Robina Niaz

Position: Director
Categories: Team

Robina Niaz worked with various mainstream non-profit organizations for over 12 years before founding Turning Point for Women and Families in 2004, the first non-profit in New York City to address domestic violence in the Muslim community. She has served on numerous boards including Sakhi, Queens Women’s Network, Coalition for Battered Women’s Network, the Muslim Consultative Network, Hartley Film Foundation, and the International Human Rights Art Festival. She is currently a member of the Social Work Advisory Council at Medgar Evers College. A social worker, an activist and a fierce advocate of Muslim women’s rights, Robina has spoken extensively against domestic violence locally, nationally, and internationally, and has received numerous honors and awards. She has also been quoted in and appeared on several media outlets including CNN, NY1, Geo TV, Aaj TV, Al-Hurra TV. In 2009, Robina was named a CNN Hero and was featured as one of the 500 Most Influential Muslims (2009) by the Royal Islamic Strategic Studies Center/Georgetown University. Robina was also named Queens Person of the Week by NY1 (March 2010) and was honored by the Mayor Bloomberg along with 30 others in honor of the Women’s History Month (2011). Robina has also received awards from FEBA (Federation of Balkan American Associations), Chhaya CDC, State Senator Eric Adams, Women’s eNews, Bank of America, Queens Council for Social Welfare, NASW-NY, NEMWA(North East Muslim Women’s Association), Women In Islam, Union Square Awards, Open Society Institute, the Queens Borough President, the Queens General Hospital, the International Association for Social Work with Groups (IASWG), and Women2Women Forum (2019). Born and raised in Pakistan, Robina has an M.S in Applied Psychology (Pakistan) and an MSW from Hunter College, NYC, is a 2007 CORO Immigrant Leadership Fellow and a 2005 Open Society Institute/RCLA Social Justice Fellow. In 2017, Robina was named one of 21 “Movement Makers” by the NoVo Foundation. She currently serves as a Commissioner on NYC’s Commission on Gender Equity. Robina speaks four South Asian languages.

Robina Niaz

Director

Robina Niaz worked with various mainstream non-profit organizations for over...

Menal Elmaliki

Position: Seniors Advocate
Categories: Team

Menal joined Turning Point for Women and Families as a Seniors Advocate in November 2023. She hopes to one day bridge the divide between the Western and Arab worlds, creating dialogue, breaking stereotypes, and preventing the spread of misinformation. As someone who comes from an immigrant background, she is passionate about creating an open space that reflects the richness in diversity of the students and their cultural differences. Her past experiences of teaching immigrants and refugees have taught her what strength and resilience means. She is a second-generation American, originally from Yemen, and speaks fluent Arabic.

Menal Elmaliki

Seniors Advocate

Menal joined Turning Point for Women and Families as a...

Sahyda Sunnah

Position: Domestic Violence Social Worker
Categories: Team

Sahyda joined Turning Point for Women and Families as a Domestic Violence Counselor in October 2023. She earned a B.A in Social Work from York College and an MSW from New York University. Sahyda has over two years’ experience in advocacy and counseling which includes working with adolescents and young adults and seniors diagnosed with early-onset Alzheimer’s disease and dementia.

Sahyda is currently working to earn her MSW license to further aid Muslim women and help bring about systemic changes in policies and legislation that lead to equitable opportunities for marginalized communities. Sahyda was born and raised in New York and speaks Bangla,

Sahyda Sunnah

Domestic Violence Social Worker

Sahyda joined Turning Point for Women and Families as a...

Amina Burhan

Position: Domestic Violence Counselor
Categories: Team

Amina joined Turning Point for Women and Families as a Domestic Violence Counselor in October 2023. She is a first-generation college student and graduated from Stony Brook University with a B.A in Psychology and Minor in Health, Medicine and Society. Amina plans to pursue her master’s degree in Social Work and Applied Psychology, and earn a JD in the future to further advocate for systemic changes to support survivors and combat domestic violence. As alumni of South Asian Youth Action (SAYA!), Amina was inspired to join Turning Point to help raise awareness about mental health, advocate for equity amongst marginalized Muslim groups in New York City, and empower survivors of domestic violence. Amina is an active member of her community in Queens and is a second-generation Bangladeshi-American, born and raised in New York City, and speaks Bangla.

Amina Burhan

Domestic Violence Counselor

Amina joined Turning Point for Women and Families as a...

Maria Butt

Position: Outreach Coordinator
Categories: Team

Maria Butt joined Turning Point for Women and Families as the Outreach Coordinator in February 2024. Born and raised in the vibrant tapestry of New York City, Maria’s passion for public service is deeply intertwined with her identity as the daughter of immigrants in the Pakistani Muslim diaspora. Growing up in a marginalized community in America, Maria has found strength and solace in her cultural identity. Her passion for fostering unity and understanding within communities has driven her to become a vocal advocate for the underprivileged. Maria’s dedication to community building and social change is complemented by her academic pursuits. She is currently studying Public and International Affairs at Baruch College, with a long-term goal of delving into international law. Fluent in Urdu and Punjabi, Maria effectively bridges cultural gaps and ensures that the voices of the marginalized are heard. Beyond her professional and academic endeavors, Maria has a love for anthropology and art, further enriching her holistic approach to community engagement and social change.

Maria Butt

Outreach Coordinator

Maria Butt joined Turning Point for Women and Families as...