Ibrahim Abdul-Matin
917.873.6054
ibrahimworksfor@gmail.com
Work Experience
2018-Present
Partner, Green Squash Consulting
Provide diverse array of consulting services including government relations, public affairs, communications, campaign strategy, strategic planning, organizational development & restructuring, talent recruitment, executive searches, leadership transitions, and development. Clients include: government agencies, universities, non-profit organizations, hospitals, foundations, small businesses, unions, and political campaigns. Focus on clients with racial, gender, economic justice visions and missions.
2014-2018
Director of Community Affairs, NYC Department of Environmental Protection
Lead spokesperson and community engagement specialist for NYC’s water utility. Responsible for outreach and communications to elected officials, community leaders, advocates, and NYC residents on issues of water quality, control, capital projects, air, and noise. Responsible for responsiveness to mayoral and inter-agency data-sharing, press inquiries, and public responses to media/community/political issues.
2012-2014
Consultant, The Frontier Project
Develop and execute DEI trainings, strategic planning processes, and government relations strategies for Fortune 500 clients of this boutique consulting firm. Also responsible for business development from federal agencies and local governments.
2010-2012
Senior Policy Advisor, NYC Office of the Mayor
Senior member of policy team to develop “PlaNYC,” the City’s environmental infrastructure and justice blueprint. Coordinated communications related to the blueprint including media inquiries, inter-agency information sharing, and data requests. Designed and implemented community education and engagement strategies including massive town hall meetings, an ideas crowdsourcing project called “Change By Us,” and a procurement process to resource community-based organizations.
2009-2012
Contributor, WNYC’s “The Takeaway”
Live, on air, in-studio commentator on politics, sports, and special interest stories. Participated in pitching, production, and script writing.
2008-2009
National Field Director, Green for All
Health Career Connections
Lead national outreach, volunteer recruitment, and operations for the 2008 Green Jobs Now National Day of Action; efforts resulted in over 50,000 participants. Oversee PR and communications related to Green Jobs campaigns for the organization. Assist with government relations and fundraising.
2007-2008
Product Marketing Manager, SchoolNet
Conducted market research, providing tools and competitive benchmark data to bridge gaps between product and sales team to increase business intelligence and drive revenue. Supported launch of newly developed K-12 online community portal by planning future features, developing internal launch, and recruiting community leaders and educators to provide content. SchoolNet is a national educational software company providing performance and instructional management solutions to public school districts.
Organizational Affiliations
Adjunct Lecturer at Baruch College’s Marxe School for Public and International Affairs.
Founding Advisory Board, Collective Diaspora - a global initiative aimed at the development of cooperatives throughout the African diaspora.
Board Member, Green City Force - training young leaders to power a green and inclusive economy.
Board Member Sapelo Square - whose mission is to celebrate and analyze the experiences of Black Muslims in the United States.
Member, NYS Advisory Board, The Trust for Public Land - which creates parks and protects land for people, ensuring healthy, livable communities for generations to come.
Founding facilitator of the National Association of Climate Resilience Planners.
Board Member, International Living Future Institute, Seattle, WA –encouraging the creation of a regenerative built environment (2016-2021)
Media
“Muslim New Yorkers Lead the Way through Climate Change” WNET, Thirteen.org, April 27, 2022
Green Before Gray, An Anthology of Ideas After Hurricane Ida, published by Rebuild by Design, Sept 21, 2021
"A 5-point plan to address climate change” TheGrio.com Oct 19, 2020
“By Design and Democracy, NYC Must Move Toward Equitable Waterfronts, CityLimits.org September 10, 2020
“NYC’s Water Miracle” FAQ NYC podcast guest, Oct 2019
Three Short Stories, New Guard Review, Nov 2019
“A Father’s Critical Choice” VIBE.com June 19, 2016
Columnist @ MuslimObserver.com, 2015
Columnist @ ThoughtCatalog.com 2014 - 2015
Columnist @ PCMag.com 2013 - 2014
“As a father, 'I have to be the best human I can be'” CNN.com. June 2012
“Muslim Market Power”, Huffpost.com, October 31, 2011
On-Air Sports Contributor @ WNYC’s “The Takeaway” 2009 - 2012
“The New Food Revolution: Grub-Ideas for an Urban Organic Kitchen” WireTap, 2006
Publications
Contributor, Befriending Death: Essayists on Living and Dying. iUniverse. - 2014
