My name is Mohammad Faraj, and I am an Arab American from Palestine. I am the Co-Founder and Vice President of Internal Affairs of Arab Americans of Cleveland – Young Professionals Network. I am an Ohio-licensed attorney currently working in Enterprise Risk Management for Bitcoin Depot, a cryptocurrency fintech publicly traded on NASDAQ. Previously, I gained experience as an attorney and in risk management at organizations such as KeyBank and AML RightSource. Prior to that, I held positions in the legal sector for both government and international firms, focusing on intellectual property and alternate dispute remediation in Middle Eastern countries, including the United Arab Emirates. 

 

I graduated from Westlake High School and Cleveland State University, where I studied Biology and Sociology. My passion for community engagement and social justice led me to participate in organizations such as Student Government, ASU, MSA and other affinity groups throughout my educational career and thereafter. Focusing my passion led me to a career in law, and I attended Valparaiso University, earning my Juris doctorate degree in 2016 and subsequently obtaining my law license.

 

As a proud first-generation Arab American, I have a deep appreciation for our heritage and culture, which are rich in history, hospitality, and family values. These aspects have shaped me personally and fueled my passion for activism within our community. I am fortunate to have the unwavering support of my family, particularly my father, whose work ethic inspires me every day. The bright and driven nature of our community excites me, and I eagerly anticipate how the AAC professional network will advance the next generation of motivated and talented leaders. The power of community-driven networking and engagement has been demonstrated time and again. As a proud founding member of the Arab American Bar Association of Ohio (AABAR-OHIO), I have witnessed the accomplishments our group of motivated attorneys can achieve for the Arab American community in Cleveland. I also serve proudly as a board member for the Cleveland Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR). The Arab America Foundation selected me as one of their 40 Under 40 Influential Arab American Leaders in 2024. 

 

In the words of Martin Luther King Jr., "A genuine leader is not a searcher for consensus but a molder of consensus." Each of us has leadership qualities, and when we work together towards a common goal, nothing is impossible.