Excerpt:
Alicia Hernandez Strong juggles many roles. She’s a recent graduate of Wesleyan University, an Afro-Latina community activist and she also happens to be the new executive director of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.
Strong converted to Islam her junior year at New Britain High School after learning more about world religions. Now at 21, Strong is undertaking the role of managing Connecticut’s chapter of CAIR — the national civil rights nonprofit that works to enhance understanding of Islam and empower American Muslims.
Strong’s unconventional route to Islam and her diverse background bring a strong advantage to her new role. The daughter of two U.S. Air Force veterans, Strong is also biracial, in addition to being a woman and a Muslim.