BMLC
MEET OUR TEAM
Founder and CEO
Salima Suswell
In 2023, Salima Suswell founded the Black Muslim Leadership Council. BMLC is a national nonprofit organization, with a 501(c)(4) arm, dedicated to policy advocacy for urban communities, nonpartisan voter registration and voter turnout, civic education, and leadership development.
In addition, Salima serves as Founder & CEO of the award-winning Evolve Solutions, a government affairs and community engagement consulting firm founded in 2010 to address the racial and socio-economic disparities within urban communities. She also founded the Philadelphia Ramadan & Eid Fund, which provides the community with programming and shared experiences for children, youth, and families while celebrating the rich diversity within the Greater Philadelphia region.
Some of Salima’s other noteworthy contributions include: her role as Chair of the Muslim American Host Committee for the 2016 Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia; her role as Pennsylvania Deputy Senior Advisor for the Biden-Harris 2020 Campaign; and her role as Vice President and key organizer for Women’s March on Philadelphia, which drew over 60,000 attendees. Salima serves on the Leadership Council for the United Negro College Fund (Philadelphia Chapter). In 2017 Salima made history as the first Muslim woman appointed to the Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women by Governor Tom Wolf. In 2020 Salima was appointed by Mayor Jim Kenney to the Mayor’s Commission for Faith-Based and Interfaith Affairs. In 2023 Salima was reappointed to the Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Commission on Women by Governor Josh Shapiro.
DIRECTOR OF FINANCE
Aisha Abdullah
Aisha Abdullah, a La Salle University graduate with a B.S. in Accounting, brings a wealth of expertise to the role of Black Muslim Leadership Council’s Treasurer. As the CEO of an esteemed accounting firm and a published author of “We Stepped In Business,” indexed in the self-help genre, Aisha has honed her skills in financial management and strategic planning. Her dedication to accuracy and proficiency, combined with her strong leadership abilities, positions her as an ideal candidate for overseeing and optimizing the financial operations of the Black Muslim Leadership Council.
501(c)(3) Board
Hamid Abdul-Saahir, Esquire, (IN)
BOARD MEMBER
Hamid Saahir is a dedicated personal injury and civil rights attorney, focusing on serious injuries and high-profile claims. He is barred in the District of Columbia, Maryland, and Indiana, and is committed to advocating for those who have been wronged, ensuring they receive the justice they deserve.
Mr. Saahir is a graduate of the University of the District of Columbia David A. Clarke School of Law, where he served as president of the Student Bar Association. Dedicated to his clients, he strives not only to win cases but also to secure meaningful outcomes that address the harm they have suffered.
Beyond his legal practice, Mr. Saahir previously served as a legal advisor for The Nation’s Mosque, Masjid Muhammad, which partnered with Banneker Ventures to build The Clara on Martin Luther King Avenue in Southeast DC. He has also been a consultant with WCP Communications, where he assisted with public relations on major civil rights cases. Additionally, he supports law firms with trial preparation on high-stakes personal injury cases involving millions of dollars.
Prior to his legal career, Mr. Saahir was a high school teacher in the District of Columbia Public School System, deputy director of Phi Beta Sigma Fraternity, a freelance graphic designer, a photographer, and the owner/operator of 4Cast Magazine.
In his spare time, Mr. Saahir mentors’ students, offering guidance and academic advice. He currently serves as a member-at-large for the National Bar Association and sits on the boards of Ladies Under Construction and Nur-Allah Islamic Center.
Rickey Duncan, (PA)
BOARD MEMBER
Rickey Duncan Sr. is the CEO and Executive Director of New Options More Opportunities (NoMo), a Philadelphia-based organization that provides trauma-informed treatment centers specializing in restorative justice, housing, and workforce development. He is also the founder of Duncan Management and Consulting. Duncan is a leader in Philadelphia, speaking out against criminal and social discord affecting the urban community and the challenges of behavioral health cycles, civil crises, and pitfalls.
