Palestinian culture and working toward Palestinian liberation. Sharif graduated from the University of California, Berkeley with a Bachelor's degree in Sociology. She is now teaching at the University of California, San Diego while completing a dual doctoral program in Ethnic Studies and Sociology. Sharif's dissertation, “Savory Politics: The Impact of Fair Trade Olive Oil Industries on Palestinian Livelihoods,” uses the production and consumption of Palestinian olive oil trade as an optic to examine the broader issues of Palestinian identity and Palestinians’ relations with Israel.
       Sharif focuses much of her personal and academic energies into examining what it means to be a Palestinian refugee youth. As a Palestinian woman, Sharif's experiences growing up and living in the United States help her understand the difficulties of being a minority and coming from an underrepresented community. Within her spaces of study and work she is transforming what it means to be a Palestinian woman in academia and is bringing the topic of Palestine into the conversation, giving Palestinians the opportunity to share their narrative. Sharif also believes in the power of youth organizing and is a member of the Palestinian Youth Organization, a transnational, independent, grassroots movement of young Palestinians in Palestine and in exile worldwide. 
       Lila Sharif has been awarded the California Cultures in Comparative Perspective Graduate Summer Fellowship which allowed her to complete ethnographic work in the Palestinian territories during summer 2009. Sharif was recently awarded the prestigious UC President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship. The University of California President’s Postdoctoral Fellowship Program was established in 1984 to encourage outstanding women and minority Ph.D. recipients to pursue academic careers at the University of California. Sharif was chosen from a competitive pool of applicants and we applaud her on such an incredible accomplishment. Sharif has also been selected to be a member of the UC San Diego Chapter of the Bouchet Graduate Honor Society for 2014.
       Lila Sharif embodies the spirit and compassion of this sisterhood. ΕΑΣ applauds her endless and fiery devotion to her homeland and to the empowerment of Arab youth in America. Our sisterhood is so fortunate to have such a beautiful and brilliant woman in our community and we look forward to the contributions Sharif will bring to the academic and social spaces of our universities.

Epsilon Alpha Sigma is excited to celebrate the influence and contributions of another remarkable Arab woman, Dr. Nawal Al Saadawi. As a doctor, writer, and activist, Al Saadawi has lived an inspiring life full of accomplishments. We are honored to take a moment and appreciate her personal experiences and professional endeavors that have accompanied and shaped her journey to challenge female oppression.
     Dr. Saadawi was born in kafr Tahla, Egypt and is the eldest of nine children. From a young age, her parents encouraged her to speak her mind and taught her the importance of self-respect. In 1955, Saadawi completed medical school, graduating from Cairo University. Her medical practice allowed her to observe women’s physical and psychological problems and connect them with oppressive cultural practices, patriarchal oppression, class oppression, and imperialist oppression. As a doctor in her birthplace, Saadawi witnessed the hardships and inequalities faced by rural women and attempted to help those she could. In Cairo, Dr. Saadawi became the Director of Public Health but after publishing Al-Mar’a Al-Jins (Women and Sex), which confronts and contextualizes various aggressions perpetrated against women’s bodies, including female circumcision, she was dismissed from her position. 
     Through her struggles, Dr. Saadawi never stopped writing. She used her life experiences as inspiration for many works. In 1981, her outspoken political views led to her being charged with crimes against the state and she was jailed for three months. She used the time to write Memoirs From The Women's Prison on a roll of toilet paper, with an eyebrow pencil smuggled in by a fellow prisoner. In 1993, she fled to the US after religious groups targeted her with death threats. Saadawi says danger has always been a part of her life ever since she picked up a pen and wrote. Her novels, plays and short stories confront the problems women face in Egypt and address controversial issues such as prostitution, domestic violence and religious fundamentalism. As a novelist and feminist, Dr. Saadawi recognizes the importance and link between medicine, literature, politics, economics, psychology and history in understanding the oppression of women.
     Saadawi is the founder and president of the Arab Women’s Solidarity Association and co-founder of the Arab Association for Human Rights. She also is the founder of Health Education Association and the Egyptian Women Writer’s Association. She has been awarded honorary degrees on three continents. In 2004, she won the North-South prize from the Council of Europe and in 2005 the Inana International Prize in Belgium. She has held positions at prestigious universities including Harvard, Yale, Columbia, Georgetown, Florida State University and the University of California, Berkeley. 
     While her writing and political views have put her life in danger, Saadawi has been willing to sacrifice a comfortable life and job to critically examine her society and the world we live in. Epsilon Alpha Sigma applauds her efforts to challenge the oppressions women face universally. Her courage and dedication to her writing inspires the young Arab women of ΕΑΣ to push beyond socially constructed limitations, and fight the battles necessary to achieve the freedom, equality, and opportunities we deserve.

