In the News

Chicago Tribune (October 19, 2020)

Haute Hijab (October 13, 2020)

The Atlantic (January 10, 2020)

Daily Herald (November 25, 2019)

Medium (November 7, 2018)

Daily Herald (October 15, 2018)

My Suburban Life (October 10, 2018)

The Ben Joravsky Show WCPT 820 (October 10, 2018)

Chicago Tribune (October 2, 2018)

The Washington Leadership Program (October 1, 2018)

My Suburban Life (September 21, 2018)

Glamour Magazine (September 18, 2018)

Daily Herald Candidate Questionnaire (September 13, 2018)

Ballot Breakers (September 4, 2018)

Run for Something From Classroom to Campaign Video (September 4, 2018)

Patheos (August 27, 2018)

Run for Something 500th Candidate Endorsement Video (August 9, 2018)

Chicago Tribune (April 16, 2018)

Daily Herald (March 21, 2018)

Reappropriate (March 20, 2018)

Progressive Change Campaign Committee Endorsement (March 2018)

Daily Herald Candidate Profile (February 17, 2018)

Medill Reports Chicago (February 9, 2018)

Run for Something January 2018 Endorsements (January 18, 2018)

Chicago Tribune (December 7, 2017)

Daily Herald (December 4, 2017)

Interview with altMuslimah (November 8, 2017)

Mic.com Video Feature (November 8, 2017)

Huffington Post Interview (November 8, 2017)

Radio Islam Interview (April 3, 2013)

Chiang Mai Daily Mail (September 29, 2012)

Radio Islam Interview (August 16, 2012)

Patheos Interview (June 30, 2011)

Voice of America Television Interview (June 21, 2011)

Al-Hurra Television Interview (Episode 283, May 2011)

Deepak Chopra Radio Interview (April 8, 2011)

Radio Islam Interview (March 30, 2011)

Press Release: Zahra Suratwala Publishes Comprehensive COVID-19 Resource Page

CHICAGO: Zahra Suratwala and her campaign team have unveiled a new, comprehensive COVID-19 Resource Page. The page is meant to be an aggregation of various links and resources that are useful to a resident of DuPage County’s District 1.

The Resource Page is found at the following link: https://zahrasuratwala.com/covid19/

Press Release: IL Muslim Civic Coalition Endorses Seven Political Candidates for Midterm Races

CHICAGO: The IL Muslim Civic Coalition,a partnership of over 200 activists and influencers that serve across the state is proud to endorse seven candidates running for office. These are: US House of Representatives District 6: Sean Casten, US House of Representatives District 14: Lauren Underwood, Cook County Commissioner District 17: Abdelnasser Rashid, DuPage County Board District 1: Zahra Suratwala, DuPage County Board District 4: Hadiya Afzal, DuPage County Board District 5: Sadia Covert and DuPage Forest Preserve Commissioner: Irfan Ibrahim.

“We thank every candidate for having the courage and ambition to run for elected office,” said Nareman Taha, Steering Team Member of the Illinois Muslim Civic Coalition. “Muslims have already been funding, canvassing, and supporting candidates for this, and prior election cycles. Our endorsement will galvanize even more funding, field support, and most importantly, will
ensure more votes during these critical next few weeks.”

Muslims are an integral part of America, serving as business owners, doctors, engineers, teachers, drivers, factory workers, leaders, philanthropists- and good neighbors. They support candidates that represent American core values of justice, equity, and diversity. Endorsements are based on the steps candidates have or will take to address the issues of healthcare access/quality, education access/quality, violence, employment preparation, and immigration. Particular emphasis was placed on candidate questionnaire responses as to how they would fight Islamophobia, hate crimes, and hate speech, and proactively support Muslims, people-of-color, minority, refugees, disabled residents, LGBTQI, and all vulnerable
communities.

Over the last decade, while the Muslim, Middle-Eastern and South Asian communities have grown significantly in Illinois, representation in political office has been stagnant. For this reason, The Coalition has also placed emphasis on endorsing candidates with diverse professional backgrounds and diverse demographics, especially on local offices and County
Boards.

Finally, The Coalition and its partners had to ensure endorsements were based on the internal capacity of the team and volunteers to execute field support and funding recommendations. There are many candidates whose vision aligns with the Coalition, and several members are individually supporting these candidates throughout the state.

Please visit endorsed candidate websites, contribute to their candidacy, and vote today. Early voting has begun across the state!

For media and press, contact Reema Kamran, Director, at Reema.Syeda.Kamran@gmail.com
IL Muslim Civic Coalition

Press Release: Zahra Suratwala Receives National Recognition

Zahra Suratwala was named a 2018 Champion by the Progressive Change Campaign Committee, which recognizes candidates from around the country who are fighting for progressive priorities and looking out for the needs of everyday families. Three hundred sixty-four candidates have been named 2018 Champions nationally.

Our 2018 Champions across the country are committed to solving big problems affecting their communities, said Marissa Barrow, a spokesperson for the Progressive Change Campaign Committee.

Selected for their bold vision, these candidates are highly capable leaders ready to make change.

“The candidates on our Champions List are running great campaigns powered by the grassroots, not corporate interests,” said Stephanie Taylor, co-founder of the Progressive Change Campaign Committee. “We’re proud to support them as they take power back for their communities and turn big ideas into action for working families.”

The Progressive Change Campaign Committee (PCCC) is a million-member grassroots organization building power at the local, state, and feder al levels, and advocating for economic populist priorities like expanding Social Security, debt-free college, Wall Street reform, and the public option. The PCCC has raised over$25 million to support progressive candidates and committees from small-dollar, grassroots donations, including $1.1 million to support Elizabeth Warren’s Senate run in 2012. In 2017, 50 PCCC-supported candidates won across the country, flipping 26 seats from red to blue. Find out more at BoldProgressives.org.

Press Release: Zahra Suratwala endorsed by Run for Something

ELMHURST – Zahra Suratwala, an Elmhurst mother, writer, and activist, was endorsed today by the national organization Run for Something (RFS). Suratwala is amongst the first endorsements of the group in 2018.

Press Release: Suratwala campaign builds momentum, submits triple the amount of required signatures for nomination

ELMHURST – Zahra Suratwala’s campaign for DuPage County Board is resonating with voters across the 1st District. Suratwala submitted more than triple the required amount of nomination signatures to qualify for the ballot, receiving nominations from 450 DuPage 1st District residents and neighbors.

Press Release: Elmhurst advocate, mother, announces candidacy for DuPage County Board

ELMHURST – Zahra Suratwala, an Elmhurst resident, is announcing her candidacy for the DuPage County Board, District 1. Suratwala is an advocate, mother, writer, and active community member.

Meeting Secretary Clinton at the State Department Eid Reception

 

I Speak For Myself: Volume 1, American Women on Being Muslim

WASHINGTON D.C. – On Wednesday, 7th September 2011, Zahra Suratwala attended the Eid Reception at the State Department in Washington D.C., hosted by Secretary of State Hilary Clinton. In her speech, Secretary Clinton honored American Muslims’ contribution to American society. She also encouraged all the attendees to “recommit ourselves to the common cause of spreading peace, prosperity and understanding to all the people of the earth.”