Kareemah Hanifa is a dynamic leader and advocate, deeply rooted in her faith and her commitment to creating positive change. A Muslim native of Charleston, South Carolina, she has spent most of her life in Georgia and comes from a large, blended family with 16 siblings.
Kareemah holds a Master of Science in positive psychology and uses her expertise to uplift communities and champion social justice. As a community activist, youth advocate, and reentry consultant, Kareemah has made significant contributions to criminal justice reform and reintegration efforts. Her impactful speaking engagements include forums for the Georgia Department of Juvenile Justice, graduations at the Candler School of Theology and Faith and Character programs, and the Ending Mass Incarceration workshop at Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. Among her many achievements, her 2019 TEDxDecatur talk at Emory University stands out as a hallmark of her public speaking career.
Kareemah is a certified compassion and integrity training (C.I.T.) facilitator, conflict resolution leader, and peace studies negotiator. She also shares her expertise as a life skills coach, having taught her JOAT framework at Purpose Built Schools Atlanta in 2020. Her leadership extends to board and fellowship roles, including serving as a GACHEP board member, an EdTrust Fellow, and a 2023 Represent Justice Ambassador. She was honored with the 2023 John Lewis Good Trouble Award for her unwavering commitment to justice and equity.
Currently, Kareemah serves as the director of the Chillon Project HEP at Life University, where she continues to inspire and empower others through education and advocacy. Kareemah has fought to restore voting rights to Georgia’s felony disenfranchised population.
