Akanke Rasheed
Akanke was born and raised in Atlanta, GA to a non-religious family. In her late twenties, she embraced Islam after serendipitously meeting Muslims while training to become a television producer and working on their live television show as a camera person. The conversations she heard between the host and guest about Islam intrigued her and she asked a lot of questions. They invited her to attend Friday prayer and gave her a Quran. Her love for Islam was kindled through those experiences and after reading the entire Quran the "deal was sealed" on her decision to become a Muslim.
In addition to identifying with her faith, Akanke is a multi-passionate woman. She has a bachelor’s degree in Communication from Georgia State University where she studied film, television, and anthropology. She has worked as a television and radio producer and host and is also a certified life and nutrition coach as well as a voiceover artist and abstract painter. While living in Bahrain and Saudi Arabia for almost 10 years she completed advanced training in public speaking and leadership and helped other women cultivate those same skills by sponsoring two women-only Toastmasters clubs that are still thriving today.
Of all the things she loves, her biggest love is for studying spirituality as the foundation for self-actualization. She believes all meaningful and sustainable personal growth and success in this world and the next must rise from a rich, solid, and loving relationship with Allah and a life that is centered around pleasing Him. She internalizes the belief that we are souls on a journey from Allah back to Allah and therefore our purpose (and our test) in life is to remember to remember Allah as we journey through life and encounter all the joys and challenges that come our way.