Meet Hurunnessa
A Community Leader Building Bridges
Commitment to Public Service and Advocacy
Hurunnessa currently holds significant leadership roles, including serving as Director of Outreach at Multi-Faith Neighbors Network (MFNN), where she fosters civic engagement through interfaith dialogue. She is also the Secretary of the Board of Directors at the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and a board member for Women for Afghan Women, highlighting her dedication to advocacy and collaboration.
Her extensive experience in community engagement and her advocacy work at local, state, and federal levels will serve as the foundation for her role as an elected official, where she aims to champion policies that prioritize inclusivity, equity, and community empowerment.
Professional Career and Community Engagement
Hurunnessa has worked as both an educator and administrator for more than 16 years. She served as Vice Principal of Radiant Hearts Academy and, eight years ago, founded ADAMS BEAT, the first and only mosque youth choir in the U.S., which she continues to lead as the Music Director.
Hurunnessa has provided sensitivity training to LCPS staff for more than six years now and partnered with the TSA to record sensitivity training modules for 46,000 airport officers on culturally effective engagement with Hindus, Muslims, Jews, Sikhs, and people with disabilities. Hurunnessa participated in Governor Ralph Northam’s Taskforce on Culturally Inclusive School Meals and Calendars and advises the White House Office of Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnerships. Hurunnessa is also the founder of the Sister Act Podcast, co-hosted with a black female Christian scholar and a female Rabbi.
A Story of Overcoming Challenges
Hurunnessa Fariad is a former child refugee from Afghanistan, a single mother raising four daughters in Loudoun County, and a survivor of domestic violence. Her remarkable journey influences her profound commitment to the service of others. As Director of Outreach at Multi-Faith Neighbors Network (MFNN), she fosters trust and respect among diverse clerics through civic engagement and authentic dialogue. She currently serves as the Secretary of the Board of Directors at the Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy and as a Member of the Board of Directors for Women for Afghan Women, reflecting her dedication to equity and collaboration.
Hurunnessa is a trained vocalist and received her BA in Elementary Education and English Literature from CUNY Hunter College in NYC. She grew up in Queens, NYC before moving to Virginia in 2004.