Inayatiyya International Board Newsletter, January 2024

As the Inayatiyya International Board, we have some news to share with you. 

World Wide Message Council Transitions

Our good friend, Tarana Jobin, has served as the Vice President of the Music Activity for the last four years. We are incredibly grateful for the immeasurable ways that she has enriched this activity. During this time, Tarana has hosted a multitude of samas, convened a multi-semester Mysticism & Music course, developed a music curriculum in collaboration with Ophiel, collected all Inayatiyya-related songs and taught them to others via meshk, published The Nirtan Songs, initiated and nurtured the Inayatiyya Musicians’ Guild, and galvanizing hundreds of Sufi musicians from around the world. 

Latifa Noor Anderson has agreed to be the next one to take up the mantle as Vice President of Music in North America. Latifa Noor is a professional cellist with a deep knowledge of Western and Indian classical music, performing in major venues around the world. She holds Bachelor of Music degrees from the Juilliard School and California State University at Sacramento and a Master of Music degree from the Eastman School of Music. LatifaNoor is also a meditation teacher, retreat guide and, as a Representative within the Inayatiyya’s Inner School, founder of the Light of Harmony Center—Inayatiyya of Dobbs Ferry, New York, just north of Manhattan.

International Board New Members

We are also delighted to welcome three new trustees to the Inayatiyya International Board.

Thomas Munawar Aubepart is an entrepreneur and trainer. He’s a genuine all rounder with a special interest in tea, poetry, environment, diversity, and engineering. He was a lobbyist during the COP21 in Paris, then worked as a strategy consultant before starting his own business in the tea industry. Thomas received a master degree in management with a special focus in environment, sustainability and development economics. As a volunteer, he was chair of the NGO Empow’her and the theater company Alkimia. Thomas first came in contact with Inayatiyya in 2016.

Oona Eager is an entrepreneurial and collaborative leader, working primarily on innovative communications and community-building projects in the philanthropic and impact investing spaces.She has been a student of Sufism since 2019, first with Hurqalya Center, and now as an alumni of Suluk Academy class Lulu wa Marjan. She is Canadian, having grown up on the sacred and unceded territories of the Coast Salish, Nuu-chah-nulth and Kwakwaka’wakw peoples. She is currently based in Amsterdam where she enjoys cycling absolutely everywhere!

Helena Doku has been part of the Sufi family for more than five years. She is passionate about using the wisdom of the Sufi path to find healing solutions to the ecological and social justice issues in the world. With this great foundation, she was inspired to co-found Haywanat, an Inayatiyya young adults network for collective healing. This  network is flourishing and provides a sacred space where young adults can share ideas about spiritual practices and sacred activism as well as on how to find creative solutions to the ecological crisis. Helena lives in Royal Leamington Spa in England and she loves playing with her sons, walking, dancing, and meditating in nature.