In 2019, Duncan piloted Philadelphia’s first paid Youth Workforce Development Program. In 2022, he opened his first independent youth living facility to combat youth homelessness. He holds a Business Management degree from Penn State University. His service has won him awards, including the Made Man Philadelphia accomplishment in 2019 and the Black Brain Champion of the Year in 2022.
Duncan was born and raised in South Philadelphia and educated in the Philadelphia public school system. At an early age, he was arrested and served over 21 years of incarceration before being discharged on parole. Immediately upon release, he began a relentless attack on the injustices that are so prevalent in the Black and Brown communities.
Dr. Idrisa Hamid, (PA)
BOARD MEMBER
Dr. Idrisa Abdul-Hamid is the Founder, President, and CEO of Phoenix Rise Global Group LLC (PRGG), a premier executive coaching and organizational development firm established in 2013 to elevate leadership, culture, and strategy across corporate, government, and nonprofit sectors. Bringing 30 years of cross-sector expertise, Dr. Abdul-Hamid is a practitioner-scholar who delivers executive coaching, leadership development, workforce training, organizational diagnostics, and keynote speaking.
Prior to founding PRGG, Dr. Abdul-Hamid held senior leadership roles driving measurable growth, retention, and performance across major institutions:
- Corporate & Financial Services: At MetLife, she served as Regional Director of Training and Development, launching a Training University that boosted attendance by 70%, increased firm profitability by 25%, and earned her a national top 10% ranking in People Development. Her earlier background includes managing a $23M asset portfolio at Citizens Bank, as well as leadership roles at New York Life and Aetna.
- Education & Nonprofit Administration: As Senior Manager of Human Resource Management for the Houston Independent School District, she provided leadership support to 12,000 employees, achieving a 96% satisfaction rating and reducing attrition by 30%. At Temple University’s Hope Center, she directed talent, culture, and DEI strategy, and previously managed human capital operations for 27 school districts with ESS.
An accomplished educator, Dr. Abdul-Hamid serves as an Assistant Professor at Temple University’s Klein College of Media and Communication—teaching graduate courses in Cross-Cultural Leadership and Organizational Behavior—and as Adjunct Faculty at the Community College of Philadelphia.
Dr. Abdul-Hamid holds a Doctor of Business Administration (D.B.A.) in Leadership from Walden University, a Master of Science in Global and International Education from Drexel University, and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Temple University’s Fox School of Business.
Brittany Smalls, (OH)
BOARD MEMBER
Brittany Smalls is a nationally respected organizer, strategist, and community advocate with more than 15 years of experience building collective power in Black and Brown communities. A Philadelphia native, Brittany began her community service work in 2009 and has since dedicated her career to advancing civic participation, developing community leaders, and addressing the systemic barriers that prevent historically underrepresented communities from fully accessing power and opportunity.
Brittany currently serves as the Ohio State Organizing Manager for Black Voters Matter Fund, where she leads statewide organizing strategies, cultivates grassroots partnerships, and supports community-led efforts to increase voter participation and strengthen long-term political power. She previously served as the organization’s Pennsylvania State Coordinator, helping expand voter outreach, strengthen Black-led organizing infrastructure, support grassroots partners, and move resources directly into communities across the state.
Her leadership experience spans local, statewide, and national movements and includes voter education, coalition building, political education, issue-based advocacy, community engagement, and leadership development. As the former President of Millennials in Action, Brittany developed initiatives that increased civic participation and helped prepare more than 100 Philadelphia residents to pursue elected neighborhood leadership positions.
Known for her strategic insight, authentic leadership, and ability to bring diverse communities together, Brittany creates spaces where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to lead. She believes that meaningful and lasting change occurs when the people closest to the challenges are positioned closest to the power, resources, and solutions.
Brittany brings to every boardroom and community space a deep commitment to equity, accountability, collaboration, and the advancement of Black and Brown communities nationwide.