Featured Speakers/Performers

SALEEMAH ABDUL-GHAFUR (Event Emcee) 

Saleemah is an accomplished leader with extensive experience in global policy, advocacy, and communications. She was most recently the Director and Chief of Staff in the Office of the Chief Communications Officer at the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.  She also recently served as the founding director of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA – one of our key advocacy partners), which comprises every sitting African head of state and government. ALMA developed a diplomatic apparatus based on accountability to generate African-owned and African-led ways to accelerate malaria elimination and improve health outcomes for women and children. In this role, Saleemah functioned as a combined chief of staff and chief communications officer. Additionally, Saleemah played a key role as director for the United Nations Secretary General’s Special Envoy for Malaria. 

Saleemah has also been advising African heads of state on the End Malaria Council (EMC) which is co-chaired by Bill and Ray Chambers. This includes briefing leaders on key trends and new data and policy related to the global malaria burden and presenting strategic opportunities to expand access to lifesaving commodities.
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Previously, Saleemah was an associate director of Corporate Volunteerism at Hands on Atlanta and has served as a consultant to non-profits and governmental organizations on projects focused on alleviating poverty through interfaith dialogue and action programs.  
Saleemah is also a community leader with a strong commitment to and passion for civic engagement through activism, volunteerism, and advocating for gender equality in Muslim communities in the U.S. and abroad. In her free time, Saleemah is a writer and speaker who chairs a non-profit, non-partisan organization working to boost civic engagement in the American Muslim Community. 

SHAN ARORA

Shan Arora is the Executive Director of The Kendeda Building at Georgia Institute for Technology, and he is a globally recognized leader in advancing regenerative building practices. To advance this mission, he draws on a diverse background spanning clean energy policy, sustainability, community engagement, business development, and tax policy. He holds both BA and JD degrees from Emory University and is Living Future Accredited by the International Living Future Institute—an acknowledgment of his expertise in the world’s most rigorous and holistic standards for sustainable design. Shan is part of Georgia Tech's ARI.

BECKY BLALOCK

Becky Blalock is the Managing Partner at Advisory Capital, a strategic consulting firm that provides insight and expertise to companies involved in the energy, information technology and medical industries.

As former Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer for Southern Company, Blalock spent nearly a decade directing IT strategy and operations for the 3rd largest utility company in the world. Under her leadership, Southern Company was recognized as one of the 100 Most Innovative Companies by CIO magazine and one of the 100 Best Places to Work in IT by Computerworld magazine. In addition to her work in information technology, Blalock spent over two decades serving Southern Company in leadership positions including accounting, corporate communications, customer service, economic development, external affairs, finance and marketing. 

A sought-­‐after speaker, Blalock has long been recognized as a thought leader in the IT and utility industries. Computerworld magazine identified her as a Premier IT Leader and she was named CIO of the Year by Energy Biz magazine, Georgia CIO Leadership Association and Computers for Youth organization. She has been named one of Atlanta Business Chronicle's 100 Most Influential Atlantans and is listed among Who's Who in Science and Engineering. Blalock has testified before the DOE and FCC on behalf of the utility industry regarding matters related to information technology, cyber security and telecommunications.

PAEDIA MIXON

Paedia Mixon has served as the CEO of New American Pathways in Atlanta, Georgia, since its founding in 2014, leading efforts to support refugees from arrival through citizenship. Under her leadership, the organization focuses on comprehensive services including career advancement, education, and civic engagement. She is a prominent advocate for Georgia's immigrant community and serves as the Chair of the Business and Immigration for Georgia (BIG) Partnership. 

AMY GLENNON

Amy Glennon is the former publisher of The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, and of Cox Media Group’s Vertical Businesses, a portfolio of digital content sites.
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Glennon is on the Advisory Board of the James M. Cox Institute for Journalism Innovation, Management and Leadership at The University of Georgia; and is an Advisory Board member of the Salvation Army of Metro Atlanta.

FARHANA HASAN

Farhana is passionate about leveraging Data Science and AI to tackle critical global challenges—gender equality, climate change, quality jobs, and global health. As the founder of a nonprofit, she empowers women and underrepresented youth with resources to thrive as the next generation of diverse tech leaders. Her expertise spans business, technology, and data, amplified by trilingual storytelling and cross-industry experience.

With over 17 years at Delta Air Lines in leadership roles, she's driven industry-wide digital transformation, led global IT Steering Committees, and delivered seamless, unified digital experiences to 200 million+ customers annually. She specializes in bridging cultural, policy, and product gaps across complex environments through cross-functional global collaboration.

Rooted in innovative problem-solving, Farhana excels at transforming business processes and guiding projects from ideation to execution. Her Six Sigma Master Black Belt and Total Leadership expertise equip her to lead with strategy, precision, and impact.

DEBRA HOURY

Debra Elaine Houry is an American physician. She served as the Chief Medical Officer and Deputy Director for Program and Science of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention until she resigned in protest at the firing of Susan Monarez. 

She previously served as acting principal deputy director and former Director of the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control. She was also a tenured faculty at Emory University before moving to CDC.

NATOSHA REID RICE

Natosha Reid Rice is VP Global Housing Opportunities and Mission Engagmeent for Habitat for Humanity International. 

Natosha is an attorney, ordained minister, inspirational speaker, and life coach dedicated to justice and community empowerment. She serves as Associate General Counsel for Real Estate and Finance at Habitat for Humanity International, helping provide affordable housing nationwide. In addition, she is an Associate Pastor for Women’s Ministries at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Passionate about justice, she speaks widely on faith, race, gender equity, and leadership and has advocated for policies protecting victims of human trafficking and workplace fairness for wo

DR. BEVERLY DANIEL TATUM

Dr. Beverly Daniel Tatum, president emerita of Spelman College and recent interim president of Mount Holyoke College, is the author of the best-selling book, Why Are All the Black Kids Sitting Together in the Cafeteria? And Other Conversations about Race, now in its 20th anniversary edition.

A thought-leader in higher education, she was the 2013 recipient of the Carnegie Academic Leadership Award and the 2014 recipient of the American Psychological Association Award for Outstanding Lifetime Contributions to Psychology. Dr. Tatum holds a B.A. degree in psychology from Wesleyan University, a M.A. and Ph.D. in clinical psychology from University of Michigan, and a M.A. in Religious Studies from Hartford Seminary.

BELISA M. URBINA

Belisa Urbina is the Executive Director of Sir Familia, Inc. and was born and raised in San Juan, Puerto Rico. She studied Business Administration at the University of Puerto Rico and graduated as Valedictorian of her class. She moved to Georgia in 1999. On 2001 she co-founded Ser Familia, Inc. which is the leading program in

Georgia providing coordinated multi-disciplinary family, social and mental health services to Latinos.

She is a member of Cobb County’s 2020 Steering Committee and Kennestone Hospital’s Regional Board of Directors past chairperson. On 2012 she was named by Womentics as one of the Women of the year. On 2014, she was chosen as one the 11WhoCare®by Atlanta’s 11 Alive Channel. On 2015 she received the “Family Advocacy Award” from the Interfaith Children’s Movement. In 2017 she was honoured by the Georgia Women’s Legislative Caucus with the Nikki T Randall Servant Leadership Award. That year she was also recognized with the NFL Hispanic Heritage Leadership Award by the Atlanta Falcons. In 2018, Gideon’s Promise gave her the Community Impact Award and the Atlanta Braves chose her along with her husband as Community Heroes.

She has been married to her husband Miguel for 33 years and is the proud mother of 5 children and grandmother of 5.