The Full Story
About the Founder
About Nadira Abdul-Karim
Nadira Abdul-Karim is a woman whose life has been shaped by love for her community and an unwavering commitment to empowering young people. A proud graduate of the City University of New York, York College, Nadira earned her degree in Communications and Theatre Arts in 1998. After a year of exploring the world, she returned home with a renewed sense of purpose, joining the New York City Department of Education in 1999. For over a decade, she poured her heart into teaching, later moving into leadership roles within both the DOE and The City University of New York, where she directed transformative programs that touched countless lives.
But Nadira's calling started long before her professional journey. As a teen, she was already mentoring others, founding Y.M.S.T. (Young Muslim Sisters Training) at her local mosque—a space where young girls could be seen, heard, and guided. Whether coaching basketball, teaching dance, or leading heartfelt discussions, Nadira created safe havens for girls to grow and thrive.
Her deepest inspiration came from home. Nadira grew up watching her father, a mentor and visionary, guide young men through architecture, martial arts, and manhood training. He founded Camp Touch the Earth, a boys' sleepaway camp in South Carolina that instilled purpose and pride in its participants. Witnessing his dedication sparked a flame in Nadira that never faded.
In 2005, that flame became ISMAH, a program born out of love and a dream to uplift youth. By 2013, she launched the first ISMAH sleepaway camp, providing girls with a sacred space to discover themselves, build sisterhood, and grow into confident leaders. Today, Nadira takes heartfelt pride in seeing former campers return as staff and mentors—continuing the legacy of compassion, strength, and service that began with her father and lives on through her.
Hafidth Hamza Abdul-Tawwaab is a Qur’an memorizer, educator, and community leader from Los Angeles, CA, with over a decade of experience serving Muslim communities in Los Angeles, Memphis, and Atlanta. He began his memorization of the Qur’an at Madrasah Taleemudeen in Isipingo Beach, South Africa, and completed it in just two years at Madrasah Inaamiyyah in Durban, in the narration of Ḥafá¹£ Ê¿an ʿĀṣim.
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Hamza has served as an Imam, youth director, Khateeb, and Taraweeh reciter, known for his thoughtful teaching and commitment to youth mentorship. At Islah LA, he led leadership and identity-focused youth programs. As Imam of Midtown Mosque in Memphis, he offered sermons, taught classes, and facilitated discussions on contemporary spiritual and social issues.
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Now based in Atlanta, Hamza continues to serve as a Khateeb and Taraweeh reciter, while mentoring young Muslims through challenges of faith, family, and society, as well as teaching courses on Tajweed. His work centers on strengthening community bonds, nurturing reflective spiritual growth, and empowering the next generation.
Imam Hamza Abdul-Tawwaab
Character & Faith Director