My name is Bilal Fareed Sabir.  I was born and raised in Winston-Salem, NC, living with my parents, two brothers and four sisters. I dropped out of school and joined the Marines at the height of the Vietnam War in 1966, at seventeen years of age. I served with the First Marine Divison (Reinforced), Fleet Marine Force, 2nd Battlion 27th Marine Regiment 1st Platoon 3rd Squad as a small arms specialist (M79 Man). I was wounded in combat on the second day of Operation Allen Brook and subsequently retired due to injuries received in combat. I was awarded the Purple Heart, The Combat Infantry Ribbon, The Presidential Unit Citation for heroism and outstanding performance in combat, Republic of Vietnam Campaign Medal w/Device, Republic of Vietnam Meritorious Unit Citation with Gallantry Cross Medal Color with Palm, the National Defense Service Medal, and the Vietnam Service Medal. I graduated from A&T State University with an Associate in Community Mental Health and a Bachelor of Arts in Community Psychology graduating Summa Cum Laude. I have a Master of Arts degree in Business Management from Central Michigan University. I lived two and one half years in Senegal and The Gambia West Africa. I have one son, I have two daughters, two granddaughters, and one grandson.

My name is Faatimah Fareedah Sabir; wife of The Imamaa Bilal Fareed Sabir. I am a native of Columbus, Ohio. I grew up in a middle class predominantly Black neighborhood called Brentnell.  I graduated from Northland High School in 1982.  Furthermore, I am a graduate of The Ohio State University where I received my Bachelor of Art in Sociology minor in Criminology, August 2008. I have been happily married to the Imamaa for over 15 years and counting. I am a mother of an eight year old son.  My mission is to support my husband and assist in building a stronger foundation for African-American women who wish to have a better life and future for themselves and their children. In addition, I have lived in a total of six other states; Atlanta, GA, Los Angeles CA, Elkhart, IN, Washington D.C., Alexandria, VA and Winston-Salem, NC. Furthermore, I too lived in Senegal and The Gambia West Africa with my husband; the experience was both educational and enlightening to have lived in the land of my ancestors. Furthermore, because of my positive experience in West Africa due to very special women that assisted me every day I lived there, my mission is to build a stronger alliance and sisterhood between West African women and African American women.