1. Brief bio
2. fromk UMKC PERSPECTIVES
3. from The Star   January 9, 2002
4. from the Heartland Muslim Council 
5. Shabbir honored at  23d Annual  CRES Interfaith Thanksgiving Sunday Ritual Meal 2007 Nov 18
6. Family Circle article (cover + 2 pages) 
Muslim in the Metro -- KCPT

Mahnaz Shabbir is the president of Shabbir Advisors, an integrated management consulting company focusing on strategic planning, feasibility studies, marketing plans, public relations and diversity training. She received her BBA and MBA from UMKC.  She serves on the boards of Truman Medical Centers, Chancellor's Advisory Board to the UMKC Women's Center, Crescent Peace Society, CRES, Kansas City Interfaith Council, Boys Scouts of America, Kansas University Academic Center Advancement Board; Overland Park Police Chief’s Independent Citizens Advisory Board Regarding Racial Profiling (chair), a precinct chair in Stilwell, Kansas and is past president of the Heartland Muslim Council.   In 2005, then Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius appointed Mahnaz to the REACH Health Care Foundation, community advisory committee, a $100 million foundation. Ingram’s Magazine identified her as one of the 50 Kansans You Should Know in 2014.

Prior to forming her own company, Shabbir was the V.P for Strategic Planning and Business Development at Carondelet Health, a Catholic health care system in Kansas City. She had been with the organization for over 18 years. In this capacity, Shabbir planned $40 million projects like the four story medical mall at Saint Joseph Health Center. She has a BBA and a MBA from the University of Missouri- KC.

Shabbir is also on the faculty at Park University teaching classes in health care administration and at Avila University teaching diversity classes. She has been a lecturer at the Command and General Staff College at Fort Leavenworth and Fort Belvoir, Virginia. She has been the subject of articles in local and national publications; she has spoken widely about diversity issues facing the Asian community. She was featured in the CBS-TV national religion special, “Open Hearts, Open Minds”, Family Circle Magazine and Entrepreneur Magazine. 

Shabbir co-authored the chapter on Islam in The Essential Guide to Religious Traditions and Spirituality for Health Care Providers published in 2013. It is an extraordinary compendium of religious traditions as an invaluable resource to all healthcare providers. The user-friendly resource contains specific and detailed information on faith traditions vital for providing optimal spiritual care in a clinical setting.

More information can be found at www.shabbiradvisors.com
 

"Mahnaz is an extraordinary visionary who has already made key contributions in building interfaith community. With her business skills, personal charm, and spiritual commitment, she makes hope for a better future palpable, and enables other to join in the process of mutual understanding, respect, and cooperation." - Vern Barnet
 

Mahnaz Shabbir has been subject of over a dozen articles in local and national publications; she has spoken widely about diversity issues facing the Asian community. She was featured in the CBS-TV national religion special, “Open Hearts, Open Minds” and in the April 19, 2005 issue of Family Circle Magazine and the July 2005 issue of Entrepreneur Magazine.   She serves on the boards of Crescent Peace Society, CRES, Kansas City Interfaith Council, Boys Scouts of America and is past president of the Heartland Muslim Council.   She is the president of Shabbir Advisors, which offers strategic planning, feasibility studies, marketing plans, public relations, diversity training, and website design. In March 2005, Kansas Governor Kathleen Sebelius appointed Mahnaz to the REACH Health Care Foundation, a $100 million foundation.

Noteworthy: Mahnaz Shabbir

I am an American Muslim Woman
Mahnaz Shabbir

With that simple, honest declaration, Mahnaz Shabbir provided a unique voice in the chaotic aftermath of 9/11. She also launched herself into the world of syndicated news and national speaking engagements, and became a crusader for the cause of tolerance and cultural understanding.

Those six words, heartfelt and direct, formed the title of a creative writing workshop essay she wrote in October 2001. She had no idea her words would be the dawn of a new career for herself, and an expression of strength for thousands of  “silent” Americans who felt they, too, needed advocacy.

Shabbir, a UMKC alumna (B.A. ’82, M.B.A. ‘84) was horrified by the terrorist attacks of that September, and hoped the attackers were not Muslims. But as she sadly discovered that they had laid claim to her beloved Islamic religion, she also thought of her four sons (themselves second-generation Americans), who would soon be fending off prejudicial comments and bullying from some classmates.