         Epsilon Alpha Sigma is celebrating the New Year by honoring another empowering woman. This month, we would like to recognize Nadine Labaki, Lebanese born actress and director. Labaki’s work and career give herself and Arab women a strong voice while also tackling issues within the Arab world. 
     Labaki obtained a degree in audiovisual studies at Saint Joseph University in Beirut, Lebanon directing her graduation film, 11 Rue Pasteur, which won the Best Short Film Award at the Biennale of Arab Cinema at the Arab World Institute in Paris. After, she began to direct advertisements and music videos for renowned Middle Eastern artists, winning her several awards. In 2005, Labaki wrote her first feature film, Caramel. In 2006, she went on to direct and play one the lead roles in this film centered in the beautiful city of Beirut. Rather than focus on the social and political turmoil of the city and nation, Labaki chooses to highlight women as the film beautifully and lightheartedly deals with issues of love, friendship, sexuality, tradition, and everyday struggles. The film premiered at the Directors’ Fortnight at the Cannes Film Festival in 2007 and became a commercial success. Labaki was awarded many important prizes at film festivals around the world, and placed her on Variety’s 10 Directors to Watch List at the Sundance Film Festival. 

      In 2010, Labaki directed and starred in her second feature film, Where Do We Go Now?, dealing with a serious issue in an unconventional and humorous manner. Labaki’s film, set in an unnamed village in Lebanon, puts a microscope up to the national problem of religious turmoil and civil war by focusing on the battle between Christians and Muslims within a Lebanese community. Once again, her film’s story relies on strong female characters as they come together to keep their men from starting a religious war with one another. While the film focuses on the religious differences between two groups, the purpose of the film is to examine the way human beings do not always tolerate differences but how it is possible to overcome these problems of conflicts. The film also premiered at the Cannes Film Festival in the “Un Certain Regard” category in 2011. It was another international success for Labaki, winning the Cadillac people’s choice award at the Toronto Film Festival and other awards at the Cannes Film Festival, San Sebastian International Film Festival, and Stockholm Film Festival. The film was also nominated for best foreign film at the Critics Choice Awards in Los Angeles. 
     Labaki has received commercial success and worldwide acclaim for her strong female characters and roles and she uses her talent as an opportunity to creatively and critically examine women’s lives, society, and politics in the Arab world along with more universal elements of human nature and human relations. No matter which side of the camera Labaki is on, her work and her vision are captivating and relatable. The social, cultural, and political dimensions of her films along with her strong female casts give her roles and productions meaning and a platform for females to express themselves. We are proud of the contributions Labaki has made and will continue to make and look forward to see what is next for this empowering actress and director.

