And as a matter of fact, even though I didn’t really know my mother’s role in history, journalism was a big part of our experience because of her story. (© AP Images/Inset: Spirit Trickey). I feel like these institutions are always looking for fresh content, for creative ideas, for a new perspective. "The Blacklist" Premieres on Wednesday, September 27 at 8/7c. There is no information available about his mother and father, despite the fact that he’s been a regular in one of television’s hottest shows. I did a few filmed episodes and then it laid dormant and I picked up podcasting because it's more “me.” I can control my schedule and all of those elements and I know how to edit, etc. Mr. Tawfiq Popatia is a Senior Managing Director at Onex Partners. They are ass… View Spirit Tawfiq’s profile on LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional community. I was always in the community and I think that turned to benefit me professionally and personally. His story is the epitome of giving of yourself to serve your community. Roots of the Spirit, hosted by Spirit Tawfiq is an online talk-show featuring guests who are pursuing their life's passion and purpose on their respective paths. I had to come out of that and carve my own platform. So I grew up completely immersed in nature. Muhammad Tawfiq Pascha (arabisch توفيق, DMG Taufīq; türkisch Tevfik Paşa; * 15. He served in Operation Desert Storm, was a corrections officer at a prison, and a firefighter for twenty years. My umbrella is to uproot racism through storytelling, education, and arts. 183 Likes, 11 Comments - Spirit Tawfiq (@rootsofthespirit) on Instagram: “Feeling amazing after spending 4 days over 3 weeks (11 lessons / workshops) working with the entire…” Right now, “Roots of the Spirit” is my podcast. I was actually inspired [to start my podcast] by an amazing woman of color. “I made my father an Imam. He’s from the Bronx and now he’s with the Audubon Society, and he leads bird walks in Central Park and in Atlanta. I think that at that moment in time I saw my mother as a fully realized human being, on her own, at an earlier age than the average person because she had to exude such strength and determination to get herself back on her feet. IE 11 is not supported. I’m not quite sure where it turned for me, but I know I’ve always been drawn to stories, and I’ve always been drawn to visuals. I launched “Roots of the Spirit.” I was doing my work for the podcast as usual, just like looking for podcast guests, and I came across this job posting at the Department of Records and Information Services in New York, which maintains the city’s Archives. At a certain point I had this crazy idea to go out on my own and pursue my “Roots of the Spirit” platform. Even though it was so long ago, it's very keenly etched in my heart and my mind. Born and raised in Canada, she grew up totally unaware of her mother’s major role in … I was very fortunate to have the support of that regional theater, so I encourage young people who are pursuing creative endeavors to look for partnerships everywhere. Another project I did recently was 1/9th, a play based on my mother’s experiences as a member of the Little Rock Nine. And a few years went by and then everyone was getting excited for the 50th anniversary of the desegregation of Central in 2007. Those roles informed his discipline and stillness for his role as Dembe. Ex-Marines, Retired firefighter and current actor Hisham Tawfiq is shattering perceptions of Muslim African-Americans in the United States. Tawfiq Popatia biography. Elements will present a celestial online conference with a group of 5 performers who will perform a ritual, embodying the spirits of worldly elements: Earth, Water, Fire, Air, and Ether. Born on the 17th May 1970, in New York City, USA, Hisham Tawfiq is a world-renowned actor, best known to the world as Dembe Zumba, one of the bodyguards and confidante of Raymond “Red” Reddington, played by James Spader in the NBC TV series ”The Blacklist”. And so with 1/9th I was in Little Rock for 10 years, sitting around my Grandmother’s dining room table having conversations, working at Central High National Historic Site, visiting with people from around the world and having them reflect on what the Central High crisis meant to them, diving into research myself, meeting people who were around and experienced the crisis first hand, and being involved and instrumental in the 50th anniversary planning. He made his 4 million dollar fortune with The Blacklist, Intimate Powers, A Raisin in the Sun. We went to “Free Mandela” demonstrations. As a young person I had this vibrant, beautiful imagination and a limitless outlook on the world and then it was completely stifled, as