Executive Director

Basma thrives on helping others. Beginning her career as a TV presenter in Kuwait, then dabbling for a couple of years in the financial investment industry in New York, she decided to re-evaluate the direction her career was taking. She craved a life more rewarding, not just for herself, but also for others. In 1995 the Kuwait-America Foundation (KAF), the founding and primary sponsor of the Do the Write Thing Challenge (DtWT), offered Basma the opportunity to create and implement programs, at a local and global level, that would help provide a safer community for future generations. For the past 25 years, through DtWT, Basma and her team at KAF have successfully provided over 2.5 million US middle school students an outlet to examine the impact of violence on their lives and communicating solutions to changing the culture of violence that plagues their communities. Basma attended the University of Kent in England, graduating with an honors degree in Politics and International Relations, then went on to earn a Master's Degree in Public Communication from The American University in Washington, DC. After a 17-year break in academia, Basma received a graduate degree in Arab Studies from Georgetown University.

Director of Programs

Shereen Abdel-Nabi is the Director of Programs with the Kuwait-America Foundation, where she is responsible for programs initiated or supported by the organization, including philanthropic endeavors and community partnerships. She joined KAF in 2005, having spent several years working in the non-profit sector, including two summers as an intern for “Do the Write Thing’s” National Recognition Week in Washington, D.C.

Currently pursuing a PhD in Anthropology from American University, Shereen holds an MA in Arab Studies with a focus on women and gender from Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, and a BA in Foreign Affairs and Middle East Studies with a minor in Arabic from the University of Virginia. She is fluent in Arabic and while at Georgetown, was awarded a Foreign Language Area Studies Fellowship to study Hebrew.

She is also a mother of two – her 11-year old son, Jad, and her 3-year old cavapoo, Fairouz.

Program Director

Amber learned about the DtWT program while working as the Program Coordinator for the Kuwait America Foundation in 2002. Prior to working for the foundation, she worked as Marketing Director for ESPN and local sports affiliates in Utah. In 2001 Amber joined the Salt Lake Organizing Committee to work as an event planner for the Winter Olympic and Paralympic Village. After a decade of Public Relations work, she switched professions to become an educator because her volunteer work in classrooms was so fulfilling. She has taught in a Title I school with over 30 languages spoken and had the privilege of teaching 3rd, 5th, 6th grade, as well as university students at Westminster University in Salt Lake City, Utah. She has a wealth of knowledge about DtWT because she has served in so many capacities; Utah Chair, Utah Coordinator, NCSV Volunteer and is now thrilled to be working full time as the Program Director of the National Campaign to Stop Violence.

After serving as Program Director for the National Campaign to Stop Violence for fourteen years, Lisa Cone currently serves as Executive Outreach Liaison for the National Campaign to Stop Violence. In this role, Lisa continues to work with the Chairs and Coordinators of Do the Write Thing (DtWT), assisting them as they strengthen and develop their local DtWT programs. She is also actively involved in engaging new Chairs by connecting with community leaders such as juvenile court justices, principals, superintendents and other professionals who have direct contact with at-risk youth. She is the primary contact and resource for individuals across the nation who have volunteered their time and energy in support of Do the Write Thing.

Lisa has extensive experience in event planning, community organizing and project management, having joined the National Campaign to Stop Violence following her time as a staffer on Capitol Hill and raising a family of six children. She is a pillar of her community, volunteering in several capacities for multiple local organizations, with a focus on faith-based initiatives and programs for young women.

When not organizing a service project, facilitating the Do the Write Thing program, assisting her family of 8, or caring for her 9 grandchildren, she complements her BYU art major with NYC museum stops and world travel.

Program Manager

Mohammad Alaswadi serves as Program Manager at the Kuwait-America

Foundation. In his position, Mohammad exhibits a strong aptitude for developing strategic solutions and optimizing office processes to achieve desired outcomes - skills honed by his extensive background in industrial design. His philosophy: complex problems require simple solutions.

Mohammad is highly enthusiastic about being a part of an organization that positively impacts communities nationwide, a passion that he brings to his job each day. Additionally, he takes immense pride in being a long-time resident of Washington, DC, a city he enjoys regulalry cruising by bike.

Derek Farino is currently an associate at the Kuwait America Foundation and a creative program specialist for the National Campaign to Stop Violence. He has been working for this organization since 2018. Having first-hand experience with violence and trauma he uses his degree in fine arts to promote happy and healthy lived experiences for all.

Director of Digital Strategy

From an early age Rooj was drawn to photography and film and using her summers during middle school to write, produce and create short films with her cousins. In 2018, Rooj finally decided to pursue her career as a filmmaker and moved to NYC where she received her MFA in documentary film.

Since then, Rooj has worked in a variety of capacities in film production, helping to tell high quality branded stories for Google, Starbucks, Vans and more. At DtWT, Rooj assists with managing DtWTs digital and social media.

When Rooj is not busy producing, you can find her hanging with her new dog, Baldwin and kindling her enthusiasm for herbs.