Sameena Usman
Sameena Usman is Senior Government Relations Coordinator for CAIR - California.
Sameena Usman graduated Magna Cum Laude from San Jose State University with a BA in Political Science and minors in Middle Eastern Studies and Communications. After graduating, Sameena worked as a Field Representative for Assemblywoman Sally Lieber’s office responding to constituent cases and conducting outreach within Assembly District 22. She later worked as a Sales Administrator with Pivotal Corp until 2005 when she joined CAIR - San Francisco Bay Area as a Public Relations Coordinator.
She currently serves as a Government Relations Coordinator for CAIR - San Francisco Bay Area where she regularly meets with Bay Area elected officials to advocate for positive legislation and to highlight issues within the community, including civil rights complaints received by the office. She actively works to build bridges with communities, conduct interfaith dialogue, educate youth, and empower the American Muslim community. Sameena has been interviewed by the NBC Bay Area, KTVU2, KRON4, ABC7, Mercury News, LA Times, SF Chronicle, SF Examiner, Contra Costa Times, among other news outlets.
In addition to her work at CAIR - San Francisco Bay Area, Sameena is a board member for Secure Justice, Sacred Heart Community Service, and Asian Woman Empowered and is an Advisory Member for the Santa Clara County Hate Prevention and Inclusion Task Force.[1]
CAIR Voting Guide
The CAIR - California 2022 Voters Guide was compiled by Sameena Usman, CAIR-SFBA Senior Government Relations Coordinator.
Assistance was provided by Arefa Simjee, CAIR - California Operations Manager; Jenan Awaida, CAIR - Los Angeles Policy & Advocacy Coordinator; Kholood Alshami, CAIR - Los Angeles Policy & Advocacy Coordinator; Masih Fouladi, CAIR - Los Angeles Executive Director; Nazeehah Khan, CAIR - California Policy & Government Affairs Manager; Omar Altamimi, CAIR - Sacramento Valley/ CC Policy & Advocacy Coordinator; Sadia Khan, CAIR - Sacramento Valley/CC Policy and Advocacy Coordinator; Tazheen Nizam, CAIR - San Diego Executive Director; and Zahra Billoo, CAIR - San Francisco Bay Area Executive Director.[2]
Thanks for co-sponsoring HR 4391
Our coalition met today with Congressman Ro Khanna to discuss Israeli abuses of Palestinians, the bulldozing of villages, anti-BDS laws, Israeli deportation of asylum seekers, and the situation in Yemen and Syria.
Please thank Congressman Khanna for co-sponsoring HR 4391: Promoting Human Rights by Ending Israeli Military Detention of Palestinian Children, for committing to voting ‘No’ on the HR 1697: Israel Anti-Boycott Act, and for sponsoring H.Con.Res.81 to remove US Forces from hostilities in Yemen.
A special thanks to Donna Baranski-Walker who video-conferenced in from Gaza and to our coalition from Rebuilding Alliance, Jewish Voice for Peace, Syrian American Council, Muslim Community Association, and Muslim American Society.
With Feras Alhlou, Kamal Koraitem, Sameena Usman, Wendy Greenfield, Pete McHugh, Paul Gardner.
Standing for AD 25
In 2019 Sameena Usman stood from AD 25 on the Progressive slate for the California Democratic Party Central Committee.[3]
In 2021 Sameena Usman stood for AD 25 on People Powered Progressives slate with Ganesh Balamitran, Alex Caballo, Victoria Chon, Jeff Dixon, David Donaldson, Michelle Hua, Jaria Jaug, Martha Kreeger, Thai Le, Renata Sanchez, Lucy Shen, Priya Talreja, Huy Tran.
The slate was endorsed by Alex Lee.
Ellison connection
Cullen Tiernan, Keith Ellison, Sameena Usman, Hosan Haggag February 2017.
Muslim Dems and Friends Democratic Club of Alameda County
Cullen Tiernan March 27, 2018 near Fremont, CA:
Live streaming Congressman Eric Swalwell at our Muslim Dems and Friends Democratic Club of Alameda County Meeting 📡🇺🇸
- engage #livestream #congress #fremontfirst #transparency #party #ask #questions
Photo credit: Nomi Dar 🙏🏽 — with Sameena Usman, Mohsin Mirza, Sabina Zafar and Moina Shaiq.
Bernie family
Cullen Tiernan January 28, 2017:
Congressman Ro Khanna and the Bernie family gather together after discussing our ideas concerning a more progressive push for the Democratic Party 🎉🔥🎉
- allofustogether — with Ankur Rishi, Cecilia Sistena, Dolly Adams, Rocky Fernandez, Mahesh Pakala, Vinnie Bacon, Sameena Usman, Kelsey Pressnall, Ro Khanna, Marisol Rubio, Hosam Haggag, Michele Obermeyer, Sam Obermeyer, Stephanie Quilao, Rishi Kumar, Andrew Gasperini, Alison Flemings Buliavac and Nassim Nouri at Vito's Famous Pizza & Italian Restaurant.
CAIR guest
Representative Zoe Lofgren January 12, 2016.
I have heard far too much ugly and un-American rhetoric directed towards Muslim-Americans recently. That’s why I’m delighted Sameena Usman from the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) accepted my invitation to attend President Obama’s final State of the Union. She is a tireless advocate for civil rights and equal treatment under the law for all.