Bnyad Sharef

“My ambition is to be able to raise the most awareness in the larger American society about immigrants and refugees especially those from the Middle East. There is a lot of misinformation and false facts about these communities among many US communities, politicians and officials. I want to use my voice to bring about positive relations, change, and harmony in this area.”

Bnyad Sharef is an activist who advocates for refugee and immigrant rights and for a more harmonious, peaceful, and prosperous world free of discrimination and injustice. He has been involved in activism since he and his family were affected by the travel ban while en route to the U.S. with Special Immigrant Visas issued after his father’s work as a translator for the U.S. government in Iraq. Although they were sent back to Iraq in January 2017, Bnyad and his family were able to mobilize family, friends, media and elected officials in the U.S., ultimately resulting in an exception being granted to allow them to enter the country despite the Ban.  On February 5, 2017, they flew to Nashville, Tennessee, where they received a warm welcome from hundreds of local community members, including celebrities. Since then, Bnyad has been a passionate advocate for immigrant and refugee rights and a speaker on leadership, organizing and transforming hate and prejudice. He has already spoken all over the U.S. at universities, churches, synagogues, mosques, community centers, conferences and major media outlets. Bnyad has been active in refugee rights advocacy through Church World Service and Catholic Relief Services, and is currently a Community Organizer for the Tennessee Immigrant and Refugee Rights Coalition.

Topics include: refugees, immigration, the Travel Ban, Iraq, solidarity, activism, advocacy, leadership, public narrative, diversity, leadership, youth empowerment, changing perspectives, transforming stereotypes, building trust & understanding and community organizing.

To request Bnyad as a speaker for your school, community or event, please complete the request form here or email info@amelproject.org.

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