Sharif Abdullah

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Sharif Abdullah is an African-American lawyer, author and Trainer.

Contents

[edit] Early Life

Sharif’s quest began in the worst that America has to offer – Camden, New Jersey. His early life was a study in toxic relationships, including welfare, public housing, grinding poverty, near constant violence and a polluted environment. Sharif’s upbringing in a toxic, pathological society makes him uniquely able to see and address our challenges.

[edit] Activism

Sharif’s activist and empowerment background stretches back to the mid-1960s, when he helped found the Black People’s Unity Movement (BPUM), an organization dedicated to self-help and development in the inner city of Camden. As a teenager in the BPUM, Sharif participated in the creation of a sewing factory, two day-care centers, over 100 units of affordable housing, a supermarket, gas station and other economic development activities.

[edit] Law Practice

Sharif received a BA in Psychology from Clark University in Massachusetts and went on to earn a juris doctor degree from Boston University. During his practice of law in North Carolina, Sharif’s clients ranged from indigent clients seeking better housing to successful businesspeople seeking new ways to serve their communities. It was during his law practice that Sharif received the first of several national awards for innovative self-help and community-empowerment activities.

Despite these successes, Sharif became increasingly disillusioned with the adversarial process as a means of social change. After six years, Sharif left law practice, choosing a path to social change that is positive, inclusive and honors the dignity of all beings.

[edit] Change of Direction

In the 1990s, Sharif’s focus shifted from physical development as a means of catalyzing community and spiritual development to working directly with inclusivity, empowerment and spiritual transformation.

Sharif has worked with thousands of individuals and facilitated scores of inclusivity, empowerment and leadership sessions for various public and private organizations, including city and county governments, federal agencies like U.S. Forest Service and HUD, as well as large corporations like Freightliner Corporation. Sharif has been a keynote presenter and facilitated workshops for such organizations as Association for Humanistic Psychology, Institute of Noetic Sciences, Institute for Sustainable Development and others.

He is an expert in the field of social/cultural transformation. He is a leading catalyst for inclusive social, cultural and spiritual transformation. Sharif teaches groups and individuals how to understand and practice inclusivity – the connection with all beings.

Through his organization, Commonway Institute, Sharif conducts operations that build inclusivity, understanding and connection between diverse groups of people. In so doing, Commonway is training the leaders of the 21st Century – in business, government and community organizations around the world.

Sharif has criss-crossed the planet, taking his inclusivity work to over 30 different countries and close to 100 distinct cultures, working with groups who struggle with their differences. He has appeared on several international globalization forums. Working with Dr. A. T. Ariyaratne and his respected organization, Sarvodaya, Sharif’s peace-making efforts contributed to the 2002 historic cease-fire in the 20-year-old ethnic/ civil war in Sri Lanka. He continues to work in that country to help bring about a permanent peace.

[edit] Books

An award-winning author, Sharif’s books include The Power of One: Authentic Leadership in Turbulent Times and Creating a World That Works for All. He is the founder and president of Commonway Institute and the originator of the Commons Café and the Common Society Movement.

[edit] Academic Positions

For five years Sharif served as adjunct faculty at Marylhurst University, applying the principles of inclusivity for graduate students in business development and transformation. As a lecturer at the University of California at Berkeley, Sharif conducted interdisciplinary lectures in compassion, wisdom, spirituality and social justice. For over five years, Sharif was an increasingly popular adjunct faculty member at Portland State University in the Philosophy/Conflict Resolution department. Currently, Sharif is currently affiliated with Lewis and Clark College in the Graduate School of Counseling and Education.

[edit] Innovations

Sharif Abdullah has created and catalyzed several innovative concepts and projects:

[edit] Inclusivity Assessment

Contracting with your organization to determine the degree of inclusivity within the workplace culture.

[edit] The “In-Q” Test

The “Inclusivity Quotient” test is designed to measure degrees of inclusivity and connectivity. The “In-Q” Test can be administered alone, or can be used as a group awareness tool.

[edit] The Commons Café

Working from the ground-breaking concepts of Juanita Brown and the World Café, the Commons Café is a dialogic process designed to bring actual or potential adversaries together, reducing the barriers that prevent honest communication.

[edit] The Class Continuum

Designed with Dr. Donna Beegle, the “Class Continuum” is designed to measure degrees of inclusivity and connectivity, specifically with regard to issues of socioeconomic class and generational poverty.