RISING ICON #107: Nasrieen Habib
An interview with Nasrieen Habib, founder and CEO of EcoJariyah and founder and executive director of Amanah Rec Nonprofit.
What name do you prefer to be called?
Nasrieen
What are your pronouns?
She/Her
Where did you grow up?
Many places: Somalia, Kenya, Uganda, Ethiopia,mostly the U.S. but each place has shaped a part of who I am.
What city are you currently based in?
North Minneapolis
How do you typically introduce yourself to new people?
It depends on the situation. I usually just say, Hi, I’m Nasrieen, but sometimes I introduce myself as Nasrieen to people I have exchanged emails with and when they dont recognize my name I say Hiking Hijabie, and it always feels like a lightbulb goes off for them.
What’s one thing you wish more people knew about you?
I once dreamed of becoming a criminal lawyer, but instead, I became a legal advocate for victims of domestic violence, working in both family and criminal court to help protect and support those in need to remove barriers.
Who do you help?
I try to help anyone I can, but when it comes to financial support, I’m especially passionate about sponsoring orphans and building wells.
What are you building now?
I’m building myself, my family, my community, and my legacy—all aiming to be someone my Creator would be pleased with.
What were you building ten years ago today?
I was building a home with my husband and creating a new community in Minnesota. I had moved from Houston, TX, two years before.
What do you predict of yourself 10 years from now?
Inshallah, I hope to reach a point where I can personally fund major projects without relying on donations—like building the first Muslim community center “Amanah Community Center” in North Minneapolis, which would be similar to the Plymouth or Mound View Community Centers but tailored for the Muslim community with space for muslim sisters to swim. I also want to support orphanages in the Global South and create sustainable infrastructure in the Horn of Africa. My hope is to become the Oprah of Humanitarian Climate Action, bridging my local community to my African heritage.
What’s a fact or statistic you wish everyone knew about your industry?
Islam has been teaching us about climate change for over 1400 years. The Quran and Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) taught us how to care for people, animals, and the environment. My goal is to revive these teachings alongside science to bring awareness about climate action to the muslim community.
Why do you believe the work you do matters?
The people most affected by climate change, both locally and globally, often look like me. We need a seat at the table where decisions about our future are being made.
Who is your mentor and what is the best advice they’ve given you?
Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him) is my greatest mentor. He was sent as an example for all humanity, and I try to follow his teachings. The best advice I’ve learned from him is to always do my best because Allah didn’t create us to be perfect. If Allah wanted us to be perfect, He would have created us that way. Among the living, I’m fortunate to be surrounded by amazing people doing selfless work to improve our community—they inspire me every day.
What piece of content about you or your company are you most proud of?
Upstream—it truly embodies my values and mission, reflecting so much of what I stand for in terms of sustainability, community, and humanitarian impact. I’m also proud to be featured alongside community members doing similar work here in Minnesota
What publication do you hope to appear in next?
MPR
Who would you love to be interviewed by?
Thought leader: Shaykh Omar Suleiman, TV Host: Trevor Noah on The Daily Show, Podcast: The Digital Sisterhood and TED Climate.
If you had to give a TED Talk tomorrow, what would the title be?
Reviving Islamic Values of Environmental Sustainability Through Outdoor Activities.
What award would mean the most to win?
I haven’t really thought about awards, so none come to mind.
What makes zero sense to you?
People not caring about sustainability or the planet because it’s inconvenient, even though we’re already seeing the consequences of climate change here in Minnesota and across the U.S. It’s October 2024, and it’s 85 degrees—wake up, because soon there will be no more coffee to smell!
What’s a word in your industry you hope gets reevaluated?
Materialistic—it should mean valuing what we have, but it’s often used to mean disposable, which is the opposite.
What game are you changing?
How we consume everything—food, clothes, entertainment, even the company we keep. Less is more.
What’s the next thing you’re a part of that you want to invite more people to participate in?
Fundraising to buy a drilling rig to dig deep wells in the Horn of Africa, and raising funds for the Sudanese genocide relief efforts.
Where can we follow you online?
Instagram and TikTok: @AmanahRec, @EcoJariyah, @HikingHijabie, and @HipsterHijabie.
What’s one thing that makes every leader better?
Meeting people where they are and conveying the message without worrying about the outcome.
Learn more about Nasrieen’s work at EcoJariyah.com and AmanahRec.org
We’re grateful to each RISING ICON for their transformative work. Thank you, Nasrieen, for sharing your story!
LAUREL is a media relations partner for bold leadership. For nearly a decade, we’ve built effective communications strategies for scale and growth, specializing in key opinion leadership and go-to-market strategy for people driving impact. RISING ICONS is made possible by grant funding from Knight Foundation.
“The people most affected by climate change, both locally and globally, often look like me. We need a seat at the table where decisions about our future are being made.”
NOTICE: It’s important for our readers to understand the origin of the interview content. The featured ICON contributed responses that were not edited from the original submission. All claims are made solely by the contributor and do not reflect the views of LAUREL or its partners. Thank you for supporting innovation leaders. We’re convinced, the future is bold.
