America’s First Female Muslim Mayor Sadaf Jaffer on Leadership and Resisting Cynicism in Politics

Stories of Transformation

From holding mock presidential debates as a kid in her living room to becoming the first Muslim woman mayor in America, Sadaf Jaffer is passionate about being a voice for the voiceless, and inspiring young women of color that they too can be in a position of power.

Sadaf Jaffer is a scholar, an activist, and an elected official. Dr. Jaffer is a Postdoctoral Research Associate at Princeton University where she teaches courses on South Asian, Islamic, and Asian American Studies. Dr. Jaffer is also the mayor of Montgomery Township, New Jersey where she has focused her administration on good governance and increased transparency, communications, diversity, and inclusivity.

Mayor Jaffer joins us on the podcast to share about what her experience was like campaigning as a Muslim woman for an elected position in a largely white, Republican town in New Jersey.

She talks to us about what it’s been like to be a mayor in the midst of a pandemic and the Black Lives Matter movement and how she has used her position to be a source of calm for her community.

We get her perspective on the most difficult part of her job, how the job has changed how she views herself, and her thoughts on Joe Biden’s pick of Kamala Harris as Vice President.

Help us spread Mayor Jaffer’s vision of resisting cynicism in politics and encouraging women, especially women of color, to run for office by sharing this episode with your community!

For full show notes: https://www.baktashahadi.com/podcast

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Produced by: Dana Drahos

Edited by: Joseph Gangemi

Digital Marketing by: Katherine An

Theme music by: Qais Essar

Artwork by: Masheed Ahadi