GET INVOLVED
Your support is critical to our work at South Dakota Voices for Peace. There are many ways you can contribute towards our causes, and every little bit that you commit goes a long way in helping us fulfill our mission. Take a look around, and learn more about how you can get involved and take advantage of the opportunity to do some good with us!
MAKE A DIFFERENCE
Join a coalition to spread accurate information about Islam, Muslim, immigrants, and refugees by helping market the statewide storytelling campaign in South Dakota. Our goal is to help all of us appreciate our diversity and to help our neighbors understand our collective experiences in being South Dakotan.
STAY INFORMED
Make sure to keep yourself informed. Join our mailing list for important updates, events, action items, and alerts. We can’t do this without you.
MEET THE TEAM
Our vision is a South Dakota where the fabric is rich, diverse and inclusive.
Taneeza Islam, Esq.
Executive Director
Taneeza Islam is a community activist, immigration and civil rights lawyer based in Sioux Falls, SD. Her immigration practice is focused on domestic violence survivors and unaccompanied minors.
Lori Cannizzaro Miller
Research Director
Lori Miller is a native Californian who has made Rapid City her home for over 20 years. She was raised in a military family and has been exposed to people from different ethnicities, religions, and cultures her entire life.
Board of Directors
Sr. Lynn Marie Welbig (Chair)
Sister of the Presentation of the Blessed Virgin Mary – Sr. Lynn Marie Welbig – is a South Dakota native. She has a Bachelors and Masters degrees in Education and Educational Administration, and a PhD in Leadership in Education as well as a Master of Arts in Canon Law [Code of Law of Catholic Church]. Her experience in education, educational administration and faith-driven health care, along with the Presentation Sisters’ motto, Justice is our work! motivates her to address the wrongs that oppress many persons who want to live and thrive in SD and beyond.
Dr. Naomi Ludeman Smith
(Secretary / Treasurer)
Dr. Naomi Ludeman Smith’s personal vision statement is “To have an Impact for Peace.” This vision for living and leadership is motivated by a deep conviction that all people have the right to pursue safety, happiness, and prosperity.
Lori Cannizzaro Miller
Lori Miller is a native Californian who has made Rapid City her home for over 20 years. She was raised in a military family and has been exposed to people from different ethnicities, religions, and cultures her entire life.
Dr. Micheal Saba
Dr. Michael Saba worked in Malaysia and Thailand in the 1960’s and was a training coordinator for Peace Corps programs in Africa in the early 1970’s. He joined Mobil Oil in the mid 1970’s and has been an international business adviser since 1980.
Mike Huber
Michael Huber grew up in Sioux Falls and graduated from the University of South Dakota with a Masters in Business Administration. He is currently a financial advisor and a yoga instructor in Sioux Falls.
Advisory Board
Dr. Dave Kapaska, DO
Dr. Kapaska has served as Regional President and CEO of Avera McKennan University Health Center since October 2010 – the 16th administrator in the 100-year history of Avera McKennan.
Mayor Mike Levsen
Aberdeen Mayor Mike Levsen has served as Mayor of Aberdeen since his election on June 1, 2004 and was re-elected in 2009 and 2014. Prior to serving the City of Aberdeen, Mayor Levsen was employed by the YMCA in Aberdeen, South Dakota as Youth Director from 2002- 2004.
Senator Stan Adelstein
Stan Adelstein is the first Jewish SD state Senator in the history of the state. A member of the Republican Party, Adelstein is a member of the South Dakota Senate, representing the 32nd district.
Betty Oldenkamp
Betty Oldenkamp has served as the President and CEO for Lutheran Social Services of South Dakota since March 2006. LSS/SD is a diverse, multi-service agency touching over 50,000 lives each year with a presence in 30 communities.
Valerie Loudenbeck
Valerie lives here with her husband Kurt and has three children: Daniel(26), Andrea(22) and Grant(17). Valerie is co-owner of Grand Prairie Foods, where every day she and 150 of the best people in town work together to “Make is Easy for their Customers to Enjoy Great Food!”
Dr. Musheera Anis Abdellatif
Musheera is an Assistant Professor as USD, and has worked as a child psychiatrist in Egypt. Her work was mainly with patients and families affected by mental illness and childhood psychiatric disorders.
Dr. Fathi Halaweish, Ph.D
Dr. Fathi Halaweish is a Professor of Chemistry at South Dakota State University. His current research interests are focused on the chemistry, metabolism, synthesis, tissue culture production of the biologically active organic natural products and their utilization as pharmaceutical and agrochemical agents.