Dr. Dilara Sayeed serves as the President of the Muslim Civic Coalition.
Dilara’s story goes from Headstart to Harvard, and through public school systems. These experiences have fueled her ambition for equity and access for all our residents, especially in underrepresented communities. Dilara has served as an award-winning teacher/administrator, a nonprofit civic leader, and a social impact entrepreneur.
At the Muslim Civic Coalition, Dilara's team works with partners and allies of all races, faiths, and backgrounds towards Civic Justice - ensuring each of us can build a life and thrive as American residents. Dilara ran for elected office in a historic race in 2018 to highlight social and fiscal inequities in our state and nation.
To meet the needs of today’s remote and isolating work culture, Dilara is on the founding team for vPeer, a mobile app connecting virtual peers for mentoring and thought partnership.
In 2021, Dilara was appointed by Governor Pritzker to the IL Commission on Discrimination and Hate Crimes (CDHC), where she serves as the Co-Chair of the Education and Outreach Committee. Dilara has served on the Transition team for Mayor Brandon Johnson, as well as Advisory Councils for Chicago Mayor Lightfoot and Illinois Comptroller Mendoza. She is a board trustee on the Field Museum and IADO. Dilara and her husband enjoy riding on bike paths and kayaking on waterways exploring our cities, nation, and world.
