About Common Ground Services
Common Ground Services is a non-profit Islamic Consulting Firm with the aim of providing consulting, education, lectures, classes, events, partnerships in regard to Islam with REAL practicing Muslims. Research shows that most Americans have negative views on Islam, additionally most Americans have never met a Muslim. We aim to provide opportunities for Hospitals, Universities, Churches, Schools, Police Departments, Non-Profits, Public & Private institutions to have access to knowledge and consulting services regarding Islam & Muslims.
Our Team of Speakers & Experts
Rasheed works within his Hartford community to uplift his neighbors and overcome oppression. On the board of the Muhammad Islamic Center, Bilalian Boy Scouts, National Society of Black Engineers, Leadership Greater Hartford and other activist organizations are a testament to that. His aim is to utilize the principals he has learned from Catholic school, American private schools, Historically Black Colleges, Corporate Professions, and numerous organizations.
Board of Advisers: Professor of Humanities, Hampshire College, Amherst, MA. After studies at the University of Notre Dame and the The University of Chicago, he taught in the Department of Religion at Indiana University and the Department of Theology at Notre Dame, and has held visiting professorships at numerous colleges and universities, including Trinity College Dublin and Yale. He is dedicated to peace through education.
Board of Advisers: Omer Bajwa is the Director of Muslim Life in the Chaplain’s Office at Yale University. He earned his Graduate Certificate in Islamic Chaplaincy from Hartford Seminary, and he has been engaged in religious service, social activism, and educational outreach since 2000. He received his MA in Near Eastern Studies, with a specialization in Islamic Studies, from Cornell University’s Department of Near Eastern Studies.
Imam Sami A. Aziz is the founder of Common Ground Institute & Services (www.CommonGroundServices.org), an Islamic consulting firm dedicated to educating the public on Islam and collaborating for peace. He also serves as the Chaplain for Wesleyan University and as an Assistant Imam for Bloomfield Muslim Community Center. He is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry at Hartford Seminary.
Amer Nabil is a CGIS Pubic Educator and a student of knowledge who is passionate about spreading the message of peace. He is also the founder of Half Full Psychiatry (www.halffullpsychiatry.com) as well as inpatient psychiatric nurse practitioner at Prospect Manchester Hospital Inpatient Behavior Health Unit. Amer hopes to continue being an active public speaker in the community in order to spread the message of peace, tolerance and unity.
Chaplain Yasin is focused on empowering young people and building interfaith coalitions to establish strong mutually beneficial communities. At Common Ground he serves as "Head of Strategic Development." He is currently serving as a Muslim Chaplain at Trinity College, Choate-Rosemary Hall, and Madina Academy in Connecticut. In addition to providing pastoral care, educating Muslims and Non-Muslims on Islam, Yasin also commonly speaks on Islamophobia, American Muslims, and community development.
HISTORY & MISSION
Common Ground Services started in May 2015 when Imam Sami Abdul Aziz spoke at Bloomfield Public Library on Islam 101, ISIS & Islamophobia with Public Educators John Parent.
Common Ground mission is to be the top Islamic Consulting & Education Firm in the North East.