Asalaam Alaikum, Greetings of Peace!
Dear Members of the American Muslim Community, Partners, Friends and Allies:
It is with great honor and privilege that we share with you some new developments at the Muslim Consultative Network as we continue to strive in serving and empowering New York City’s diverse communities.
We are very honored to announce that the MCN Board of Directors has hired an Executive Director to help the board advance MCN’s mission, growth and development. We are thrilled to welcome Ms. Christina Tasca as MCN’s Executive Director.
Ms. Christina Tasca has worked closely with MCN as a development volunteer for the last six months where she poured her love and dedication to the community into her service at MCN.
Ms. Tasca comes to the position of Executive Director with a wealth of knowledge that will take MCN to the next level. She brings with her a long-standing dedication to social justice work and advocacy for marginalized voices to the role. Her experience includes a range of initiatives with non-profits and organizations on human rights and social service with a particular focus on youth development and women’s empowerment.
Ms. Tasca has worked as a peer educator and advocate for survivors of sexual assault and domestic violence, a teacher in an underserved urban school district, and a development and communications consultant for non-profits. While still an undergraduate at Temple University, Ms. Tasca served on the Human Rights Defenders 2008 Delegation to Guatemala with the DC-based Guatemalan Human Rights Commission investigating the genocide of indigenous peoples, the perpetration of human rights abuses, and endemic violence against women.
Her experience working at home and abroad with diverse government officials, activists, academics, religious and community leaders, and civil society organizations make her aptly suited to connecting people from many walks of life. Her interest in interfaith collaboration and dialogue has inspired a passion for promoting greater solidarity and understanding beyond religious, national and ethnic lines. Most recently, she worked with the Arigatou International in coordinating the World Day of Prayer and Action for Children on an array of peace and ethics education programs and other activities to end violence against children on Universal Children’s Day and year round. Currently, she is co-authoring a book with NYC community leader and activist Imam Shamsi Ali on interfaith relations in the Islamic tradition and its importance in a diverse, interconnected and globalized world.
Ms. Tasca is also a published writer and speaker who regularly contributes to Coming of Faith and was featured in the Spring 2014 edition of AFTAB, New York University’s literary magazine. In April 2014, she was a panelist at Hofstra University MSA’s “From the Mouths of Muslim Women” event where she spoke about identity politics, the challenges converts face in finding acceptance within and outside the Muslim community, and the concept that Muslim women are the only experts on the experiences of Muslim women.
After graduating in 2012 with a Master’s degree in Global Politics from the Royal Holloway, University of London, Ms. Tasca has since focused her professional endeavors on alternative models of development and philanthropy as a tool for achieving broader opportunities for civic participation in community building, social entrepreneurship and economic empowerment. Prior to joining MCN as the Executive Director, she played an instrumental role as a volunteer grant writer in securing crucial foundation grants and New York City Council discretionary funding, which enabled MCN to sustain and expand its programs. She is pursuing a Certificate in Global Philanthropy at NYU where she is studying non-profit management and fundraising.
Ms. Tasca believes that peace begins at home and likes to perform random acts of kindness whenever possible. She is humbled and grateful to serve her community in the capacity of Executive Director of the Muslim Consultative Network and looks forward to helping it flourish.
Ms. Tasca will be working closely with MCN’s Board of Directors. Board President Debbie Almontaser will work directly with the Executive Director and staff to oversee MCN’s organizational management and growth.
Please join us in welcoming Christina at Christina@mcnny.calliope.consulting or 347-362-8167. We look forward to you meeting Christina at MCN events the near future.
Sincerely,
MCN Board, Staff and Interns