After confronting her feelings and writing of her experience, she read the piece out loud to her writing class.  “Everybody was crying, including me,” she said. “It was so personal, and seemed in many ways to be a universal story. There have been other minorities in our country’s history that have faced similar discrimination.”

Urged by her teacher, Shabbir sent the essay to the Kansas City Star, which responded immediately. After it was published, it was circulated quickly throughout the country’s newspapers and printed many times over. She was called by dozens of interfaith and community organizations to speak on issues of tolerance and diversity, and realized that the new links she was forging could perhaps help to strengthen the fragile infrastructure of America’s pluralist cultural identity.

Having been a hospital administrator for more than 18 years, Shabbir oversaw big-picture projects, including long-term strategic planning and marketing for several area health facilities. However, after so many years in the business, she recognized that her executive-level duties were no longer “lighting the fire.”

 “So I had a little talk with myself,” she says with a smile. “And that’s when I knew I needed to do this work, so I started my own company.”

 Shabbir has been profiled recently in Entrepreneur magazine for her consulting business, Shabbir Advisors, which specializes in diversity training and strategic and marketing planning for corporate clients (www.shabbiradvisors.com).

 Her work with a dual Muslim/Jewish children’s choir was spotlighted in the CBS documentary, Open Hearts/Open Minds, and she is working on a book.

 Currently, she says that some of her most gratifying work is as a diversity facilitator for the Command and General Staff College in Fort Leavenworth, Kan.

 “When I speak to these students, who are among the very best the U.S. military has to offer, I’m speaking to the future,” Shabbir says. “I hope to give them a better, more compassionate understanding of the cultural complexities of Islam.  Maybe somewhere, while on their missions, this will make a difference.

“I am interested in creating an environment where people can learn from each other in a way that doesn’t make one person right and the other wrong. My hope is that we can create a place where fear and hatred will be replaced by friendship and peace,” she says.

Shabbir sometimes wears the hijab, or traditional headscarf, to class, and invites female students to do so. So far, none have turned her down, as they find wearing it widens their perception of cultural expectations. “And they are surprised to find that it is not too hot or uncomfortable,” Shabbir points out.

Born in Philadelphia to hard-working Indian immigrants, Shabbir remembers as a teenager trying to assimilate into so-called “American” culture by re-naming herself Mona. Her parents did not approve. After all, they named their daughter Mahnaz, which in Farsi means “beauty of the moon.”

It’s a fitting name for this American Muslim woman, who exudes a strong and peaceful magnetism, and whose vocation is to illuminate the darkness in order to gain understanding.

Click Here  [ http://www.perspectives.umkc.edu/voices1.asp ] to read the original essay “I am an American Muslim Woman.”

 – Donna Mennona Dilks

I am also honored to share this recognition with David Nelson. David is such a wonderful man. So calming, so healing, so direct. I’ve learned a lot watching you as the convener of the Greater Interfaith Council. Thank you so much for our friendship.

I would like to dedicate this award to my American grandparents Kris and Paul Costello and my own parents Inayeth and Meher Ali Khan. I am often asked when I started being involved with interfaith work—and I have to say it began from the time I was born.

You need two parties at the table to do interfaith work. There has to be a give and take. There has to be respect and inclusion. There has to be peace and justice. And that is what these people taught me.

I took these skills to my professional life when I worked at Carondelet Health, a catholic health care system for over 18 years. I totally understood the healing ministry of Jesus Christ. I made sure that my work was consistent with that mission. Three instances that stands out for me was when I was asked by Carol Nash the Clinical Pastoral Educator at the hospital about doing an in-service training for the chaplains [tell story]

Another instance had to do with prayer. All of the meetings at the hospital opened with a prayer. I knew it was only a matter of time before I would be asked to open the meeting with a prayer so I memorized Surah Fateh which is the Opening prayer in the Qur’an and the prayer Muslims say each time during the 5 times a day prayer. [tell story]

The third instance had to do with my friend Elizabeth Alex. She was interviewing me for the one-year anniversary of 9/11 and in the conversation she realized that I worked at a hospital and asked me if I could help her with a Palestinian girl, Doa Aldalou who was born with club hands, club feet and dislocated hips. I said I didn’t know, but I would try to see what I could do. Saint Joseph Health Center had stopped doing pediatric inpatient care a few years prior, but I approach Sister Mary Kay Hadican and worked through all the issues of making sure we had the appropriate nursing care, special medical staff privileges for Dr. Ganesh Gupta, a children’s orthopedic surgery. Doa had her surgery. Her mother, Intesaar and Doa are here today. Because of the interfaith work of a catholic reporter, Christian Palestinian, Nick Awad, a Hindu doctor, Ganesh Gupta, a catholic hospital, the Jewish community center for water rehabilitation therapy and many, many other people from the Christian, Muslim and Jewish faith, Doa is walking today.

