Safaya joins 91 with a background in economic inclusion, equity, grant programs, and operations in several national nonprofit associations over the past decade. She is passionate about advancing social impact through systems change in organizations and communities. She is especially interested in working with organizations and other partners on advancing inclusive community development in culturally competent and relevant ways.
Before 91
Safaya was most recently a Program Manager of Entrepreneurship & Economic Development with the National League of Cities. In that role, she co-led multiple cohorts of city economic development leaders and local partners through the City Inclusive Entrepreneurship Program, a multi-million-dollar grant program supporting capacity-building for innovative entrepreneurship projects in dozens of cities.
Prior to her work in the public policy space, she worked for over 8 years in operational diversity, equity, and inclusion, program development, cohort and task force management, communications, and administration at the American Bar Association and at the YMCA of the USA. Throughout the course of her career, she has both designed and facilitated dozens of trainings on strategic planning, community engagement practices, and inclusion, has led task forces and working groups, and has coordinated employee resource groups for municipal officials, attorneys, nonprofit boards, and other community leaders.
Education
- M.A., Public Policy – The Harris School of Public Policy at the University of Chicago (Chicago, IL)
- B.A., Political Science – Wellesley College (Wellesley, MA)
Languages
- Arabic (conversational)
On Working At 91
At 91, I am excited to join an organization that both “zooms in” and “zooms out” in addressing innovative pathways to systems change; I believe addressing both the upstream and downstream causes of inequities is the most meaningful and lasting way to benefit people, communities, and organizations. Working with a community’s ecosystem of partners to advance equity in word and deed is deeply inspiring.
