Ambassador A. Shabazz
Ambassador A. Shabazz – Honorary Director of International Relations
Raised in Westchester County, New York, Ambassador Shabazz is the eldest of six daughters born to Dr. Betty Shabazz and Malcolm X Shabazz. She graduated from the United Nations International School at 17 and entered Briarcliff College, majoring in International Law with a minor in English. She is recognized as a masterful creator and an astute businesswoman. Fondly termed by her colleagues as an “ideas architect”, she is a strategist and technician quick to discern the integrity, theme and ultimate goals of each endeavor, while realizing a vision of execution and successful outcome.
In 1996, she established the Pilgrimage Foundation in honor of her Father’s spiritual journey to the Holy land. “It offered him the ‘Light of Understanding’ and confirmed his vision for our Oneness” she states. In tribute to her mother’s lifelong legacy of service as an educator, as well as the leadership of both sets of Grandparents and their parents before them, –thus uniting 5 languages, interfaith theologies, social histories and traditions, she has remained steadfast on her of guiding experiences that expand one’s own personal prism and regard for others. Her lifetime commitment is to establish fellowships from the most fortunate to the disenfranchised, bridging the gaps with the sustenance that assures that “we step into the world– both mindful and equipped to fulfill our bounty – then share it with another”. The Pilgrimage Foundation has touched hundreds of thousands of lives around the world reaching the under-served and well as the privileged. From shelters, correctional facilities, villages, metropolises, State Houses and Royal compounds. “We are fundamentally the same— balancing our highs and lows all day long”.
In 2002, The Prime MInister of Belize appointed her as the Ambassador-at-Large representing the country of Belize internationally and in perpetuity. Much of her expertise fosters diplomatic relations between cultures along with discerning traditional and contemporary practices, capacity building, human resource training and economic development. In addition to The Pilgrimage Foundation, she and Yolanda King (the oldest daughter of Dr. Martin Luther King and Coretta Scott King) — founded Nucleus, Inc in 1977,. Most recently, she was appointed as the Secretary General of RASIT’s (The Royal Academy of Science International Trust) World Youth League. Because of her signatured advisories, her newest invitations are to the London based, Executive Board of Beyond Sport and Rhythm of Change (ROC) Belize as Honorary Director of International Relations.