if someone had put out a flame, when I went to school and was discriminated [against] because I was black. With Women’s Activism NYC, it started while I was building the foundation for “Roots of the Spirit.” Everything is all related to this story– I worked at Central High National Historic Site for 10 years, which was the greatest blessing but it was also very heavy on my soul because I was absorbing all of that trauma. It’s hard to believe “The Blacklist” series regular, Dembe Zuma, did not exist in the original script. Never in a million years did I think I would live there. Al-Hakim is also known as the founder of modern Egyptian drama. My mother went back to school to get her undergraduate and social degree in Native Human Services, and then we started to work more with the local Ojibwe community. Somewhere along the line, Nicaila Matthews Okome, the host, announced that she was doing a podcasting moguls class. He was also a platoon leader in the Marine Corps and served in Operation Desert Storm. Set largely in Cairo in 1918 and 1919, Tawfiq al-Hakim’s Return of the Spirit, first published in Arabic in 1933, tells the story of a very different era.The stirring, revolutionary conclusion depicts an Egypt where “[i]n the midst of the demonstrations and chants fluttered Egyptian flags that showed the crescent moon cradling the cross.” I honestly believe that the only way forward is to have honest conversations... reconciliation is only possible when we’re being truthful. I’m like, “This doesn't happen every day, I need to preserve this in some way.” So 1/9th was the child, the product that was born from all this. Hisham Tawfiq is part of the Baby boomers generation. Spirit Tawfiq is a director and actress, known for One Hit Wonder, Red Hook Summer (2012) and Michael Jackson's Journey from Motown to Off the Wall (2016). For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. Unabashedly a member of #TeamLawrence and a self-proclaimed “sci-fi warrior dragon geek,” Tawfiq loves to tune into and live tweet shows like “Insecure” and “Game of Thrones.” Tawfiq enjoys comic books, dragons and all things GOT. Blacklist: Hisham Tawfiq retiring from FDNY after 20 years on the squad As a firefighter, Tawfiq would save up his vacation days in order to use them for acting classes and auditions Directed by Spirit Tawfiq. 2,485 Followers, 3,583 Following, 800 Posts - See Instagram photos and videos from Spirit Tawfiq (@rootsofthespirit) There are so many young women of color who have amazing podcasts on a vast array of topics. Interview has been edited and condensed for clarity. "The fire department has been a joy," Tawfiq, 45, says in a coffee shop a few blocks from Engine 69 on W. 143rd St. "I am serving my community. “I remember going in for that audition and there were no lines. My creativity and imagination was sparked by growing up outdoors. On 8-8-1970 Hisham Tawfiq (nickname: Hisham) was born in New York, United States. Price to be determined. Tawfiq says that his father raised him as a Muslim and taught him what it was like to live in a community as marginalized people. Tawfiq was born and raised Muslim by his father who was a religious leader in his community. “In seeing that, I knew important the role of a father and especially a black father.”, Watching #insecurehbo with your significant other is.....HILARIOUS. What would you be doing?” I had to rewind and I was like, “I’ve always wanted to be a journalist.” I’ve always written, I love writing, I’ve loved writing from an early age. My brothers and sisters and I were the only children of color in the whole school. They have a matrilineal society, and I feel as though my mother was able to be herself in that setting and in that environment. So I grew up completely immersed in nature. Muslim characters are largely absent on television and Muslim characters that also identify as African-Americans are even fewer. (Ask Dr. Stanley) - Duration: ... TawfiQ Cotman-El 2,309 views. Women Manifesting Systems of Care will open with Elements, a new interactive performance directed by Alona Weiss, in collaboration with performers: Kris Lee, Rachel Mellis, Mor Mendel, and Saretta Morgan. I was fortunate in that I was a public affairs specialist, and Little Rock is not all that big, so I had gained a vast network. I saw how he lead and I saw how he spoke many languages and I saw how he was able to move with different cultures and different races and so I got all of that from him.”, https://www.instagram.com/p/BG1-1FWOBMp/?hl=en&taken-by=hishamtawfiq. Baby Boober is the result of the end of World War II, when birth rates across the world spiked. One thing is for sure, the possibilities for this renaissance man are limitless. The 1970s