Board Member Muhammad
As a Trustee on the Jersey City Board of Education Afaf D. Muhammad intends to support and enhance the current goals set for the district
Afaf Durriyah Muhammad is a lifelong resident of Jersey City. Her parents Waly H. Muhammad and Jo Ann Disdier Figueroa are known for their community service in teaching the spanish and arabic languages, art, and nutrition classes. Throughout her childhood years she resided in many areas of Jersey City which gave her the opportunity to attend public and private schools.She graduated from Dickinson Adult Night School.
Afaf began her work experience at the age of 12 delivering newspapers, then in her teen years as a short order cook. She returned to school to earn her certification in Architectural Interior Design at The Plaza School of Technology.
She was employed at Florlift of New Jersey, and then moved on in her journey to hold positions in telecommunications, security, and volunteered in instructing art to children in her community. She gained experience in middle management at the Gap and Starbucks.
During her unemployment, Afaf took the opportunity to attend free trainings that were offered through Jersey City, by the Partners in Prevention, to train in Pharmacology and Physiology, Perinatal/Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Assessment, Assessment Tools, Intro to Counseling, Counseling Skills, and Crisis Intervention; became a Mental Health First Aid Instructor through the Mental Health First Aid trainings provided by Healthier JC and Jersey City Department of Health and Human Services; became a Minister for the Universal Life Church; became a certified Parent as Champions for healthy schools through trainings provided by the Statewide Parent Advocacy Network through Jersey City Public Schools; started a news blog HudInfoNews which highlights the positive impact of organizations in Hudson County and social justice issues; and attended Argosy University online for two years towards her Bachelors in Psychology.
Afaf also served on advisory boards for Haven Adolescent Community Respite Center, and I Love Greenville; served as Trustee on the Marion Gardens Resident Council and Resident Advisory Board; volunteered her artistic skills to support teachers and students with social emotional trauma and conflict resolution at public school 24, and as a Classroom Hero at public school 15. Afaf has been awarded for her Parent Leadership at P.S 23 (2016-17) and as a City of Jersey City Woman of Action (2019).