Board of Directors

T.S.M. Mohammed serves as Turning Point’s General Counsel and Interim Executive Director.  His association with the organization dates back to 2006, when he launched an innovative program allowing Turning Point’s clients to order culturally appropriate foodstuffs that were otherwise unavailable from traditional food pantries.  In the years that followed, he offered pro bono legal services to the organization and its domestic violence clients.  In 2021, the founding Executive Director, Robina Niaz, appointed Mr. Mohammed as Turning Point’s first General Counsel.  In that role, he provided strategic legal and business oversight across the organization.  When Ms. Niaz retired in the summer of 2024, the board appointed Mr. Mohammed as Interim Executive Director to guide Turning Point through a critical transition to a new generation of leadership.

Mr. Mohammed has advised for-profit and not-for-profits to navigate significant changes, including leadership transitions, regulatory investigations, restructuring and board crises.  Born and raised in England, he earned his BA and MA from Cambridge University.

Moumita Zaman joined Turning Point’s Board in February 2022 and brings nearly fifteen years of work experience in health, education, and economic empowerment to promote social justice in New York City’s immigrant communities. She currently works at the New York City Department of Education as District Planner and Associate Director at the Office of District Planning. Her work entails the development of strategic plans to address needs and priorities of schools and school districts through research, assessment, and engagement with community stakeholders.

Moumita previously served as the Director of Curriculum and Strategic Engagement at the New York City Commission on Human Rights where she also At the Commission, she spearheaded the Commission’s youth services and launched the innovative Youth for Equity and Solidarity (YES) Initiative. She has extensive experience working with NYC’s Muslim and South Asian communities. Prior to joining the NYC Commission on Human Rights, Moumita she served as the Director of Outreach and Advocacy at Sapna NYC, a Bronx based community organization and served on the board of Women in Islam, Inc., a non-profit that empowers Muslim women as advocates for human rights and social justice. Moumita is also a founding member and Treasurer of the inaugural Executive Committee of Bangladeshi Americans for Political Progress (BAPP). Moumita has a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Queens College, City University of New York and a Master’s in Social Work from Columbia University.

Tazmin H. Uddin re-joined Turning Point’s Board in October 2024 after a brief hiatus. Prior to this, she was our Youth Program Director. Since 2008, she has volunteered and interned with multiple Muslim nonprofit organizations and was an instructor for NYU’s Science and Technology Entry Program. She joined Turning Point as our full-time Education and Outreach Coordinator in February 2016 and became our Youth Coordinator in July 2016. Until 2018, she conducted Turning Point’s weekly ESOL class (geared towards the citizenship test) for senior Muslim women. Tazmin completed her Master’s degree in Public Administration (2015) from The College of New Rochelle (CNR), where she also completed her undergraduate studies. While interning with Turning Point, Tazmin received the Ursuline Student Service Recognition Award in 2015. Tazmin was also named a 2018 Change Maker by the Coalition for Asian Children and Families (CACF). Tazmin is a New York native of Bangladeshi descent, currently based out of the West Coast.

Sumer Khan joined Turning Point’s board in June of 2023. Since 2005, Sumer has been working as a Licensed Physician Associate at Mather Memorial Hospital/Northwell Health. Sumer has also made a significant impact on her community through her philanthropic work. She founded Project Niyyah in 2014 through which Sumer organizes back-to-school drives, ensuring underprivileged children have the necessary supplies for a successful academic year. She also runs yearly Eid toy drives and wrapping events, providing gifts to orphans, refugees and domestic violence survivors during the holidays. She also regularly collects winter essentials for families facing financial difficulties.

Sumer’s dedication has left a lasting impact on her community. Project Niyyah has become a symbol of hope, empowering orphans, underprivileged children, refugees, and domestic violence survivors to thrive.

Sumer is also on the advisory board of HMCG, a management and consulting firm to hospitals and health systems throughout the US and abroad.

As a mother of five children, she balances her personal and professional life with her passion for helping others. Sumer’s journey exemplifies the power of empathy and service, leaving a legacy of compassion and positive change.

Sana joined the board of Turning Point for Women and Families in June 2023.

Born in the Middle East and raised in India before migrating to the United States, Sana possesses a unique and diverse background that greatly aids her in connecting with her community. She pursued a degree in sociology at Queens College and, during her college years, founded “Serving Human Foundation,” her first community-based organization. Additionally, Sana’s career path in management has further enhanced her repertoire of organizational and interpersonal skills.

Sana’s dedication to community service is evident through her volunteer work with local organizations, particularly those involved in mental health support. She has actively organized fundraisers to advocate for various causes and has also served on the board of Community Growth Center—a Long Island-based non-profit organization offering free mental health services. Notably, Sana’s remarkable success lies in her endeavors to organize interfaith events and fundraisers at the Community Growth Center.

Furthermore, Sana serves as an avid advocate for mental health, particularly focusing on the well-being of South Asian women. Due to her extraordinary efforts in leading women’s empowerment initiatives, Sana has been duly recognized by the state of New York for her exceptional contributions.

Sarwat Jafri joined Turning Point’s board in April 2024. With her professional experience as a commodity accountant and her passion for community service and advocacy, she brings a unique blend of expertise to the board.

She has over 17 years of experience in financial accounting for international commodity trading corporations, specializing in the accounting of high-volume trades. Her expertise encompasses strategic risk assessment, advanced hedge accounting, and the integration of robust financial controls to safeguard assets and optimize capital efficiency.

In 2018, Sarwat founded a pioneering initiative, Ummah Giving Circle (UGC), a Muslim Women’s Giving Circle, through which she has spearheaded numerous projects and initiatives focused on community support and empowerment of Muslim women and families. With UGC, Sarwat remains actively involved in various community service initiatives, leveraging skills and resources to uplift those in need. Whether it’s
volunteering at local shelters, organizing fundraising events, or mentoring youth, she is dedicated to making a meaningful impact and building a more inclusive society.