Anila Ali is an outspoken civil rights advocate challenging stereotypes and bigotry, a Muslim philanthropist committed to empowering female leadership, a California public school teacher, and Democratic Party activist.
Born in Karachi, Pakistan, Anila Ali was raised in a family dedicated to public service. Her great-grandfather served as the Prime Minister of Kashmir. Her grandmother served as Secretary of the Muslim League and authored several books on Islam and women’s rights. Her father was a journalist and diplomat who founded Pakistan’s first news agency and wrote over a dozen books, including a biography of the Prophet Muhammad. Her mother was a teacher and a philanthropist.
Ali was educated in London in the 1980s while her father served at the Pakistani Embassy. Experiencing discrimination from some classmates prompted her to join various interracial community-building projects. She also became an active youth leader for the All Pakistan Women’s Association. One highlight of her time in the UK was meeting Princess Diana.
After returning to Karachi for university studies, Ali earned a Bachelor’s degree at St. Joseph’s Convent and a Master’s degree at the University of Karachi. She married and lived with her family in Saudi Arabia, where she experienced firsthand restrictions on basic women’s rights. In 1996 her family relocated to southern California, where she earned a Masters in Education from Concordia University.
For over two decades, Ali has taught at public elementary and high schools in southern California. She enjoys bringing unusual speakers to her classroom, including Holocaust survivors and Barack Obama’s sister Dr. Maya Soetoro. She co-founded the Irvine Pakistan Parents Association to support public school arts funding via charity events celebrating South Asian heritage.
To address border profiling many Muslim Americans experienced after 9/11, Ali worked with NYU Law School to produce a documentary titled Americans on Hold: Profiling, Prejudice, and National Security. She also co-authored a children’s book promoting tolerance (titled Mommy, Am I…?) that tells the story of a third-grader named Aisha who experiences derogatory comments at school.
Ali co-founded CalPak, a non-profit promoting education for at-risk girls in Pakistan. The organization sponsors schools in remote areas and an online certificate program in conjunction with Cal State Fullerton University. Ali co-founded AMMWEC (American Muslim & Multifaith Women’s Empowerment Council), which holds an annual women’s leadership conference featuring keynote women Congressional leaders. Ali and her board guide AMMWEC’s unique initiatives to uplift Muslim-American women, including a career internship partnership with Los Angeles Sheriff’s Department and a helpline for women in need.
Ali has chaired the International Leadership Foundation, which promotes internship opportunities for Asian American youth. She currently serves on the Advisory Board of the Olive Tree Initiative at UC Irvine, which promotes meaningful student dialogue on geopolitical conflicts. In 2018, she received Cal Southern University’s Hecht Philanthropy and Service Award.
Ali lives in Washington D.C. and is the mother of Sara and Danyal.