After graduation from Tufts University, Naeema thought she had it all figured out. She had planned to become employed at a financial services firm and learn about the predatory mortgage lending practices that were destabilizing neighborhoods across the United States. Unfortunately, she did not get any offers. Instead, she received a lot of rejections. A lot. The world was recovering from a terrible economic recession, and she was quite scared that she would never find employment. At the same time, she was hopeful that I could somehow “be the change I wished to see in the world.”
Naeema developed expertise in managing grant making programs, supporting environmental advocacy and designing strategic initiatives. She is particularly interested in leading philanthropic efforts aimed at achieving policy change and social justice. In past roles, Naeema developed and managed grant portfolios focused on environmental advocacy, local news ecosystems and community activism in New Jersey. She also serves on the Board of HANDS Inc., a housing and economic development organization that works to stabilize underinvested neighborhoods and preserve affordable housing. She received a B.A. from Tufts University and earned a Certificate in Nonprofit Management and Leadership from the Institute of Nonprofit Practice.
While Naeema built a career in the philanthropic sector, she nurtured her passion for photography and multimedia content development. She realized that being behind the camera gave her the opportunity to capture the wide variety of moments that emerge at live events. Whether at a conference, local music festival or commercial photo shoot, Naeema uses a photojournalist approach to document the beauty and joy within the any space that she is invited into to photograph. Her past clients include South Ward Environmental Alliance, New Jersey Environmental Justice Alliance, Ironbound Community Corporation and work has been featured in the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation blog and Suburban Essex Magazine. She is based in the Northern New Jersey/NYC area of the United States.