Umar Quraishi

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Umar Quraishi

Umar Quraishi (born 1992 in Clarksville, Tennessee) is a local musician, actor, and activist. He is second-generation Pakistani-American, born to parents Shaista Quraishi & Baha Quraishi.

Umar has an extensive history as an activist and organizer in Birmingham, in Alabama, and globally. He graduated from UAB in 2016 with a Bachelor’s degree in Public Health with a concentration in global health studies. While in college he was active in Circle K International, including serving as the UAB Chapter Treasure. During his time with Circle K International; he was active in serving at Pathways, and fundraising for organizations such as Students Team Up to Fight Hunger. In 2012, Umar served as an Assistant Volunteer Coordinator for McWane Science Center. In 2015, Umar worked with Project Hearts as a construction consultant and fundraising partner with in Baitoa, Dominican Republic. For his senior year capstone he worked with Magic City Agriculture Project to design the outline for the creation of a Magic City Grown brand to help spur local sustainable cooperative agriculture. In 2020 he worked with SWEET Alabama to support the unionization effort at the Amazon BHM1 Facility in Bessemer, Alabama.

Umar has been involved in numerous local music projects, playing bass guitar for three local bands. His most notable musical venture is as the founder, song-writer, and bassist for Animala, a post-rock psychadelia. In 2020 Umar's face was featured on the "Pop Art Wall" at Atomic Lounge, where it remained until the lounge closed in October 2021. On March 28, 2021, he won "Which Bachelor Will Mama Pick" on the internet channel It's a Southern Thing. During the spring of 2021, he lost a live radio competition for Billie Eilish tickets during Birmingham Mountain Radio's "Hot Pepper Eating Challenge."

Umar completed his Master’s degree in Business Administration and Public Health (MBA/MPH) with a concentration in Health Behavior at UAB in 2021. For his MPH capstone he worked at digital health start-up Acclinate in Birmingham, Alabama.