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Jamila Baraka, 25, a former United States Sailor, was born in the farmlands of north-west Indiana. Thanks to an active career in the military, her credentials read like a soon-to-be world diplomat to the United Nations. After graduating high school with honors, she joined the United States Navy. She quickly advanced and worked in Puerto Rico, Japan, Turkey, Kyrgyzstan, Afghanistan, Germany, Qatar, and Washington D.C. Through these travels she was first exposed to Islam.
After years of exploring different faiths, she says that seeing the sense of community among Muslims and their compassion and humbleness while living in the midst of destitution and war in Afghanistan drew her closer to the Islamic faith.
“I made my Shahada (the Muslim declaration of belief in Allah) during a tour of duty in Afghanistan.”
At first her family couldn’t understand how someone who was a proud member of the United States military could also be a Muslim. Now she says her family is supportive. “My little sister is getting married to a Muslim and my brother asked me for a Quran.”
Despite her love for the military, after her last assignment at Central Command in Tampa, FL as a legislative aid, Jamila decided to leave her government post and try to effect change as a civilian.
Today, she is the Community Relations Coordinator at the Council on American-Islamic Relations in Tampa, Florida, where she focuses on enhancing the understanding of Islam, encouraging cross-cultural and interfaith dialogues, empowering American Muslims through community engagement, and building coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.
Sometimes Jamila does find herself wishing to go back to her military life. “If they would let me wear my headscarf I would love to go back. It can be very rewarding experience but I am happy knowing that we have Muslims in the military filling a dynamic need our country has to represent diversity.
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