Sharif Abdullah

Sharif Abdullah teaches groups and individuals how to understand and practice inclusivity – the connection with all other beings.  His books include The Power of One: Authentic Leadership in Turbulent Times and Creating a World That Works for All.  

Sharif’s quest began in the worst that America has to offer – Camden, New Jersey.  His early life was a study in toxic relationships, including welfare, public housing, grinding poverty, near constant violence and a polluted environment.

Sharif’s activist and empowerment background began in the mid-‘60s, when he helped found the Black People’s Unity Movement (BPUM), dedicated to self-help and development in the inner city of Camden.  As a teenager in the BPUM, Sharif participated in the creation of a sewing factory, two day-care centers, over 100 units of affordable housing, a supermarket, gas station and other economic development activities. 

Sharif received a BA in Psychology from Clark University in Massachusetts and went on to earn a juris doctor degree from Boston University.  After six years of practicing law in North Carolina, Sharif left to began working directly with inclusivity, empowerment and spiritual transformation.

Although based in Portland, Oregon, Sharif’s work for an inclusive world has taken him to over 30 countries.

Sharif’s inclusivity work on the war-torn island of Sri Lanka helped to catalyze an historic ceasefire between the Sri Lankan government and the Tamil Tigers.  In 1998, at the invitation of President Vaclav Havel, Sharif was a delegates to Forum 2000 held in Prague, Czech Republic and later returned to Prague as a workshop facilitator, working with students from around the world. 

Sharif's international work includes consulting with the United Nations (Uganda) and being a keynote presenter and workshop leader for three years at The International Conflict Resolution Conference (Russia).

Sharif has worked with thousands of individuals and facilitated sessions for various public and private organizations, including city and county governments, federal agencies like U.S. Forest Service and HUD, as well as large corporations like Freightliner Corporation. Sharif has been a keynote presenter and facilitated workshops for such organizations as Association for Humanistic Psychology, Institute of Noetic Sciences, Institute for Sustainable Development and others.

Sharif has served as adjunct faculty at Marylhurst University, applying the principles of inclusivity for graduate students in business development and transformation.  As a lecturer at the University of California - Berkeley, Sharif conducted interdisciplinary lectures in compassion, wisdom, spirituality and social justice.  Sharif has been an increasingly popular adjunct faculty member at Portland State University in the Philosophy/Conflict Resolution department.

Sharif is the Founder and Director of Commonway Institute, dedicated to the creation of a society that is in line with our deepest spiritual values – a global society that includes all peoples.  The core of Commonway’s work is inclusivity, the concept that all of our lives are inextricably linked, one to the other. 

Sharif is the author of The Power of One: Authentic Leadership in Turbulent Times (New Society Publishers 1995) and Creating a World That Works for All (Berrett-Kohler Publishers 1999), which won the 1999 “Book of the Year” award from the Independent Book Publishers Association (Current Affairs).

Sharif has also authored a collection entitled “Finding Our Way in the Land of the Blind – Essays on Terrorism and Living in a Violence-Free World.”  Sharif has compiled two small books of inspirational sayings: "Sips from the River of Wisdom" and "Searching for Depth".  Sharif has authored (with Dr. Donna Beegle) a small book entitled “The Class Continuum” that encapsulates the powerful exercise developed by the two.  In addition, Sharif has published many articles on the subjects of values, personal and cultural transformation and empowerment, including a chapter in the landmark four-volume work “The Psychology of Terrorism” (Greenwood Press 2002).

Sharif’s work has been featured in a number of books and publications including The Rise of the Intelligent Organization; A House Divided; A Cultural Diversity Sourcebook; Bridging the Racial Divide and A Time for Choices – Deep Dialogues for Deep Democracy. 

 
Awards and Recognitions
Sharif’s awards and recognitions include:

•    2007 “Hero of Humanity Award”.  The Sri Sri Ravi Shankar Award for Uplifting Human Values.
•    2006 “Humanitarian Service Award”.  The Unity and Diversity Council.
•    1999 “Book of the Year Award”.  The Independent Book Publishers Award in the field of current events, for “Creating a World That Works for All”. 
•    Public-Private Partnership Award.  For “Project Catalyst” (Charlotte, NC) from HUD in the Reagan Administration.
•    Community Empowerment Award.  For “Cherry Community Organization” (Charlotte, NC) from President Jimmy Carter.

Spirituality for me is an unrelenting commitment to honor the Divine within each of us.  I can’t do that if I am at war with others or at war with myself.  I am committed to ending war.  I am committed to creating a world that works for all.”                         Sharif Abdullah