“I have, therefore we have,” is the concept that drives 35-year-old Jacques Bahati. He is a Policy Analyst for the Africa Faith and Justice Network (AFJN), which brings the concerns of the people of Africa, especially the impoverished majority, to policy makers. AFJN is a member of the Executive Committee of Congo Global Action Coalition, an organization that is especially important to Jacques because he grew up in the Democratic Republic of Congo. His involvement in DR Congo goes beyond AFJN; he has alsoCo-Founded Healthy Congo, INC, an organization that strives to bring HIV awareness in the rural Congo. In addition he works with his home parish...

Let’s face it – after September 11, 2001, the depiction of Muslims around the world has been negative. Associations with terrorism, fanaticism, and hatred has been predominant. The common Muslim voice has been unheard.Omair Ali, 30, decided to change all of that in 2002. He founded MeccaOne Media, in an effort to provide a ‘voice of the everyday Muslim living in the West’. With a growing audience of Muslim and Non-Muslim listeners, MeccaOne has succeeded in gaining several notable firsts – including the first to broadcast a live Islamic call to prayer and first to provide Islamic podcasts on iTunes. Learn...

Lawyers take the bar exam. Physicians take the board exam. Accountants take the CPA exam. Devi Vallabhaneni is working to get business managers to take the Certified Business Manager (CBM) exam. As President and CEO of the Association of Professionals in Business Management (APBM), Devi, 37, is trying to make business management a profession, with its own certification, code of ethics, and continuing education requirements. APBM designed the CBM credential, a master’s-level certification based on an MBA curriculum. It consists of a four-part, 16-hour exam that measures mastery of business management knowledge and skills. It can be taken during, after, or in lieu of an...

Luis Andre Gazitua, Esq. is a man of passion, integrity, and drive who, at age 31, works tirelessly as Senior Adviser in the Mayor’s Office of Miami-Dade County, as founding partner of the law firm of Gazitua Letelier, and as theGovernmental and Community Liaison of the professional networking organization Next In Line. Can you still keep up with this stamina? Guiding business development ventures in both the private and public sectors, Luis tells us that there’s more to be gained by reaching beyond personal gain and financial accumulation. Working with Habitat for Humanityof Greater Miami-Dade County, Luis sits on the Board’s Family Selection Committee where he is able to...

Resume Company Name Extra Medium Sound Founded Spring 2001 Website www.extramediumsound.com Listen to some of Ebrahim’s music Name Ebrahim Lakhani, Producer/Writer/Engineer/Co-Founder, 26 Hometown Vancouver, Canada Current residence Vancouver, Canada Education College put on hold Past experience Canadian Springs Water Company, Distribution Manager Ethnicity Pakistan/Afghanistan The business 411 About the company Extra Medium Sound (EMS) is dedicated to making hits. It’s responsible for providing music recording services as well as music recording facilities for local and international musicians. Along with artists and musicians, we also establish relationships and contracts with businesses, providing them with any sound services necessary (i.e. – Internet...

Executive Director and Founder Sumaya, 25, serves as the Executive Director and Editor-in-Chief at The CulturalConnect. She has been recognized by BusinessWeek Magazine as one of America’s ‘Top 10 Entrepreneurs Under 25’, CNN as a ‘Young Person Who Rocks’, and has also been recognized as a 2007 Who’s Who of Global Emerging Leaders. She frequently keynotes at Universities and business conferences across the U.S. on topics of entrepreneurship, community-building and bridging the non-profit community with other industries. In her spare time, Sumaya works full-time as a Marketing Manager for the Global Communications Group at Sun Microsystems, the youngest in her division. Additionally, she...

Sumaya Kazi Executive Director and Founder Sumaya, 25, serves as the Executive Director and Editor-in-Chief at The CulturalConnect. She has been recognized by BusinessWeek Magazine as one of America’s ‘Top 10 Entrepreneurs Under 25’, CNN as a ‘Young Person Who Rocks’, and has also been recognized as a 2007 Who’s Who of Global Emerging Leaders. She frequently keynotes at Universities and business conferences across the U.S. on topics of entrepreneurship, community-building and bridging the non-profit community with other industries. In her spare time, Sumaya works full-time as a Marketing Manager for the Global Communications Group at Sun Microsystems, the youngest in her division....

Colin Wright Art and Design Manager Colin, 22, has a Dual Major BFA in Graphic Design and Illustration from Missouri State University. He has worked in positions dealing with all aspects of design and related fields, and is currently employed as a Creative at Clear-Media in Los Angeles. Colin’s hobbies and interests include writing, playing guitar, music, fine art, photography and reading as much as possible about as many things as possible. You can see his personal work at 2and2is5.com, and Stim, a culture magazine he runs on the side.

Karishma Shah Advertising Sales Associate Karishma, 24, graduated from the University of California-Berkeley with a B.A. in Political Science. She is currently working full-time as an Associate Account Manager at Shopzilla.com/Bizrate.com and is working with The Cultural Connect part-time. Her interests include domestic and international traveling, dancing, working with children, and cheering for Cal Football. She is Indian-American and currently resides in Los Angeles.

Monica Appelbe Public Relations Manager Monica, 21, is currently a full time student at the University of California, Berkeley, majoring in Development Studies. In addition to contributing to The CulturalConnect, she works part-time for LEWIS PR, a hi-tech marketing agency. Her interests include world poverty, politics and art. She is half Japanese and part Irish and Slovenian. She resides in Berkeley, CA. Ani Zakarian Event Planning Coordinator Ani, 25, is currently attending San Francisco State University where she is pursuing a degree in Business with a concentration in Marketing. She is a full-time student and interns with The CulturalConnect part-time....