Sameena Usman is a local activist who has spent over 22 years at the forefront of public policy and civic engagement on behalf of Muslim communities across the country. Her journey into the field of activism began in high school, when a presentation by CAIR sparked a deep commitment to community activism during a period of rising Islamophobia. This early experience shaped her academic and career path, leading her to study political science, volunteer extensively, and work for an elected official before eventually joining CAIR.

Her dedication to justice and equity has taken many forms throughout her career. For 17 years, Usman served as the Government Relations Coordinator at CAIR, where she helped build the organization’s capacity and expand its policy impact. She also contributed to the work of Secure Justice, a local 501c3 that advocates against unjust government policies and fights for governments to stay consistent with democratic values. Usman now works with the 501c4 CAIR Action, where she focuses on political advocacy and electoral organizing. Her work through CAIR Action has had national impact- most recently, she helped produce 44 voter guides across the country, reaching over 1.7 million voters and contributing to the election of 52 endorsed candidates.

Usman’s leadership has extended beyond advocacy organizations. From 2016-2024, she served as an Assembly Delegate in the California Democratic Party. She is now involved with the Central Committee, where she represents and votes on behalf of Senator Aisha Wahab during meetings. She also chairs the Democratic Muslims and Friends group within the Santa Clara County Central Committee, a new initiative started to increase Muslim engagement in politics.

Leading up to the 2025 elections, in her work with CAIR Action, Usman continues to prepare voter outreach campaigns, track key races in states like New York, New Jersey, and Texas. During this time, she urges the community to stay engaged in advocacy by signing and spreading action alerts for bills alongside regularly calling elected officials to encourage them to sign onto these bills. CAIR Action is also looking for volunteers to help research legislation and candidates prior to the election to help the organization make recommendations. If interested, please visit the organization’s volunteer page linked here.

Usman’s approach to advocacy is deeply intersectional and grounded in a belief that justice is connected and is not just for our community- rather, it is for everyone. Whether through legislative work, grassroots organizing, or voter education, Sameena Usman remains a leading force in ensuring Muslim voices are heard, and acknowledged, in every level of policymaking.