Our Team

  • Assata Hashi Ninak Aya (she/her), Executive Director

    Assata is a Black and Indigenous Queer mama still proudly living on her ancestral lands just outside of Africatown, Alabama. Through academia, she studied Journalism and Communication and through her community is a continuous student of Herbalism, Curanderismo and Yoga.

    In addition to Savage Daughters, Assata serves on the Board of Directors for HEART, is a Squadd Lead for Dream Defenders and a member of Muslims For Just Futures.

    Living in an interfaith family, she describes herself as an offering of alhamdulillah and hallelujah while still being firmly rooted in her traditional Yoruba and Indigenous spiritual practices.

    She has an immense love for music, liberation, sacred motherhood, travel, writing, southern accents and all things floral.

  • Zara Ahmed (they/them), Grant Writer

    Zara is a non-binary Pakistani consultant, connector, and creator based on the unceded land of the Ohlone people (Oakland, California). They have held leadership roles in many fields, including documentary filmmaking and youth media, public school education, non profit management, refugee and immigrant support services, food service, event production and small business operations. Zara is passionate about amplifying ancestral wisdom through storytelling, healing spaces, and community building and is thrilled to be calling in funding and resources for Savage Daughters.

  • Breland Jackson (he/him), Operations Manager

    Bio coming soon.

  • Mechelleen Jackson (she/her), Board President

    Bio coming soon.

  • Nadia Aitmbarek (she/her), Board Member

    Bio coming soon.