Unbreakable Bonds: Building Resilient Families for Life's Challenges

Malika MacDonald-Rushdan is a survivor. Malika embraced Islam in 1995 while working at ROCA Inc. in Chelsea, MA where she earned over 10 years’ experience working with at-risk, street involved youth. While working at ROCA; Malika co-founded the Al-Huda Society; a program supporting the unique needs of refugee and immigrant families. Malika’s work within the community bestowed her with the prestigious US Senator John F. Kerry Leadership award. Malika later served as the pioneer director of Community Organizing for Somerville Community Corporation which built and preserved affordable housing. Her position earned her a fellowship at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government.

Upon moving to New York, Malika served as the assistant director of the 21stCentury Community of Learners at Hillcrest Public High School in Jamaica, NY, an in depth after school enrichment program. Later she joined ICNA Relief USA; as the Assistant Director of the 911 Civil Liberties Project. While with ICNA Relief she developed a successful women’s transitional housing model, opening the 1st facility in 2006 in Jamaica, NY. Today she oversees 26 facilities housing homeless women and children.