Epsilon Alpha Sigma is delighted to announce our last Empowered Arab Woman of the Month for 2013. This month’s recipient, Princess Ameerah Al-Taweel, is a royal, a businesswoman and a philanthropist. She is well recognized for her humanitarian work within Saudi Arabia and around the globe. She has been interviewed by major news stations in the United States and has attended and spoken on numerous panels and at meetings focusing on issues ranging from women’s rights to youth employment. As a royal in a country where women face a restrictive lifestyle, she uses her position to support and promote the advancement of women’s rights and empowerment. She is recognized as an achiever and leader of her generation, and is committed to the progress of women and youth in Saudi society and countries abroad. 
       As the wife of His Royal Highness Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal, businessman and nephew of the Saudi Arabian King, she has a strong source of support and encouragement allowing her to engage hands on in her country’s progress and work alongside her husband in many global projects. Their philanthropic presence extends worldwide, contributing to projects in over 70 countries. She is the vice-chairwoman of the Board of Trustees of the Alwaleed bin Talal Foundation, a local and global non-profit organization dedicated to supporting programs and projects aimed at poverty alleviation, disaster relief, women’s empowerment and interfaith dialogue. In 2010, she received the ITP Special Humanitarian Award on behalf of the Alwaleed bin Talal Foundation at the Arabian Business Achievement Awards Ceremony. Her latest project is an initiative through the Foundation called Opt4Unity, which aims to bring together an “uncommon table” of business leaders, investors, and philanthropists to address international challenges in jobs, food, and education. 
       As a graduate of The University of New Haven in West Haven, Connecticut, United States, with a degree in business administration, Princess Ameerah understands the importance of education, especially for women empowerment. At the Clinton Global Initiative, Princess Ameerah noted that 57% of university graduates in Saudi Arabia are women, though women account for only 15% of the workforce. She says that “for us women, we are very educated, but we are not organized,” and expresses how she is working to change that employment statistic using her husband’s foundation: “we’re creating the first women leaders network in Saudi Arabia. We have women leaders in different sectors. They get together, they set priorities and how to tackle these priorities and reach their voices to the right people. This is a step that I think will create a positive change.” Princess Ameerah also proposes building institutions of civil society and NGOs as a way to facilitate the concerns and demands of citizens and emphasizes that prosperity in the region begins by encouraging enterprise and investing in youth.
       In addition, Princess Ameerah has opened an orphanage in Burkina Faso and spearheaded humanitarian trips to Pakistan and Somalia. She is a member of the Board of Trustees of Silatech, an international youth employment organization, and formally opened the Prince Alwaleed Bin Talal Centre for Islamic Studies at Cambridge University, alongside Prince Phillip. Princess Ameerah is the Founder and CEO of a holding company, Time Entertainment, which aims to revive the media and entertainment industry, while providing and engaging content for Arab youth. She is the Chairwoman and Co-Founder of Tasamy Social Initiatives Center with a unique and disciplined approach to funding and facilitating social initiatives to help Arab youth learn how to create sustainable small businesses that produce profits and positive results for their communities. 
       Princess Ameerah’s grace and elegance compliment her intelligence and passion, making her an exemplary role model for Arab women globally and one that is highly regarded by the Doves of Epsilon Alpha Sigma. Princess Ameerah continues to speak out for equal rights, women’s empowerment, community development, and youth employment and her leadership in each of these areas inspires Epsilon Alpha Sigma and we are honored to present her with this award.

The Empowered Arab Sisterhood is honored to present Her Majesty Queen Rania Al Abdullah as the empowered Arab woman of the month. We commend Queen Rania's endless dedication and commitment to the betterment of her people and the Arab world. She embraces her role as Queen of Jordan, striving not only to change the lives of her people but to also transform the image and opportunities of women in the Arab world. She demonstrates class and intelligence in the grace and fortitude of her daily interactions and humanitarian efforts, representing her country with pride and effectively reaching out to her Arab and global community.
     Her title as Queen Rania simplifies the many dimensions of her life and position as a leader. In addition to wearing the crown, Queen Rania is a mother, wife, boss, writer, humanitarian, and advocate. She divides her time and energy between her family and her people, playing an active role in her children's lives while also engaging directly with the citizen's of her nation. She concentrates on the power of education and is the driving force behind educational advancement in Jordan launching several education and learning initiatives. In addition, Queen Rania's NGO, The Jordan River Foundation, helps equip impoverished families and individuals with the skills and knowledge to help empower and inspire them to work toward a better future.
     Her work however does not stop in Jordan. Queen Rania utilizes her influence and global networks to advance the Arab world and to assist children, youth and women to secure a better future around the globe. As a global advocate for quality education, The Queen of Jordan campaigns on behalf of children in need as UNICEF's first Eminent Advocate and UNGEI's Honorary Global Chairsperson. She has participated in many conferences, projects and forums to challenge Arab and Muslim stereotypes and understands the value of communicating and connecting with the global community. She promotes cross-cultural dialogue, especially among youth from various faiths and cultures, as a way to foster tolerance and acceptance. Queen Rania has also been a voice for many women in the Arab world and around the globe, working tirelessly for the rights of young women and helping to provide resources and opportunities through campaigns like The United Nations Foundation's Girl Up, uniting girls around the world. Queen Rania also participates in international gatherings, such as the Clinton Global Initiative and the World Economic Forum, of which she is a Board Member.
     As one of the world's most influential woman, Queen Rania uses her status and role to better the lives of those around her. She embraces every opportunity to make an impact on children, youth, and women in the Arab world and abroad. Epsilon Alpha Sigma is delighted to present Queen Rania with November's Empowered Arab Woman of the Month award and we look forward to seeing the future contributions and changes this incredible woman will bring to the world.

