Meet Chama Ibrahim | Co-Founder and Executive Director of Noor Family Services

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chama Ibrahim and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chama, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
My early experience was as a front-line Domestic Violence advocate in both shelter programs and the court system. I saw the need for an organization that supports victims in a culturally sensitive manner.
I (along with my co-founder, Fakiha Khan) started our agency from scratch, it started with a dream that one day we would have an agency that will serve any client without any kind of discrimination on the lines of ethnicity, social class, race, etc. We wanted to have an impact in the lives of victims of domestic violence (DV) and their children by making sure that all their rights as DV victims are protected by letting them know that there are options and resources available to victims in this country and empowering them to overcome barriers related to finance, language or community support and thus, leave the abusive situation if they choose to. I felt that no one should suffer in silence because they did not have the financial means to hire an advocate or an attorney.

It wasn’t easy at all to get to where we are today; I had to learn about various processes, systems and rules, covering aspects such as client confidentiality, the legal system, grant applications and personnel management, not to forget diplomacy that is involved in dealing with different people in different functions. That learning process continues to this day. I overcame challenges by asking questions and asking for help when I needed it. I learned to be very patient. I learned to be grateful about what I have in my life, not to be judgmental and not to take anything personally.
We are now an established, recognized agency where clients can call and get services for free at no cost. We are part of a broader state-wide domestic violence victim support and prevention coalition.

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
I am first and foremost very passionate about confronting domestic violence and supporting the victims. I believe my strength is in networking and forming partnerships with other organizations that can complement NFS services and thus maximize impact and resources. I’m also very passionate and diligent about my work.

Being an immigrant myself, I can imagine how difficult it must be for a victim to feel isolated in a new country, often times without family and community support. Due to my cultural background, I am able to better understand the dynamics of domestic violence and the complexity of the effects of abuse in the immigrant population.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I would like to first take my best friend to Emory University where I studied law and take them to the library, this is to show how much I value education. For fun, I would like to take them to the Atlanta Botanical Garden for several reasons. First, I look at the Atlanta Botanical Garden as a living museum that showcases a diverse range of plant species. Secondly, I feel spending time in a soothing and quiet natural environment will help me relax in a way that only nature can. I would specially like to take my friends to Atlanta Botanical Garden during the holidays season because of the beautiful garden lights, holiday nights. To eat I would like to take them to Rumi’s kitchen in Avalon which serves some tasty Persian food, then have ice cream at Jenni’s ice cream.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Shout out to my husband, Khalid Ibrahim, who supports me in all my endeavors from starting Noor Family Services ( NFS) and advancing my academic career. He has supported me when I have had to go late at night and on weekends. He also encouraged and supported me in getting my LLM (Master of Law) degree from Emory University’s Law School and helped take care of the kids and their after-school activities, when I was involved in academic work. I would like to mention my co-founder Fakiha Khan with whom I worked to bring this agency alive. Having been in the legal field, she was very helpful with her advice and support. My community of supporters and sister agencies that have helped our organization. Whenever we need help, I know for sure that the community and sister agencies will support and stand with us.

Website: https://noorfamilyservices.org/

Instagram: noorfamilyservices

Facebook: Noor Family Services

Image Credits
Some of the pictures have been taken by Hakim’s Studio,