Leadership
Mehlaqa is the founder and director of Community Alliance for Peace and Justice, a Massachusetts-based advocacy group that influences policy and public opinion on issues concerning South Asia and the Middle East. She previously led Critical Connections, a non-profit in western Massachusetts that educated the public on topics such as Islamophobia, national security, civil rights and liberties, U.S. foreign policy, and inter-communal relations.
Mehlaqa served as a peacebuilding associate with the Karuna Center for Peacebuilding, where she led two projects in Islamabad and Lahore from 2016 to 2018 aimed at addressing sectarian violence in Pakistan. She also worked as an adjunct fellow with the Post-Conflict Reconstruction Project at the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) from 2008 to 2011, researching the role of civil society in promoting stability and democratic governance in Pakistan.
Prior to CSIS, Mehlaqa was a research analyst at the Council on Foreign Relations in New York from 2004 to 2006, focusing on the role of women in driving social, political, and economic change in the Muslim world. Her research and work have spanned conflict and transitional settings, including Sudan, Sri Lanka, Rwanda, Afghanistan, Bosnia, and Israel/Palestine. She has also contributed to civil society-based peace initiatives between India and Pakistan.
Until recently, Mehlaqa was a faculty member at the School for International Training in Vermont, teaching conflict transformation and peacebuilding in a low-residency graduate certificate program. Her writings have appeared in publications such as the Huffington Post, the New York Times, Foreign Policy (AfPak Channel), Foreign Policy in Focus, Christian Science Monitor, and Daily Times (Pakistan). She has been a guest on NPR, KCBS, and news channels in Pakistan. Mehlaqa holds a graduate degree from the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy and an undergraduate degree from the University of Denver. She resides in Massachusetts with her husband and two children.
Nosheen is a medical doctor and human rights advocate committed to justice, dignity, and health equity for the Palestinian people. With a professional background in medicine and a deep-rooted belief in the right to self-determination, she brings both compassion and scientific rigor to the work of documenting, raising awareness, and addressing the humanitarian and public health impacts of the ongoing occupation and genocide in Palestine.
She leads efforts to amplify Palestinian voices, challenge systemic injustice, and build global solidarity through education, advocacy, and action. Her work is grounded in the principles of medical ethics, international law, and the unwavering belief that health and human rights are inseparable.
Roxanne serves as board secretary for Community Alliance for Peace and Justice, where she brings strategic insight and hands-on technical expertise to support advocacy campaigns, strengthen organizational infrastructure, and expand public education. A retired software engineer with over 30 years of experience developing systems to protect worker health and safety in industrial manufacturing, Roxanne has been guided throughout her career by a core belief that technology should be used to aid, uplift, and empower people.
A lifelong advocate for justice, Roxanne’s activism began in the 1980s within the animal rights movement and has since expanded to include multifaith coalition work for Palestinian human rights. Her efforts include organizing educational events and engaging congressional representatives to advance accountability, humanitarian protections, and a sustainable path to peace.
She holds a master’s degree from Carnegie Mellon University’s Heinz College of Information Systems and Public Policy and a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science from Duquesne University.
Shafi currently serves as a Senior Director at a leading financial investment software company. Coming from a humble family background, he has built a distinguished career while remaining deeply committed to philanthropic efforts both in the United States and Pakistan.
Shafi is the President of the Karachi Welfare and Development Association (KWDA), through which he has led impactful community projects. Under his leadership and with the support of generous donors, KWDA has successfully sponsored a boys' and girls' school in Lyari, Karachi. He has also spearheaded vital water initiatives in some of Karachi’s most underserved neighborhoods, implementing submersible water systems to provide clean drinking water to those in need.
In the healthcare sector, Shafi actively raises funds for the Indus Children's Cancer Hospital, ensuring that children receive life-saving cancer treatment free of cost.
Beyond his philanthropic work, Shafi Ahmed is a vocal advocate for justice and human rights. He has spoken out against authoritarianism and military overreach in Pakistan, striving to uphold the rule of law. He is also a passionate supporter of Palestinian human rights, engaging in advocacy efforts and meeting with congressional aides to raise awareness about the ongoing genocide and to promote justice on the global stage.