        As we welcome the beautiful fall season, Epsilon Alpha Sigma is honored to announce the beautiful Haifaa al-Mansour as our Empowered Arab Woman of the month. As Saudi Arabia’s first female film director, Haifaa al-Mansour is embracing her passion, while challenging the professional frontier for women in Saudi. 
     Growing up, al-Mansour’s father encouraged her to pursue her dream of making films. In a country where there is extreme societal pressure to restrict women to certain jobs and roles, al-Mansour was fortunate to have the support of her father in achieving whatever she wanted. Although she has received negative criticism for her career choice, she has had a positive impact on many Saudi women.
     What began as a dream in a small town in Saudi, turned into a reality for al-Mansour. She not only has directed three short films, Who?, The Bitter Journey, and The Only Way Out, and an award-winning 2005 documentary, Women Without Shadows, she is now also a director of a feature length film. Her film, Wadjda, is about a 10-year-old girl living in the Saudi capital Riyadh, who wants a bike in a society that sees bicycles as a threat to women's virtue. 
     While the film has received critical acclaim around the world, it cannot be viewed in Saudi because there are no movie theaters. Fortunately, al-Mansour was able to find an all-Saudi cast, including two lead female roles, despite the Kingdom’s restrictive culture and nonexistent film industry. Shooting the entire film within her country also proved difficult for al-Mansour. As a woman, her mobility was restricted in certain aspects and places, but she worked within these limitations to accomplish something bigger. To her, it is more powerful to work within the system to change it rather than fight against it.
     Al-Mansour has inspired and empowered women through her work. Her films not only expose aspects of Saudi society and culture that need critical examination, but al-Mansour also ignites discussions around issues most Saudis would consider taboo. Epsilon Alpha Sigma applauds Haifaa al-Mansour’s courage and talent and is delighted to present her with this title.

 "No matter how great the pain, nobody wins at Oppression Olympics. Syria, Iraq, Palestine, Egypt, we can compare how long it's been going on somewhere, how many have died, how many disappeared, how the world responded... In the end, it is one struggle: human rights against an oppressive state apparatus. Down with militarism, and down with nationalism too, if it pits one oppressed people against another."

       Epsilon Alpha Sigma is honored to announce our first Empowered Arab Woman of the month, Nada Elia. Nada Elia is a diaspora Palestinian, born in Baghdad, Iraq, and raised in Beirut, Lebanon, where she grew up and worked as a journalist during the Civil War, before coming to the US for her PhD. Nada currently teaches Global and Gender Studies at Antioch University in Seattle, where she coordinates the Global Studies area of concentration. Nada is a member of the Organizing Committee of the US Campaign for the Academic and Cultural Boycott of Israel, and has spoken around the country about academic boycott as a means to achieve the currently non-existent academic freedom in the US, Israel, and Palestine. 
        A scholar-activist, Elia is past president of AMEWS, the Association of Middle East Women’s Studies, and currently serves on the steering collective of The Critical Ethnic Studies Association. She also serves, or has served, on a number of local grassroots activist organizations. She is a founding member of RAWAN (the Radical Arab Women’s Activist Network); a former representative to the United Nations of AWSA (the Arab Women’s Solidarity Association); a member of the Defense of Civil Rights in Academia; and a former member of the steering collective of INCITE! Women of Color Against Violence, where she co-chaired of the Anti-Militarism, and Anti-Occupation task force. 
        Nada’s publications on grassroots resistance, gender dynamics, and transnational solidarity have appeared in various progressive alternative media venues, from the Electronic Intifada to Left Turn and Make/Shift magazine, as well as some of the most prestigious academic journals (World Literature Today, Callaloo, Journal of the National Women’s Studies Association, and others). 
       Her intellectual prowess and academic contributions inspire those who come into contact with her work and her energetic persona. Elia has made a mark in her profession and every space she becomes involved in. Elias strong female voice epitomizes what it means to be an empowered Arab woman and ΕΑΣ is excited to present Elia with this title.