I would also like to thank the interfaith community—Cres, The Greater Kansas City Interfaith Council and the people involved with the Salaam Shalom Celebration and Festival of Faiths. These organizations are the flame keeper of interfaith understanding. I’m very proud that I have associated myself with these organizations. I have learned more about interfaith work through you all.

I would also like to thank the Muslim community as well. The last few years have not been easy for us, but with leaders like Drs. Shaheen and Iftekhar Ahmed, Dr. Rauf Mir, Rushdy El-Ghussain, Ahmed El-Sheriff, Mohsin Zaidi and Anab and Abdi Nur, we have been able to tear down the negative filters that are out there regarding Islam. You all have been doing this much longer than I have and I want to thank you for being my role models.

As many of you know, I decided to speak out about my faith because of the events of 9/11 when my two older sons Ali and Adil were verbally abused. I have Abbas and Ahmed here with me today. Last year, Ahmed’s 1st grade teacher asked me if I would come to school and give a presentation to the entire first grade about Islam. I thought how great that Mrs. Jean’s asked me—but then I thought how I could explain our faith to about 60 six year olds. [Tell story].

Finally, I want to thank all of you who have been so helpful to my family and me during the most difficult time in my life.

The chapel at the funeral home was beyond capacity. There were as many people inside as there were outside. There were people of all races, young and old. There were people in suits, saris, yamachas, kufi and turbans of all religions- Muslims, Jews, Christians, Buddhists, Sikhs, Sufis, Hindus and Native Americans. They were there for my husband, Syed Farrukh Shabbir, M.D.’s funeral on January 23, 2006.

His death the day before was unexpected even though he had suffered from a chronic lung disease. He had just returned from Mecca in Saudi Arabia after completing the Hajj pilgrimage that all Muslims are required to perform some time in their life. While he was away, many of the people who attended the funeral inquired about my husband’s progress during his Hajj. Some communicated to me that they felt closer to this Hajj because of my husband.

Therefore, when they heard that he passed away the day after his return, they came to his funeral—24 hours later. Muslims, like Jews bury by sunset or at least by the next day. So here they all were in the middle of a working day attending a Muslim funeral.  They heard the Imam explain to them that when Muslims come back from the Hajj, all their sins have been forgiven and that they start with a new slate. He explained that since Farrukh had died soon after his Hajj, he literally went to heaven like a newborn—without sin. After the Imam spoke, Muslim, Jewish and Christian friends also shared their feelings about Farrukh. Later at the cemetery, after watching Ali and Adil receive their father in the grave, people of all religions placed a handful of soil into his gravesite. That was an interfaith experience.
 

In his memory, the first Syed Farrukh Shabbir MD Memorial Scholarship winner was sponsored by the Crescent Peace Society. Approximately 95 letters were sent to public and private high school counselors in the greater Kansas City areas in February. This $500 scholarship contest was open to any college bound graduating senior from a high school located in the greater Kansas City area. This was a blind essay contest judged by Ali and Adil. The Reverend Vern Barnet, minister emeritus of CRES; Bill Tammeus, columnist for The Kansas City Star and Sheila Sonnenschein, freelance writer. The essay  contest winner was Laura Hochman from Sumner Academy for writing the most compelling essay about the importance of peace and understanding in a pluralistic world.  Laura was recognized at the CPS dinner last month and she gave all of us hope for this generation of creating a peaceful world. The essay contest will happen again for the 2008 graduating seniors. If anyone is interested in contributing, please contact me or go to the www.communitypeac.com website.

I would have lost my voice if it wasn’t for my kids and your kids. I always ask myself, “Have I done everything possible when I see an injustice?” If the answer is yes, I say ok, I’m complete. If the answer is no, then I question myself why I hadn’t taken further action and then I do.  Often this leads me to another action I didn’t think of before, but wouldn’t have had access to if I hadn’t taken the first step.