were a "pivot of change", it was an era of economic struggle, cultural change, and technological innovation. I was arrested when I was in the fifth grade, my little sister in the third grade. I’m from Ontario, Canada and my parents raised their 6 children on a farm. Discover what happened on this day. I started listening to “Side Hustle Pro” and I became obsessed with it and binge watched the entire series. Hisham was raised by his parents in one of the poorer neighborhoods in the city. Although it was a source of ridicule at times, he understood that he was destined to stand out and lead others. Please contact Sojourn for what specialty items and needs you are considering in the premium package and the price associated with each item. Fine Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences; Sciences, Math and Allied Health; Technical and Professional Studies My creativity and imagination was sparked by growing up outdoors. And the unique aspect is that those stories will live in the archive in perpetuity, rewriting history to include the voices of those often cast aside. The actor explained that as a religious leader his father was revered by many people and so he channeled the loyalty of his community toward his father and applied it to his character’s relationship with fugitive Redd. I had started university in Canada and then when I got to Little Rock I decided that I needed to go back and finish my degree. Of course it's a play on words, but it’s also much broader because it's the culmination of my journey as the daughter of a Civil Rights trailblazer, my own struggle and life’s journey with racism and identity, and learning my mother’s story after almost drowning in it for ten years while working at Little Rock’s historic site. Tawfiq hopes that with the promotion of Dembe’s character the show will be able to tackle some of the misconceptions of Islam and Muslim Americans. So I went to The University of Arkansas at Little Rock and I wrote a draft of a play for one of my playwriting classes. He says that receiving his invitation to join the fire department “was like hitting the lotto.” Excited to give back to the community of Harlem, Tawfiq proudly served for 20 years and was one of less than 200 African-Americans in the department. He holds American citizenship and his ethnicity is not known. ... How can I discipline my child without breaking their spirit? “One of my torches that I’ll be carrying to the grave is spreading the word about the beauty of Islam,” he said. So “Roots of the Spirit” is my way of using my life experiences and my platform to catalyze conversations around race, racism, and social justice. Not the #Dragon noooooooooooooooooo #GameOfThones. His birth sign is Taurus. He interrupts the narrative by being a Black conservationist. I took all of my experiences and when I went into that audition. Follow NBCBLK on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Spirit Tawfiq launches Roots of the Spirit podcast by speaking truthfully about her experience as the daughter of Little Rock Nine member, Minnijean Brown Trickey who desegregated Little Rock Central High School in 1957. He is on the Board of Directors at Celestica, Inc., Advanced Integration Technology, Inc. and BBAM US LP. I made him Muslim and I made myself Muslim. He is married to Spirit Tawfiq, with whom he shares a teenage son. So it’s, “How are you interrupting expectations and uprooting them through your particular passion and gifts?”. A twist of fate sent us to the United States, to Maryland. There were always journalists who would interview my mother or there were film crews shooting a documentary about her life. Dedicated to expanding the hiking community and inspiring folks to get outdoors! He is now serving as a loving father to his son who is 16. 26 talking about this. I connected with Mosaic Templars years later and actually worked with Crystal Mercer as my stage manager and we brought 1/9th back to life. Minnijean Brown Trickey (center) in 1957 at the U.S. courthouse in Little Rock, Arkansas, and (inset) with daughter Spirit Trickey. From a very early age, we were involved in protests. So I took all of that from my life,” said Tawfiq. Mr. Popatia has been a Managing Director of Onex* since 2014 and leads its efforts in automation, aerospace and other transportation-focused industries, having joined the firm in 2007. Hisham Tawfiq (* 17.Mai 1970 in New York City) ist ein US-amerikanischer Schauspieler.Seine bekannteste Rolle ist die des Dembe Zuma in der Serie The Blacklist, die er seit Staffel 3 als Teil des Hauptcasts spielt.Zuvor war er in derselben Rolle zwei Staffeln lang als Nebendarsteller zu sehen. He was the oldest of five brothers and he took the responsibility