Sultan Shakir Joins PFLAG National

PFLAG National announced that Sultan Shakir has been appointed as Chief Operating Officer. Since June the org has added seven new PFLAG chapters in June among 30 new chapters since January & the new COO role will guide the organization’s continued strategic impact to meet community demand for services. Brian K. Bond, PFLAG National CEO stated, “Sultan is an experienced, well-respected nonprofit leader whose strategic guidance has strengthened each organization he has worked with. It is clear that in his first quarter as COO for PFLAG National, he has already made an impact.” Shakir concluded, “This work is deeply personal to me as a queer Muslim who found affirmation & community in spaces like the ones PFLAG creates. I am honored to join PFLAG National at this pivotal time. The parents, family members & allies of LGBTQ+ people are such a critical voice in the national debate. I’m excited to support the work of elevating those voices & increasing national impact as we strive to ensure LGBTQ+ individuals—especially young people—are not only protected but celebrated.” Shakir returns to Washington, D.C. after serving as President & Executive Officer of the Mazzoni Center in Philadelphia since 2022. Prior to that Shakir was Executive Director of LGBTQ youth services provider SMYAL where he greatly expanded that org’s programming, budget & footprint to better serve youth in our nation’s capital including adding a housing program to help vulnerable young people transition from homelessness to independence during his seven-year tenure. Since 1973 PFLAG has worked with LGBTQ people, parents, families & allies every day to ensure LGBTQ people everywhere are safe, celebrated, empowered & loved.

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