I use the quote from Mahatma Gandhi, “We are the change we wish to see in the world”. I use to say, someone should do something about this, I now say, what I can do, have I done everything possible. It’s this area that gives me courage; it’s this area where I look to my own faith traditions teachings of Prophet Mohammad (PBUH) and the Qur’an where it says,

In the Holy Koran (49:13) it says, “Oh people, We have created you from one male and one female, and made you into nations and tribes, so that you may know one another. Verily, the best amongst you are those who are the most pious”. I hope that my work in the community has caused people to know one another.

I organized the “Community Praying for Peace” in 2002. The event was to mark the six-month anniversary of 9/11. I was compelled to do this after Daniel Pearl, the Wall Street reporter was killed.  People from various faiths come together and pray for peace. We pray in silence in our own faith for peace. We put aside our opinions, assessments, and conclusions and ask ourselves, “What can we do for our Community? What can we create that is EXTRAORDINARY?” We know the place to begin was with prayer. We pray for all who suffer from injustice and oppression, so that revenge will give way to compassion, that fear and hatred will be replaced by friendship and peace.

Last month, I read an article that was in the Washington Post written by the Dalai Lama “Large human movements spring from individual human initiatives. If you feel that you cannot have much of an effect, the next person may also become discouraged, and a great opportunity will have been lost. On the other hand, each of us can inspire others simply by working to develop our own altruistic motivations -- and engaging the world with a compassion-tempered heart and mind”.

So here is a human movement—interfaith.

On this day as we observe an interfaith Thanksgiving, I say this prayer in the memory of the Native American Tribe that was present with the Pilgrims in 1621, later persecuted and now non-extistant, the Wampanoag (Wam pa NO ag) Indians. Let us pray that as a global Community, we want people to demand the extraordinary of themselves and of others. That we want to participate fully with each other so that the conversation shifts in this world from one of punishment, revenge and hatred to one of inventive thinking, bold leadership and a world transformed through Peace.

Thank you again to Vern and the Cres Board for this honor and for this wonderful Thanksgiving dinner. May you have continued success in years to come in supporting interfaith activities in the Greater Kansas City area.
 

Muslim's pilgrimage to Mecca puts questions to rest
By MARY SANCHEZ
The Kansas City Star

The questions no longer need answers.

Mahnaz Shabbir has experienced the pilgrimage to Mecca. So the queries she never made to her husband before he died have faded.

Muslims are expected to complete Hajj, the pilgrimage to Mecca in Saudi Arabia, once in their lifetime if they are able.

Shabbir’s husband, Syed Farrukh Shabbir, returned from his journey in January 2006. The trip was physically and emotionally exhausting. Husband and wife spoke about some of his experiences. But she assumed there would be time for conversation later, after he had rested. Twenty-four hours later, the longtime area physician was dead.

Shabbir became a single mother to four sons.

Since that mournful day, she has long wondered what her husband felt at various parts of the journey. Such as the portion where Muslims ask God for forgiveness at the spot where Adam and Eve asked for forgiveness after being banished. Angels are said to have arrived at that moment.

The question she never asked: “How did you know you were forgiven?”

The answer is an indescribable sense of calm, like nothing Shabbir had ever experienced.

On Sunday, she celebrated her return with family and friends in her Stilwell home. The most tangible difference for guests was her physical transformation.

Kansas Citians who know the former hospital administrator will see that at least for now, she is covering her head.

Wearing the hajib was not entirely a conscious decision. Rather, when Shabbir could take it off after the journey, she simply didn’t.

She’s taking the commitment one day at a time, still absorbing the effects of her pilgrimage.

So far, public reactions have been uplifting, although she braced for negative. One woman told her she had beautiful eyes. Others engage her, curious to learn more. Many assume she is foreign-born. She’s from Philadelphia.

“For that two seconds that I have them, I’ll probably say more than they will want to hear about Islam,” she laughed.

Shabbir is a thoughtful businesswoman active in local political circles, her son’s educations, and efforts to encourage understanding between faiths. She does good work.

While she was away, her two youngest sons’ Boy Scout troop held its annual Thanksgiving campout. The leaders took it upon themselves to ensure that her sons could follow the rules of their faith and not feel left out. They bought a halal turkey to be shared by all.

Half a globe away, their mother was taking pictures of the many faces she encountered among the 3.5 million people who make Hajj every year. She was amazed by the diversity.

“The humanity of it all,” she said. “That is what I took away.”

To reach Mary Sanchez, call 816-234-4752 or send e-mail to msanchez@kcstar.com.