By rowfyda daoud, Velocity Contributor

Sadia Nawab describes the birth of her second son as empowering. At 34 weeks pregnant, fed up with doctors that weren’t listening to her, she sought out the advice of a doula. 

The doula introduced her to the concept of home birth and connected her with a midwife, a decision met with a mix of excitement and anxiety, she admits: “Home births come with challenges; there is no staff like the hospital.”

However, after speaking with the midwife, Nawab was convinced that home birth was the right choice. She felt heard, understood, and genuinely cared for. The midwife reassured her that her body was designed for this natural process. Despite the skepticism of family and friends who assumed financial constraints were the driving force, Nawab found their misconceptions amusing.

Defying convention and inspiring change helped make Nawab who she is. Born and raised in Bridgeview, this wise, 34-year-old mother of three boys embodies a diverse background, being of Pashtun origin while living in a predominantly Palestinian community. Her interactions with various cultures and communities have helped her view life through a creative, nuanced lens.

Her understanding of the challenges of being a first-generation American led Nawab to explore ways to enhance her community, advocate for human rights, and champion equality. Her journey led her to the Inner-City Muslim Action Network Health Center in Chicago, a place dedicated to uniting disconnected communities and fostering principled change.

Starting as the youth and arts manager for IMAN, Nawab worked with individuals who share her passion for social justice. Over eight years, she ascended to the position of senior director of arts. 

“I was able to grow at a young age,” she reflects. She appreciates the open-hearted and community-focused approach of the people she worked with.

Despite her deep love for IMAN’s mission, Nawab found herself at a juncture where change was needed, though the journey, experiences, and connections she made at IMAN hold a special place in her heart. 

“I’m truly grateful for being able to build something with different people and cultures,” she said. 

But at 34, after two life-changing trips to her Pashtun homeland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Palestine, she felt a stronger calling, something deeply rooted in her culture. Nawab decided to leave IMAN and focus on cultivating something new for herself.

Nawab’s trips to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Palestine transformed her in ways she could never have imagined. She describes it as an awakening, strengthening her connection to her identity, religion, and sense of purpose. 

“I feel a lot more settled in who I am. I’m Pashtun. I don’t question myself,” she explains. Her journey to Palestine deepened her connection to her religious and spiritual side. It was, she says, “very much rooted in social justice.”

Nawab’s connection with Palestine didn’t conclude with her trip; her passion for the land and Al-Aqsa Mosque continues to motivate her to research and write, with the hope of one day sending people to Palestine to educate them about the sanctity of the land and the injustices faced by its people.  

“I’m truly grateful for being able to build something with different people and cultures.” 

Sadia Nawab

Now outside of IMAN, Nawab manages multiple projects, with a particular focus on completing her MBA program, which she started more than three years ago. She balances these endeavors while being a full-time stay-at-home mom.

Following Nawab’s empowering home birth experience, she made a solemn commitment to avoid hospital births. When she became pregnant with her third child, there was no doubt in her mind that another home birth was the only option.

The profound impact of her home birth experiences ignited a passion in Nawab, compelling her to undergo doula training with the desire to share this transformative journey with others.

Being a stay-at-home mom, while fulfilling, presents its share of challenges, she says with a smile. “I left work and my house is still messy and I have to keep asking for extensions.”

Adjusting to a life without work proved chaotic, but her children inspire her to remain focused on her goals: “They become a mirror up to you, good and bad. They motivate me to keep working and going.”