Board Member Spotlight: Chukri Khorchid
 Chukri Khorchid wears many hats. In addition to founding the Al Aqsa Islamic Academy, he directs the school board, serves as secretary of the mosque, helped to found the Interfaith Center, owns two 7-11s, and is father to four children. In July 2008 Khorchid was appointed to the Mayor’s Commission on Human Relations, where he serves as the first Muslim on such a commission in the nation.
Khorchid was not sure his busy schedule would permit him to serve on the Commission until Mayor Nutter called him personally. “He said, ‘it is very important for you to serve for the sake of Philadelphia,” recalled Khorchid. “I think the mayor is trying to include everybody in the Commission, and now we have almost every sector of the city is represented.”
The goal of the Human Relations Commission is to ensure that there is no discrimination in employment, public places, or housing on the basis of race, sex, age, nationality or religion. “We learn about cases and vote on them, with the goal to bring justice for all,” said Khorchid. Khorchid has already had his fair share of work as a new member of the Commission. He has read prior cases and attended lengthy seminars to help orient him to the work of the Commission. On being the first Muslim in the nation to be appointed to a Human Relations Commission, Syrian-born Khorchid commented, “I think this is what America is all about. It can happen only in America.”
Khorchid graduated from the University of Florida in 1977 after which he began a career in medical technology at the Veteran’s Affairs Office. He started the Al Aqsa Islamic Academy 15 years ago, where he currently serves as the Director. “We have 330 kids from pre-k to twelfth grade. It’s growing every year,” said Khorchid. “I make sure all of them get some sort of financial and aid all of them go to college.”
“Chukri is a true leader in the Arab and Muslim community,” said Zeina El-Halabi, Interfaith Center Board Member and Associate Director of the Arab American Community Development Corporation. “He is a giver and a sincere individual, and does so much to help others.”
Khorchid strives to impart the values of interfaith work to his students. “I believe not knowing - ignorance - is where fear and conflict starts. Interfaith work helps us to get to know each other. When you know other people, and you are known, the fear and the misconceptions are stripped away. This starts with education and dialogue,” reflected Khorchid. “This is the only way for people to live in peace.” |
