About Us
Our Origin Story
Our Research
In 2018, Millions of Conversations (Millions) partnered with M&C Saatchi World Services to conduct qualitative and quantitative research about the most effective ways to reverse these polarizing trends with a particular focus on why a majority of Americans hold anti-Muslim bias.
The study, “Just Like Us,” draws on evidence from focus groups in five states – California, Florida, Mississippi, Ohio, and Texas. This research identified six of the dominant anti-Muslim narratives in today’s culture. A recurring theme was a belief that Muslims are “different from us” and “trying to destroy our way of life.” Structural anti-Muslim bias - found in our legal, cultural, and political institutions - reinforce these dangerous messages. Popular culture also conveys anti-Muslim messaging. To challenge these negative stereotypes, we traveled the country, conducting focus groups in which we asked participants to describe their American values and their vision of the Model American Citizen.
Today, fear is fostered when we view people as different, not like us, and by labeling them as the “other.” “Othering” can cultivate a perceived threat to the American way of life. This fear silences our values of respect, religious liberties, and free speech. When we ask ourselves: How can we change this status quo? How can we reverse the tide of fear, hate, violence and exclusion? We support a thriving, inclusive democracy where people are humanized and narratives that counter toxic rhetoric become the norm.
Meet the Team
Samar Ali
Founding President & CEO
Jason K. Dempsey
Chief Strategy Officer
Elise Burns
Operations Manager
Kenny Andejeski
3142 Program Lead
Laurie Shiers
Director of Content
Advisors
Clint Brewer
Senior Communications Advisor
Jonathan Metzl, MD, PhD
Senior Policy Advisor
Board of Directors
Sabeen Malik
Vice President of Global Government Affairs and Public Policy, Rapid 7
Jessica Johnson
Senior Policy/Fiscal Advisor and Budget Director, Tennessee Department of Economic & Community Development
Ret. Col. Ken Robbins
Co-Founder, Millie
Advisory Council
Lori Sostowski
Former Associate General Counsel, Dartmouth College
Rachel Brown
Founder and Executive Director, Over Zero
Fanie DuToit
Senior Fellow, Institute for Justice and Reconciliation
Frank Garrison
Senior Advisor, C-III Capital Partners LLC
Salin Geevarghese
President & CEO, SGG Insight, LLC & Senior Fellow, Center for the Study of Social Policy
Ryan Harvey
COO, The Ashforth Company
Tyler Krohn
Pediatrician and Entrepreneur
Rania Mallouk
Business Development Director, Lexus and Toyota
Lynne McFarland
Nurse Practitioner (Retired)
Dr. Yaqub Mirza
President and CEO, Sterling Management Group
John Nees
Counsel
Saud Siddique
Executive, Odyssey Capital
Michael Tackeff
Litigation and Dispute Resolution, Bass, Berry & Sims
Callie Khouri
Writer
Rachel J. Thornton, MD, PhD
Vice President and Chief Health Equity Officer at Nemours Children’s Health
Todd Tukey
Managing Director for Litigation and Resolution Practice Group, Bass, Berry & Sims
Nizam Uddin
Senior Head of Mosaic and Community Integration, The Prince's Trust
Leigh Walton
Healthcare Lawyer, Bass, Berry & Sims
Dr. Firas Wehbe
Chief Research Informatics Officer, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine
Yasmine Zaki
Attorney
Maysoon Zayid
Actress and Advocate
Dr. Adnan Zulfiqar
Associate Professor of Law, Rutgers University
Nadia Abuzaineh
Director Oncology Business Operations, Natera
Fatima Hassan
Associate, White & Case
Mary Tezak
PhD Student, Georgetown University, former Millions Chief of Staff
Ebie McFarland
Founder/Owner, Essential Broadcast Media, LLC
Yasmine Mukahal
Director, Campus Recruiting, HCA Healthcare
Aysha Chowdry
Mohamed AbdelKader
“Truth and accountability sustain peace and belonging.”