Board of Trustees
Omar A. Karim
Omar A. Karim, is the Founder and CEO of Banneker Ventures, a real estate development and construction firm. Since founding the company in 2005, he has led its growth from a boutique development firm into an industry-leading enterprise with four core verticals—real estate development, general contracting, construction management, real estate advisory and property management—and a development pipeline exceeding $1 billion.
Mr. Karim began his career in New York as an associate at Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP where he represented public and private companies’ executive management and boards of directors. Following his time in New York, he joined Bundy Development Corporation, a Washington, DC-based real estate development company where he represented the company in all legal matters while managing the company’s real estate development projects.
Mr. Karim serves on the Board of Directors of the Maryland Economic Development Corporation (Governor appointee), College Track, Inc., a national non-profit educational organization, Change All Souls Housing Corporation, a District of Columbia-based housing corporation and African American Real Estate Professionals of DC. He is an active member of the Young Presidents Organization (YPO), Real Estate Executive Council (REEC), National Association of Corporate Directors and Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering from Howard University and a Juris Doctor degree from Howard School of Law. He is married with four children.
Aaliyah R. Muhammad
Aaliyah R. Muhammad is the Executive Director of Soulful Muslims and Vice Chair of Muhammad Preparatory Academy. She is CEO of Embarq Solutions, a government contractor specializing in facilities and project management.
A former prosecutor with the Baltimore City State’s Attorney’s Office, Aaliyah has also served as a criminal justice policy advisor and university professor.
She holds a J.D. from the University of Baltimore School of Law and resides in Crofton, Maryland, with her husband and two daughters.
Rosallah A. Karim, Esq
Rosallah A. Karim, Esq. is an attorney and public policy expert with over 20 years of experience in corporate law, government, and nonprofits.
She is a founding board member of The Banneker Foundation, Soulful Muslims, Inc., and Muhammad Preparatory Academy, guiding nonprofit governance and strategy. Previously, she advised senior officials at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and worked with the SAMHSA, CDC, FDA, and New Jersey Department of Health.
Rosallah holds a J.D. from Seton Hall Law and a B.A. from UNC Chapel Hill. She is admitted to practice law in Maryland and is married with four children.
Jameel W. Aalim-Johnson
Jameel Aalim-Johnson has been President of Prince Georges County Muslim Council, since its founding in 2008. The mission of Prince George’s County Muslim Council is to involve the Muslim community in the civic and political affairs of the county. He is a former Chairman of the Board of Trustees of PGMA and a former Chair of PGMA’s Board of Education. Jameel is a board member of the Revenue Authority of Prince George’s County, the Governor’s Interfaith Council, and the Maryland Comptroller’s Faith Leaders Advisory Council.
Jameel has extensive experience in the political arena having served ten years as Chief of Staff for U.S. Congressman Gregory W. Meeks and previously as a Community Liaison for former Congressman Floyd H. Flake. He was a founding member and first president of the Congressional Muslim Staffers Association, as well as former President of the bipartisan House Chiefs of Staff Association. Professionally, he is Associate Vice President in the Government Relations office for a New York based FinTech and stock exchange company. He holds an MBA in International Finance from St. John’s University and a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia.
Jameel and his wife have three adult children and reside in Lanham, MD.
Ihsan Saleem
Described as determined, visionary, and compassionate, Ihsan Saleem has a demonstrated commitment to creating entrepreneurial solutions for social problems. His deep concern about the deterioration of working-class minority communities coupled with his passion for entrepreneurship were catalysts for his entry into real estate. Through his firm, Graceline (formerly Saleem & Co.), he aims to use real estate as a platform to positively impact lives.
Since 2011, Graceline has sponsored more than $250 million of investments in working-class communities, transforming over 2,000 distressed properties into clean, safe, and affordable homes. Previously, Ihsan worked in New York as an investment banker at Deutsche Bank, where he focused on capital raising and M&A advisory for global homebuilders and building product suppliers. Prior to that, he was a partner in an Atlanta-based home-building business he co-founded with his siblings while in college.
Mr. Saleem is an active advocate for holistic urban development and serves on boards and as an advisor to real estate, faith-based, and educational organizations. He holds a B.A. in accounting from Morehouse College. Ihsan performed the Hajj in 2016. He and his wife, Fatyma, their two children, and Ihsan’s mother, Dr. Daaiyah, live in East Lake, Atlanta, GA.
Fatymatou Dia Saleem
Fatymatou Dia Saleem currently serves as Chief of Staff for Graceline, a vertically integrated real estate firm based in Atlanta. Graceline’s mission is to disrupt the vicious cycles of inequity by building vibrant communities that serve as an empowering springboard for holistic success. Prior to Graceline, Fatyma founded and managed FDS Ventures, providing a full suite of consulting services to individuals and organizations that are committed to educational equity and social justice. Past projects ranged from start-up schools to strategic support for senior leaders.
Fatyma’s background is in strategy consulting. She spent four years working for the Boston Consulting Group (BCG) in Morocco and Nigeria before transitioning to the education field. Starting with a year-long fellowship at UWC-USA as special assistant to the President, she has spent the past seven years working with schools, education startups, and community-based and racial equity organizations in the US and internationally. She has taught AP Macroeconomics to 11th graders and led school-wide strategic planning efforts.
Fatyma has a BA in African Studies and International Development from Yale. She was born in Senegal and currently lives in Atlanta, GA, with her husband, Ihsan, and their two children.
Ralph Smith
Ralph Smith is the Founder and CEO of Global Solutions Consulting, a leading Cybersecurity firm specializing in Cloud Security, DevSecOps, and Vulnerability Threat Management. With over 20 years of experience, he has driven the firm’s growth through innovation, customer satisfaction, and strategic leadership. Prior to founding the company in 2005, Mr. Smith held key roles including Program Manager and Security Architect. His journey from Telecom Engineer to CEO reflects his commitment to excellence, visionary thinking, and corporate social responsibility.
Under Mr. Smith’s leadership, Global Solutions Consulting has achieved significant financial growth and recognition, including selection for the AWS Accelerator program. He is a respected thought leader who frequently shares his insights at industry conferences and in top publications. Beyond his role at Global Solutions, Mr. Smith serves on the boards of College Track and a private elementary school, helping to shape the future of technology and education. With extensive experience in federal contracting, he supports major clients such as the Department of Homeland Security, US Census Bureau, NFS, and the Department of Commerce, offering expertise in compliance, system resilience, and innovation.
Committed to mentoring the next generation of leaders, Mr. Smith actively supports initiatives to bring 1,000,000 Black and Brown individuals into Cybersecurity. Since Fall 2023, he has served as an Entrepreneur in Residence at George Mason University, advising students and venture capital partners on cybersecurity careers and business strategy.
He holds a BS in Electrical Engineering from Howard University and resides in the Washington, D.C. area with his wife and three children.
Mohammad Khokar
Mohammad Khokhar is CEO of HEP Development and Vice President of HEP Construction, a Washington, DC-based design-build construction firm founded in 1997. Since joining HEP in 2003, he has led over $20 million in revenue-generating projects and established the firm’s design and development division. Under his leadership, HEP has grown to serve a diverse client base including local and federal government agencies, as well as private industry.
A second-generation Washingtonian, Mr. Khokhar is deeply committed to community-focused development. HEP is a proud Ward 8 stakeholder, actively advancing workforce development through accredited training programs and on-the-job opportunities. The company is currently developing workforce housing in partnership with DCHFA’s Housing Investment Platform, DMPED, and through private efforts, including a 33-unit and 18-unit project in Northwest DC.
Mr. Khokhar lives in Washington, DC with his wife and six children.