Highlighting a wonderful human being, one I’m proud to call my friend, Ms. Sumayia Islam.
I can describe Ms. Islam as a wonderful, caring, and charismatic soul.
She embodies a giving and self-less character. Her down to earth and gentle nature make her an ideal friend.
I had the pleasure to meet Sumayia several years ago. We bonded over her interviewing me regarding my financial safety planning project for domestic violence survivors. It was clear then, just how much we had in common. We both shared a passion for helping, and empowering others. Today, her drive to help others and serve her community have paved the way for Sumayia to her new role as the Community Impact Coordinator for ES&L Federal Credit Union.
I have witnessed Sumayia flourish in so many ways. She has not only overcome much adversity and grown exponentially, but she has come to exude such confidence in herself and all that she has to offer.
Ms. Islam has deep set roots in her family values and culture. She comes from a modest background and believes that financial education is extremely important for everyone. She shares that, “Family values are especially important to her because family is the first community we are a part of, that teaches us about who we are, and helps shape us.” As a Bangladeshi American, she loves learning about her own and other cultures, especially when it comes to fashion, language, and the different beautiful lifestyles and customs. She shares being interested in different perspectives because it helps to expand her world.
Sumayia also loves reading, as she says it’s another way to explore. She loves poetry, and some of her favorite authors include Rumi, Roald Dahl, Khaled Hosseini, Maya Angelou, and Shel Silverstein; no wonder we get along so well!
She shares being passionate about the textile industry. She explained how growing up, whenever she saw a “Made in Bangladesh” tag, she would get excited. Her first visit to Bangladesh was in 2008, and that was when she first saw visible poverty, and truly understood the behind the scenes of the garment industry. “Textiles are a pillar of the Bangladesh economy and supports many people from becoming further economically vulnerable, particularly women.” She went on to share, “There is a lot of room for improvement in making fashion sustainable, ethical, and ensuring safety for workers. I’m a huge a fan of Bangladeshi fashion so I’m interested to see how the industry grows and what direction things will take as environmental practices, labor laws, and sustainability become more of a priority as we move into the future”.
I asked Sumayia about her vision. She shared, “My vision for today is to be grateful and remind myself to appreciate all the beautiful blessings I have each day. My vision for the future is to grow and expand my world view and perspective.”
Never forget just how much you have to offer this world, Sumayia. Thank you for sharing with Resilient Phoenix Coaching!
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