Anila Ali was born in Karachi, Pakistan. Her father, a journalist/diplomat and mother; a teacher/philanthropist, were two critical influences on Anila’s later development as an educator, journalist and community organizer.
In the 1980s, while studying in London, United Kingdom, Anila took her first steps in community service, with an active role as a youth leader for the All Pakistan Womens' Association - a powerful non-profit organization focused on promoting moral, social and economic welfare of the women of Pakistan. Her greatest contribution in this regard came through her thought provoking articles in various London magazines and Pakistani newspapers for South Asians.
Having spent many years in England, Saudi Arabia, in 1996, her family relocated halfway across the world to Orange County, California. Here, Anila continued her passion for education, pursuing a Masters degree in Education, as well as volunteering her time to various educational programs in her home city of Irvine. Shortly after her post-graduate education, Anila became a tenured teacher in South Bay, California.
In September 2001, Anila recognized the importance of building bridges between American society, the Muslim world and also, her land of birth, Pakistan – as an active member of the Council of Pakistan American Affairs, a non-profit organization, she campaigned her community to promote civic engagement and also educate Americans about Pakistani culture and Muslim values. During this time, Anila also established herself as a regular contributor for the largest circulated Pakistani newspaper in North America, the Pakistan Link. Her articles focused on Pakistan/American affairs, community issues, and education. Anila worked hand in hand with the Organizing for America (POTUS) group and helped sway the Muslim vote for Obama.
Last year, turned out to be a most remarkable year for Anila, when she with her Indian American friends, mobilized the Muslim community of Irvine and Orange County in raising more than a hundred thousand dollars to support two exceptional candidates. One was elected the first Asian Mayor of America’s most diverse city, Irvine – Mr. Sukhee Kang, the other was elected the 44th President of the United States (and the first African American) – President Barack Obama. Thus, she was also fortunate enough to cover the Presidential inauguration of President Obama for Pakistan Link.
Anila currently serves the city of Irvine as a member of the Board of Trustees for the Irvine Public School Foundation, a non-profit entity, as well as on the board of Irvine’s Children, Youth and Families Commission. She is the founder of the Irvine Pakistani Parents Association- a non-profit that promotes community involvement and leadership and raises money for the public schools in the city as well as promotes South Asian peace through the arts. She also maintains a board seat with the Council of Pakistan American Affairs and the Pacific Asia Museum. Recently, she was appointed chair of the International Leadership Foundation, ILF.
Anila has great interest in learning languages and traveling around the world. The languages she knows fairly well are Urdu, Hindi, Arabic, and Intermediate Persian.
Anila is a passionate believer in human rights and gender equality. She reacts passionately whenever she hears about denial of the rights of women in any part of the world and gets involved in the struggle of the women of these countries to uphold the rights of women. Recently when five women were buried alive in Pakistan, she fearlessly condemned it in her writings for newspapers and in her television interviews in Pakistan. When terrorists attacked Mumbai, Anila was the first to condemn it and hold peace rallies, when Neda was murdered, Anila spoke at rallies against the abuse of human rights in Iran. Recently, Anila has appeared in a documentary highlighting the plight of all those Americans who are harassed at the borders.
Anila is a believer in Inter Faith friendship and befriends members of all faiths in Los Angeles. Anila has recently published a book after her friends from cross section of community Indian, Pakistani, Arabic, Iranian, and Palestinian Christians told her about being targeted and called terrorist. She got together with her colleagues, one Jewish, one Christian, and wrote a children’s book sharing her story to promote cultural understanding and peace.
She also advocated peace and friendship between India and Pakistan and misses no opportunity to be involved in civic efforts aimed at cementing relations between South Asian countries such as India and Sri Lanka. She works closely with advocates of India-Pakistan Peace, namely South Asian expert, William Dalrymple, in organizing events and opportunities for Pakistanis and Indians to work together.
Anila has great love for under-privileged children and children from broken homes who are at risk. She raises funds and mobilizes help for her needy, low-income students and gives them counseling and encouragement.
Anila was the recipient of the 2009 International Leadership Foundation Award 2009 for her community service and her outreach work with the mainstream community and beyond.
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