Contributor, All American: 45 Men on Being Muslim. White Cloud Press. - 2012
Contributor, My Neighbor's Faith: Stories of Inter-religious Encounter, Orbis Books - 2012
Author, Green Deen: What Islam Teaches About Protecting the Planet. Berrett-Kohler, Reprinted in Middle East, UK, Turkey (Kube Press), Indonesia (in Bahasa), - 2010
Co-Author, The Future 500: Youth Organizing and Activism in the United States. Subway and Elevated Press. - 2002
Awards, Honors, Fellowships
2022 - Senior Fellow for Interfaith America
2021 - Senior Clean Power Fellow at New Yorkers for Clean Power
2015 City & State “Top 40 Under 40 Rising Stars in NYC”
2013 Top 100 African Americans Making History Today, NBC’s The Grio
2012 Fellow, Center for Whole Communities, Fayston, Vermont
2011 Distinguished Alumni Achievement Award, University of Rhode Island
2010 Steward of Progress, Manhattan Borough President Office
2009 Fellow, Green for All, Oakland CA
2008 National Urban Fellow, Baruch College, New York, NY
1998 MLK Jr. Award for Outstanding Community Service, University of Rhode Island
1997 Finalist NCAA National Scholar-Athlete Award
1997 Atlantic 10 Football Conference All-Academic Team
1997 Vice-President of Student Senate, University of Rhode Island
1995 Full Athletic Scholarship, University of Rhode Island
Selected Presentations, Lectures
Keynote w/ Former Vice President Al Gore, Black Interfaith in The Time of Crisis; Oprah Winfrey Theater. The Smithsonian's National Museum of African American History and Culture, May 17, 2022 Link
Keynote, Forces for Good: Climate Crises, Public Policy, and Religious Witness. Fordham University’s Theology Plenary Lecture. April 12, 2022, Link
Keynote, Dominion or Regeneration: How do Faith Communities Show Up in Perilous Times? The Rabbi Ferdinand M. Isserman Memorial Lecture, Washington University in St. Louis. March 31, 2022
Panelist, Faith in the Fight: Organizing Interfaith and Secular Coalitions for Racial Equity and Justice; Washington University in St. Louis. February 18, 2021
Panelist, Pursuing Environmental Justice Through Science and Religion; American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS). February 11, 2021
Panelist for The Way Forward - A Reading by the First-Person Plural Reading Series – reading original fiction. January 17, 2021 Link to video.
Garrison Institute Forum: Pathways to Planetary Health with Jonathan F.P. Rose & Ibrahim Abdul-Matin, Thursday, January 7 at 2:00 p.m. Link to video.
Panelist: Union of Concerned Scientists Conversation: Connecting Faith, Climate and Justice, December 8, 2020. Link to video.
Keynote: “Environmental Crisis and Our Obligations to Act: Teachings from Islam and Abrahamic Faith Traditions” Saturday, 2020, Griffith University, Brisbane, Australia, March 14, 2020.
Keynote: “#zerowaste - Rooted in Faith” 2nd International Zero Waste Summit, Istanbul, Turkey. Nov 1, 2019. Link to print coverage.
Talk: The Power of Hope in a Changing Climate: Ibrahim Abdul‐Matin, Jungwon Kim and Cameron Russell. for the Compassionate Action series at The Rubin Museum of Art - May 2019. Link to event info.
Keynote, “Partnering for a Resilient and Sustainable Future” , Community Engagement Conference January 23, The Ohio State University, Columbus, Ohio. https://cec.osu.edu
Keynote, “From Domination to Regeneration: Cultivating a New World View in Perilous Times.” Jill S. Harris Memorial Lecture, Institute for the Humanities, Univ of Michigan, Ann Arbor. Link
Panelist, “Public & Private Incentives for Sustainability” Fordham Environmental Law Review, Fordham University School of Law. March 2018. https://www.fordham.edu/download/downloads/id/10200/agenda.pdf
Civic Dilemmas of Infrastructure, Civics Unplugged. Roosevelt House, NY https://civicsunplugged.org/discover-the-issues/infrastructure.
Invited Presenter and Panelist, Islam and the Environment: Harmony, Morality, and the Environmental Crisis, UNESCO International Peace Conference. Paris, France. May 2017.
Keynote, Living Future Institute Annual Conference, The Living Future Institute, Seattle WA. April, 2015.
Panelist, Increasing African American Awareness on environmental Sustainability, Climate Change, and the Green Economy. w/ Lisa Jackson, VP Apple and Dr. Robert Bullard, Texas Southern University. 2015.
Keynote, “Developing a Shared Ethic for Protecting the Planet” Institute for Ethics St. Francis University, Pennsylvania. 2014.
Invited Presenter and Panelist, Innovation for Economic Development in Islamic Development Band Member Countries, February 2013, Jeddah, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
Invited Presenter and Panelist, Living Sustainably: The Halal Green Business World Islamic Economic Forum, Johor Bahru, Malaysia. 2012.
Keynote, Principles of Islamic Environmentalism Green Middle East Conference United, Emirate of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. 2011.
Keynote, Over the Rhine Community Housing Fundraising Dinner, Cincinnati, Ohio. 2010.