Basim leads CAIR’s efforts in the Sacramento Valley area to serve as a voice to its diverse and vibrant Muslim community. Elkarra has been instrumental in building coalitions with Ethnic, Interfaith communities, and law enforcement. Basim’s hard work and dedication to defending civil rights and building bridges between interfaith communities and law enforcement has brought him an array of public recognition. He was honored by former Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante for his “Outstanding Community Service.” The Sacramento Bee named Elkarra “Devout and Dynamic” in an in-depth profile of the young Executive Director. He has received awards from the Organization of Chinese Americans, the Harry Truman Democratic Club, California State Controller John Chiang, and received California State Legislature Resolution #52064 for his work in California.
During the last ten years at CAIR, Elkarra worked with law enforcement, schools, and health care providers to ensure they receive diversity training about Islam and the Muslim community. Elkarra appears regularly in the media as a commentator on issues of civil rights, the Muslim community, and foreign affairs. Elkarra currently serves on the Mayor Kevin Johnson’s Transition Team, American Civil Liberties Union-Sacramento Chapter Board, Sacramento Police Advisory Committee, Sacramento Public Library Multicultural Council, Sacramento State University Community Council, Natomas Unified School District Multicultural Advisory Committee, and the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association’s (APAPA) Outreach Committee. Elkarra also served on the Sacramento Police Chief Selection committee and the City and County of San Francisco Human Rights Commission, Youth and Education Committee. Elkarra, a San Francisco native and a leader in the Muslim American community, holds a B.A. in Political Science and Middle Eastern Studies from the University of California at Berkeley. In his spare time Basim loves to read and fish! Basim can be reached at belkarra@cair.com.
