Fatimah Popal is a co-founder and Managing Director of MakeSpace (est. 2013), a third space serving as an inclusive community of God-conscious, compassionate, and empowered American Muslims, providing a platform for those often sidelined – women and youth. The organization’s mission is to create an environment where members can flourish spiritually and intellectually while becoming socially and civically engaged citizens. Before MakeSpace, she served as a community builder at a local mosque for more than a decade, focusing on outreach and youth empowerment. Ms. Popal also serves as a board member of Interfaith Communities for Dialogue (ICD) with a goal of promoting mutual understanding and positive relationships amongst faith-based communities.

Ms. Popal holds a Master of Science and a bachelor’s degree of which are in Conflict Analysis and Resolution from the Carter School for Peace and Conflict Resolution at George Mason University, with a specialization in identity, trauma-informed care, interpersonal and organizational conflict, and restorative justice.

Ms. Popal’s experience as a facilitator and mediator allows her to work on projects related to diversity and inclusion, religious freedom, systemic racism and bias, and trauma and healing.

As the daughter of Afghan refugees, she likes to give back by volunteering to help refugees adjust to their adopted home in the US.

In addition to her work as a Conflict Resolution Practitioner, Ms. Popal also serves as Project Manager for an award-winning IT firm.