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Shukoor Ahmed
OU Bsc student becomes a leader, a
Community Activist and a Concerned US Citizen
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Hyderabad: A product of Osmania University, armed
with BS in Computer Information System from Strayer University and a
MA in Public Policy from American University, with a major in
Lobbying and minor in Campaign Management, this multi-faceted
personality founded V-Empower in 1999, since then Shukoor is the
CEO.
He has served in various capacites before embarking on V-Empower.
Shukoor was the Communication Director for Bill Bradley of Maryland,
who ran for President in the primaries of Democracts' candidacy
election, eventually making way for Al Gore. |
A political enthusiast, he ran for
Maryland House of Delegates in 1998. He continues to remain a committed
worker for the community and he contested for the post of State Delegate
for Maryland again in the September 2002 elections. His major interests
behind statedemocracy.com stem from his own campaigning days, while door
knocking, Shukoor was shocked by the gap between elected officials and
the citizens on simple issues of everyday life. This was when he decided
to passionately pursue the concept of such a deep impacting tool,
statedemocracy.com.
Under his stewardship, the company saw a host of products being
successfully launched in the market. The company’s primary launch pad
was the political portal, www.statedemocracy.com. It is an umbrella web
application, with 51 websites seated under the main application, each of
which is dedicated to the promotion and betterment of democracy.
www.ezquestionnaire.com is again Shukoor’s brainchild and is a web-based
questionnaire which provides the facility to make a questionnaire
quickly with ease. Another product, www.weblobbying.com is an online
lobbying application, helping the political parties, candidates and
interest groups in lobbying their cause, thus influencing the decision
makers. Next, he came out with a very useful product, www.estrawpoll.com,
once again a web-based application for assessing the feedback and
perception of the masses through online polling on current issues.
Shukoor is a registered Democrat and a proactive, progressive and
independent person at that. He was the Director of Technology for Jack
Johnson, Candidate for County Executive 2002. Shukoor was also the
Campaign Manager for Katina Johnstone, who ran for Congress in 2000
contesting from 13th District in New York.
Shukoor took up the assignment as Director of Communications in Maryland
for Bill Bradley, who ran for President. He was also the Field Director
in Prince George’s County for Bill Bradley. Shukoor worked as a
Legislative Aide for Delegate John Giannetti during the 1999 Legislative
Session. He was a Candidate for Maryland House of Delegates in 1998.
He had also served as Vice-President of the Democratic Club of Bowie
during 1994-1996, promoting the political involvement of Bowie residents
and further ensuring the accurate dispensation of local political
information. Shukoor was a Member of the Asian Pacific Advisory Board to
the County Executive during 1995-1997, thus rendering important and
objective information for the needs of the Asian-American Citizens. He
has also served in other capacities like Treasurer for the Democratic
Central Committee Candidate Donald Beach in 1994, Member of the Governor
Oden Bowie’s Democratic Club since May 1993.
Shukoor has also volunteered for the campaigns of political candidates
including Congressmen Steny Hoyer (1992 District 5), Jim Moran (1992
District 8) and At Large Montgomery County Councilman Issaiah Legget in
1994.
Shukoor has been serving the public for over a decade. He is a leader, a
Community Activist and a Concerned Citizen. Shukoor is a member of the
Community Advisory Council from 2000 till present.He is also a member
of various organizations like the Prince George’s Country Public School
Military Academy, High Bridge Elementary School; Lutheran Social
Services for the Rehabilitation of Bosnian, Kurdish, Haitian and Somalian Refugees (1993-Present) - Providing economical, social, and
political support to the Refugees; Winter Haven Homeless Shelter Program
in Laurel (1992-1999). Shukoor had served as Administrator and Volunteer
at the Homeless Shelter Program. His other services as a volunteer
include Habitat for Humanity, Maryland Society for Sight and Voter
Registration.
As a humanitarian, Shukoor had organized food drives for the homeless in
Downtown DC, "Martha's Table". He was the National Coordinator of Social
Services of the Ahmadiyya Youth Association (1994-1996), National Vice
President of the Ahmadiyya Youth Association with 43 Chapters
(1996-1999) and National President of the Ahmadiyya Youth Association
with 46 Chapters (1999-2002). Shukoor had also organized blood drives
for the community through Red Cross. Last, but not the least he is also
a Member of the South Asian Journalist Association (SAJA).
Shukoor was nominated for the Presidential Service Award (President
William Jefferson Clinton), for the commitment and dedication in doing
voluntary services in 1995. He was also nominated for the Governor’s
Volunteer Award (Governor Parris Glendening) for the contribution of
time and talent in support of various Social Service Agencies during the
same year. At the same time, Shukoor was nominated for the Prince
Georgian of the Year Award for community service in Prince George’s
County. He was also nominated for the Patricia Wallace Outstanding
Citizen of Bowie, consecutively during 1994 and 1995.
Shukoor has an MPP (Masters in Public Policy) from American University,
Washington DC gained during 1999. He took Lobbying as Major and Campaign
Management as Minor. He has a double BS, one from Strayer College in
(1993) Majoring in Computer Information Systems and another from Osmania
University in Hyderabad, India Majoring in Mathematics, Physics and
Chemistry in 1983. |
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Shukoor has been happily married for
fourteen years to Nabeela Ahmed and has two beautiful daughters,
Raaheela (9) and Shabnam (7). The Ahmeds are living in the
unincorporated part of Bowie. They have been residing in Prince
George’s County since 1988. He is a dedicated husband, a dutiful
father and a responsible son. |
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MK
-November 2002
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