to take care of younger brothers after the demise of his parents. Spirit Tawfiq Hisham Tawfiq (born 17 May 1970) is an American actor, best known for playing Dembe Zuma, part of the security detail and very close friend to Raymond "Red" Reddington in NBC 's The Blacklist . Before he became an actor, Tawfiq, 50, was a firefighter for twenty years. THE BLACKLIST -- "Dembe Zuma" Episode 416 -- Hisham Tawfiq as Dembe Zuman, THE BLACKLIST -- "The Lindquist Concern #105" Episode 405 -- Pictured: Hisham Tawfiq as Dembe Zuma, THE BLACKLIST -- "Dr. Adrian Shaw (#98): Conclusion" Episode 408 -- Pictured: (l-r) Hisham Tawfiq as Dembe Zuma, James Spader as Raymond "Red" Reddington, Yvonne Orji Hopes ‘Insecure’ Gives Viewers Confidence, OpEd: Dear Black Parents, Investing in Swimming Lessons Saves Lives. Related: OpEd: Dear Black Parents, Investing in Swimming Lessons Saves Lives Harlem Morning "You woke up breathing for a reason" Be Thankful — HISHAM TAWFIQ (@HISHAMTAWFIQ… “My father had tremendous insight into what was required in the communities we live in and what is required especially as marginalized people,” he said, adding that his father felt it was “a tremendous need for people to lead and for people to have intelligence and for people to have courage and to stand their ground no matter what their beliefs were.”, Tawfiq continued, “So I was trained with that since I was born. November 1852 in Kairo; 7. My professor from the class where I wrote the play got in touch with me and said, “Hey, why don’t you submit your play to this contest?” So I did, with another young woman, and we won! While he feels that the media is principally responsible for demonizing Muslims in this country, he still believes it can also be used as a tool to knock out those false illustrations. Among her friends and the community there, we were welcomed in and I saw my mother like I had never seen her before. Tawfiq Popatia serves as Director of the Company. For example, I interviewed a young black male birder on my podcast. That’s one avenue. By Zia Tollette. Spirit Tawfiq, Antiracism Educator & Storyteller. … So in a variety of different avenues I want to be able to bring forth conversations that hit on those pillars in different ways. Januar 1892 in Helwan) war von 1879 bis 1892 Khedive von Ägypten. Spirit Tawfiq, Actress: One Hit Wonder. It was an amazing experience, and we literally cast professional actors. In terms of the creative process, it's almost like a funnel where I have all these ideas, I have these resources, I have this network, and I have these skills… so what is the product? As told to Changing Womxn Collective. The Harlem-native drew inspiration from his experiences as a platoon leader in the Marine Corps, with the New York City Fire Department and his relationship with his father. So it’s like an online archive where anyone can go on and honor a woman by telling her story. Hisham Tawfiq was born in 1970s. The facilitators are Spirit Trickey Tawfiq (daughter of Minnijean Brown Trickey of the Little Rock Nine), and Kenneth Mason, an expert and gifted anti-racism facilitator. The bookstore recommends that students consider ordering their course materials through the website at www.pulaskitcshop.com.This link can also be found at the student portal, college website, and UA-PTC’s mobile app. Another twist of fate moved us to Little Rock, Arkansas. With Keith Beauchamp, Stacey Jordan, Hisham Tawfiq, Minnijean Brown Trickey. Tawfiq al-Hakim (1898-1987) is considered one of the most significant figures in twentieth-century Arabic literature, and Return of the Spirit one of Egypt's most important novels. I worked for the National Parks Service and the Smithsonian for 13 years. So I enrolled in it and I took a podcasting course with her and became completely connected and immersed in the women of color podcast community. So at this moment I’m still working to get it published because I distribute it freely to schools and stuff, but I would love to have it on the shelf somewhere for young actors to use, or anybody, really. I basically had to create my own character just from the foundation that they gave me. I was born and raised in Canada, didn’t know about my mother’s whole story, found out about it, thought it was awesome, and was like “Ooh I want to write a book about her!” I was 17 at the time. ... Hisham Tawfiq is married to Spirit Tawfiq. “A lot of my time in fire department was heavily involved in recruitment process of going out and hitting the high schools and the streets and just spreading the word about the job so that the ranks of people of color could grow.”, https://www.instagram.com/p/yrlF51OBDk/?hl=en&taken-by=hishamtawfiq, One of his biggest influences was his father.