Kanya Shabazz oversees the organization’s people-related internal operations and administrative functions in support of its strategic goals. She possesses an extensive background working for non-profit organizations as a key member of their leadership teams and has provided innovative program solutions in human resources, leadership and organizational development, recruitment, and diversity and inclusion initiatives.

Before joining Muslim Advocates, Ms. Shabazz served as interim executive director at Playworks, a social enterprise organization bringing play-based interventions to school districts across the nation. During her tenure at Playworks, Ms. Shabazz managed corporate and philanthropic partnerships, expanding services in the Greater Washington, DC region to include Northern Virginia and Suburban Maryland. She implemented initiatives to accelerate the integration of direct services and professional development fees for services, and improved cross-departmental operations.

Ms. Shabazz earned her Bachelor of Science degrees in Psychology and Child Development from Tufts University.