Jowharah Sanders is an accomplished nonprofit executive director with nearly two decades of experience in leadership development, mentoring youth and families dealing with the effects of bullying, questioning their gender identity or sexual orientation, or overcoming stigmas associated with mental health support, to name a few.
Jowharah Sanders is a survivor, an advocate, and an inspiration. With lived experiences around racism, bullying, assault, domestic violence, and suicidal ideation, Jowharah could have defined her life as a victim. Refusing to be defined by trauma, she turned her pain into purpose.
In 2009, Jowharah founded National Voices for Equality Education and Enlightenment (NVEEE), a national non-profit organization dedicated to preventing bullying, violence, and suicide among youth, families, and communities. With the support of the University of Miami School of Education, Community and Social Change Department, NVEEE developed a research-based school-wide bullying prevention program that empowers students to take a direct role in reducing bullying at their schools.
Jowharah’s approach to advocacy is grounded in building relationships and trust with young people. She is always available to support youth through their everyday moments of challenge, and this builds a foundation of trust that allows them to confide in her during their darkest moments of crisis. Jowharah’s history and compassion make it easy for others to relate to her, and her understanding of the issues facing young people today is unparalleled.
Although Jowharah has faced many losses and multiple traumas in her life, she is committed to modeling resilience and showing youth and families that they are not alone. Her goal is to empower them to confront difficult realities, find their voice, engage in difficult conversations, and take charge of their lives. Jowharah Sanders is a fierce advocate for today’s youth, and her work has made a difference in the lives of thousands of young people and families across the country.
Awards include:
- 2020 Gold Medal Award
- 2019 SAVE Luminary Award Recipient
- 100 Outstanding Women Award – Boys & Girls Club of Broward County (2018)
- 2016 Legends Award presents by Unity Coalition
- “Top 100 LGBT Movers and Shakers” for 2015
- “Women in Excellence” 2015 Award presented by Women in Network (WIN)
- 2014 Aqua Foundation for Women Community Award
- 2013 Ujima Leadership Award presented by Black Gay Pride South Florida
- 2013 Outstanding Leadership in the LGBT Community presented by Safe Schools South Florida
- 2012 Community Leadership Award presented by Kimberly Shenkar-Bacardi
- 2012-2013 Member of the Broward County Public Schools Diversity Committee
- 2011 Visionary Award presented by NVEEE