Ameena Ali, ND, PhD, GAL, CDI-B/P, VLM
I am "Umme" to my daughters and "Eyaya" (or "Mother of my Mother" in Kiswahili) to my GrandBunnies (as I call them); this Universal permission, to teach by example, has led me to the fabulous mission to service Women in Waiting for many years now!
I come into this Art form with the hopes, desires and the fortitude to prevail in this purpose; to lead those I come in contact with the wisdom of my Ancestral Matriarchs and Earth-Mothers...combined!
I bring these programs to the Village and welcome you to love this passion as much as I do, leaving it enriched, prosperous and pregnant with bounty, enabling all Women to be empowered in their choices, options, roles rights and responsibilities for THEIR birth!
Electronic CV:
www.linkedin.com/in/ameenaali
UN Secretary General
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Gambian Ambassador to the US
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UN Deputy Secretary
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UN Pres. General Assembly
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Consul General to Guyana
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Royalty of Ghana
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US Senator
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United Nations Royal Diplomatic Club |
Current/Recent Certifications:
Certification Organization Date
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Human, Sex and Organ Trafficking Survivor Advocate
Mental Health First Aider Guardian Ad Litem - NY (Dependency Court & CPS) GAL - NY (Dependency, Tx and Family Recovery) Opioid Overdose Prevention Responder Preventing Fatal Overdoses (Non-Opioid) CASAC (Cert. Alcohol Sub Abuse Counselor) - P Traumatic Brain Injury and Chemical Dependency Substance Abuse Treatment & the Pregnant Woman Substance Abuse Treatment and the Aging Client SBIRT - Screening, Brief Intervention & Referral to Tx Tobacco and Chem Dependency Connection Child/Adolescent Dev. & Chemical Dependencies Alcohol and Drug Screening Counselor (Certified) |
NYDOH - Restore NYC Program
National Council on Behavioral Health Ntl Ctr on Sub Ab & Child Welfare Ntl Ctr on Sub Ab & Child Welfare NYDOH - Opioid Overdose Initiative NYDOH - Opioid Overdose Initiative NYDOH - OASAS ( Albany, NY) NYDOH - OASAS ( Albany, NY) NYDOH - OASAS ( Albany, NY) NYDOH - OASAS ( Albany, NY) NYDOH - OASAS ( Albany, NY) NYDOH - OASAS ( Albany, NY) NYDOH - OASAS ( Albany, NY) NYDOH - OASAS ( Albany, NY) |
March 2018
May 2021 June 2018 June 2018 June 2018 June 2018 June 2018 July 2018 July 2018 July 2018 July 2018 July 2018 July 2018 July 2018 |
.PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
International human rights executive, decorated U.S. military veteran, and institution builder with over three decades of leadership across gender equity, public health, interfaith civic engagement, and global governance. Founder of internationally active human rights and academic institutions with demonstrated impact across five continents. Proven advisor and public witness before municipal, national, and international bodies, with deep expertise in diplomacy-adjacent engagement, multilateral frameworks, and culturally responsive governance.
Brings to Atlanta’s global ecosystem a rare synthesis of policy fluency, lived international experience, interfaith leadership, and community-based diplomacy, directly aligned with beginning in the mission of the Atlanta Council on International Relations (ACIR) to strengthen Atlanta’s role as a globally connected city.
CORE AREAS OF EXPERTISE
INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP
Founder & Executive Director
Federation of International Gender and Human Rights (FIGHR) | New York / Global
2015 – Present
Founded and lead an internationally operating human rights organization dedicated to developing enforceable, culturally competent protocols for gender and human rights protections. FIGHR functions as a global civic bridge between grassroots communities, international frameworks, and public institutions.
Founder & Chancellor
Harbor Heritage University - NYC
2020 – Present
Established the first academic institution exclusively dedicated to Gender and Human Rights education, designed to prepare globally competent leaders for service in diplomacy, policy, international development, and civic governance.
INTERNATIONAL & MULTILATERAL ENGAGEMENT
Director of Women’s Empowerment
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (ECOSOC) – Northern Citizen Community Board
2020 – Present
International Human Rights Commission | Geneva
International Model United Nations Association
CIVIC, INTERFAITH & PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERSHIP
Clergy for Safe Cities – 67th Precinct Clergy Council, Inc. (“The GodSquad”)
Fellow
Jan - April 2026
Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy
Fellow
April- July 2025
The workshop incorporated core principles of restorative justice, as they're used in education, criminal justice, and above all congregational and community-based settings. The goal: to build a cohort for sustained reflection on grace, mercy, and community. Using a restorative framework, we will dream and move together towards greater liberatory practice.
We Are All New York (WAANY)
Fellowship
Class of 2020
Center for Community Leadership, Jewish Community Relations Council of New York
PUBLIC TESTIMONY & POLICY ADVOCACY
MILITARY & EMERGENCY SERVICE
United States Army
1988-1999
Gulf War Veteran | Honorably Discharged
PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP
President-Elect (Three Consecutive Terms)
Rotary eClub of Social Innovators | District 7090
2020 – 2023
EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS
Doctorate – Naturopathic Medicine (Midwifery)
30+ years clinical Midwifery and Doula educational practice prior to retirement
AFFILIATIONS & GLOBAL ALIGNMENT
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Grounded in intergenerational stewardship as a wife, mother, and grandmother (“Eyaya”), Dr. Ali brings to international relations work a principled commitment to dignity, cultural respect, and sustainable peace—values that closely mirror Atlanta’s aspirations as a globally engaged city.
