Nisreen Malhis

Background

About Nisreen Malhis

Nisreen is an activist, certified life coach, and international speaker passionate about building bridges between Eastern and Western cultures. She focuses on raising awareness about Islam and the Arab culture within the American community. Her mission is to empower women by fostering dialogue around marriage, self-esteem, parenting, and self-development. Born and raised in Palestine, she moved to the United States in 1979 and became increasingly active in public education following the tragic events of September 11. Currently, Nisreen serves as the Chair and Vice President of the United Nations Association of Orange County Women’s Affinity Group. The group’s mission is to educate, inform, and actively engage the community in efforts that drive meaningful change. Nisreen works closely with meaningful organizations, which she considers crucial to the success of the UNA Women’s Affinity Group. A lover of art and culture, Nisreen has lectured extensively on Palestinian women and embroidery to college students, libraries, and institutions interested in Islamic art and culture. She has organized student trips to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art to appreciate Islamic Art History. In 2009, she was invited to the University of Oslo in Norway to speak on “The Challenges and Opportunities for Muslim Women in the United States” and “Building Bridges Between Muslims and Non-Muslims in the United States.” Nisreen has also worked with the Muslim Public Affairs Council to train over 2,200 officers of the Transportation Security Administration at Los Angeles International Airport. She provided cultural and religious insights to help ensure the administration of security protocols that respect cultural practices. Her work has been featured in numerous publications, including the Los Angeles Times, Al-Arab Newspaper, and Aziza Magazine. For her volunteerism, she has received several prestigious awards, including a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition from the United States House of Representatives, the Paul Harris Fellow Award from the Rotary Foundation of Rotary International, and recognition from Whittier College.