Our Team

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President & Co-Founder

Nadeem Mazen was the first American Muslim City Councillor in Massachusetts. Following his re-election to Cambridge City Council in 2015, Nadeem co-founded Jetpac to provide training and resources for other minority organizers and allies so they too could represent and serve their communities.

 

Nadeem graduated from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2006 with a bachelors degree in Mechanical Engineering. He currently serves as a Co-Chair on the Massachusetts State Democratic Party Affirmative Action Outreach Subcommittee. He previously served two terms on the Cambridge City Council, as faculty and Director of Innovation at School of the Museum of Fine Arts, an instructor at the Martin Trust Center for Entrepreneurship at MIT Sloan, and as a Varsity Head Coach at MIT.

Nadeem Mazen is an engineer, social entrepreneur, activist, and community organizer. He is an educator and social justice advocate who believes that elected officials should act as public servants, first and foremost—and was the principle driving his two terms as a City Councillor in Cambridge.

The son of a proud Egyptian immigrant father and hardworking Midwestern mom, Nadeem is an Andover native and went on to attend Phillips Academy and MIT on financial aid. After graduating, he founded three businesses, creating tech and arts jobs to improve the local community. He put the profit from his businesses back into the community.

As an activist, Nadeem has fought for immigrant rights, Wall Street reform, a $15 minimum wage, against torture, and against the alt-right—before it had that name. 

Nadeem co-founded Jetpac in 2015 which has paved the way for underrepresented communities to have their voice heard. He has trained activists from historically marginalized communities across the country to organize in their communities and run for office and believes rekindling this grassroots leadership is the heart and soul of efforts to revitalize our democracy.

Select Media: Muslim Official Responds to Trump Orders (NECN, Video Interview); Jetpac aims to boost Muslim participation in American politics (Reuters, Org. Profile); Call Him Nadeem: Cambridge's Unconventional Politician (The Harvard Crimson, Profile); You Can Run for Office (Feedback Labs, Authored).

 

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Executive Director

Mohammed Missouri joined the Jetpac team as Executive Director in 2019 after several years working as a communications professional in Massachusetts politics. Mohammed is a passionate activist for fair representation in politics and the media.

 

Mohammed graduated from Suffolk University in 2011 with a B.A. (Hons.) in Political Science. He previously served as Communications Director and Senior Policy Advisor for a Massachusetts State Senator, is a prolific tweeter, and is a movement builder on progressive issues in Massachusetts.

Originally born in Baghdad, Mohammed fled to Norway with his family in the '90s after facing persecution. He moved to the United States in 2007 to attend Suffolk University, and he has since established himself as a successful progressive operative in Massachusetts politics. He has staffed for senior-level state legislators and has been an advisor to several campaigns over the past few years where he taught candidates, staff, activists, and volunteers how to articulate progressive values in a simple way through all forms of communication.

Mohammed strongly believes that increasing Muslim representation in politics and media is the best way to achieve justice for American Muslims. As an advocate for the Muslim community, he has seen first hand how that representation helps our communities gain strong allies, but more importantly allows us to write our own narrative and build power.  His political strategy skills are rooted in a deep understanding of public policy, as well as life experience as a Muslim, refugee, and working-class immigrant. He has experienced the worst side of systemic oppression and is dedicated to elevating and empowering American Muslim leadership in politics.

Email Mohammed.

 

 

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Campaigns Director & Co-Founder

Shaun Kennedy is a public interest advocate who worked as Nadeem's Deputy Campaign Manager in 2015 before joining with him to found Jetpac. A secular humanist, Shaun is a dedicated advocate for fair representation and democracy for all.

 

Shaun graduated from the University of Otago, New Zealand, with an LL.B and B.A. in 2014. He currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Muslim Caucus of America, and on Jetpac's Board of Directors. He has advised over 35 candidates for public office at the local, state, and federal level, and won his first election when he was sixteen (as student representative to his High School Board of Trustees). He is a current member of the American Association of Political Consultants.

Born on Norfolk Island in the South Pacific, Shaun moved to New Zealand with his family when he was 10. After graduating from law school in 2014, he moved to the United States to gain experience as a public interest advocate and political consultant. As Deputy Campaign Manager for Nadeem Mazen's re-election in 2015, Shaun quickly found an aptitude for effecting political change and — upon witnessing the struggle facing America's Muslims in the current political climate — teamed up with Nadeem again to form Jetpac.

Shaun is primarily a campaign strategist and field operative but has experience in almost all aspects of civic and political organizing. As an activist, he has organized for progressive issues centering on voter access, economic equity, and racial justice.

Email Shaun.

Select Media: How Trump's travel ban motivated some Muslim Americans to run for office (CNN, quoted); US politics swept by 'Blue Muslim wave' (The National, quoted); NowThis News (Organization Profile, Video Interview); It’s been a week since the New Zealand attack. Our leaders have a choice to make (Religion News Service, Op-Ed).