International human rights executive, decorated U.S. military veteran, and institution builder with over three decades of leadership across gender equity, public health, interfaith civic engagement, and global governance. Founder of internationally active human rights and academic institutions with demonstrated impact across five continents. Proven advisor and public witness before municipal, national, and international bodies, with deep expertise in diplomacy-adjacent engagement, multilateral frameworks, and culturally responsive governance.
Brings to Atlanta’s global ecosystem a rare synthesis of policy fluency, lived international experience, interfaith leadership, and community-based diplomacy, directly aligned with beginning in the mission of the Atlanta Council on International Relations (ACIR) to strengthen Atlanta’s role as a globally connected city.
CORE AREAS OF EXPERTISE
- International Human Rights & Gender Equity
- Global Affairs & Multilateral Engagement
- Interfaith & Cross-Cultural Diplomacy
- Public Safety & Community-Based Peacebuilding
- International Policy Advocacy & Testimony
- Trauma-Informed Governance & Systems Design
- Global Education & Academic Institution Building
- Veteran Leadership & Crisis Response
INSTITUTIONAL LEADERSHIP
Founder & Executive Director
Federation of International Gender and Human Rights (FIGHR) | New York / Global
2015 – Present
Founded and lead an internationally operating human rights organization dedicated to developing enforceable, culturally competent protocols for gender and human rights protections. FIGHR functions as a global civic bridge between grassroots communities, international frameworks, and public institutions.
- Directed human rights education and advocacy initiatives across 15+ countries on five continents
- Trained and graduated 500+ Certified Sexual and Gender-Based Violence Advocates capable of peer-training and community deployment
- Engaged stateless, undocumented, Indigenous, and displaced populations in alignment with CEDAW, SDG 5, and UN Human Rights Council standards
- Served as a diplomatic liaison between civil society actors and international governance mechanisms
Founder & Chancellor
Harbor Heritage University - NYC
2020 – Present
Established the first academic institution exclusively dedicated to Gender and Human Rights education, designed to prepare globally competent leaders for service in diplomacy, policy, international development, and civic governance.
- Designed degree pathways grounded in international law, human rights conventions, and global ethics
- Advanced workforce pipelines connecting academic preparation to civic and international service
- Positioned Atlanta as a hub for global human rights education and thought leadership
INTERNATIONAL & MULTILATERAL ENGAGEMENT
Director of Women’s Empowerment
UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (ECOSOC) – Northern Citizen Community Board
2020 – Present
- Appointed to Special Consultative Status, advancing women’s empowerment initiatives aligned with UN development priorities
- Contributed to international policy dialogue and community-based implementation strategies
International Human Rights Commission | Geneva
- Served unrecognized sovereign tribes, stateless populations, and displaced Indigenous women
- Participated in international human rights deliberations and advocacy efforts
International Model United Nations Association
- Represented U.S.-based civil society interests in global diplomatic simulation and leadership development forums
CIVIC, INTERFAITH & PUBLIC SAFETY LEADERSHIP
Clergy for Safe Cities – 67th Precinct Clergy Council, Inc. (“The GodSquad”)
Fellow
Jan - April 2026
- Collaborated with law enforcement, municipal leaders, and faith communities on violence prevention and crisis response
- Supported trust-building initiatives between public safety institutions and diverse communities
Interfaith Civic Leadership Academy
Fellow
April- July 2025
The workshop incorporated core principles of restorative justice, as they're used in education, criminal justice, and above all congregational and community-based settings. The goal: to build a cohort for sustained reflection on grace, mercy, and community. Using a restorative framework, we will dream and move together towards greater liberatory practice.
We Are All New York (WAANY)
Fellowship
Class of 2020
Center for Community Leadership, Jewish Community Relations Council of New York
- Selected for competitive fellowship emphasizing interfaith cooperation, democratic engagement, and municipal partnership-building
- Engaged in cross-cultural leadership training applicable to international relations and civic diplomacy
PUBLIC TESTIMONY & POLICY ADVOCACY
- Testifying Witness, NYC Commission on Human Rights – Pregnancy & Caregiver Discrimination
- Testifying Witness, NYC Council Committee on Women – Gender & Cultural Diversity Oversight
- Contributor to municipal and international discussions on equity, inclusion, and rights-based governance
MILITARY & EMERGENCY SERVICE
United States Army
1988-1999
Gulf War Veteran | Honorably Discharged
- Decorated and injured service member with 100% service-connected disability rating
- Recalled as First Responder in New York City during the COVID-19 Pandemic (2020)
PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP
President-Elect (Three Consecutive Terms)
Rotary eClub of Social Innovators | District 7090
2020 – 2023
- First woman and woman of color to serve in the role
- Led global service initiatives and international collaboration projects
EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS
Doctorate – Naturopathic Medicine (Midwifery)
30+ years clinical Midwifery and Doula educational practice prior to retirement
AFFILIATIONS & GLOBAL ALIGNMENT
- Global Comission on Gender and Human Rights
- United Nations ECOSOC
- International Human Rights Commission
- Interfaith Public Safety Networks
- Global Gender & Human Rights Advocacy Coalitions
PERSONAL STATEMENT
Grounded in intergenerational stewardship as a wife, mother, and grandmother (“Eyaya”), Dr. Ali brings to international relations work a principled commitment to dignity, cultural respect, and sustainable peace—values that closely mirror Atlanta’s aspirations as a globally engaged city.
