Nurjahan Boulden grew up belly dancing. It was a source of personal empowerment that she dreamed of sharing with the world – until a bullet stopped her in her tracks. She was shot with an assault rifle in a random attack at age 21. The depression, anxiety, and physical complications that followed fractured Nurjahan’s trust in God and her belief in Islam.
It wasn’t until 10 years later that she shared her story publicly for the first time. That was when Nurjahan began the spiritual journey of rebuilding her faith and learning how to dance again. She’s now a belly dance instructor, a storyteller, and a fierce advocate for survivors of gun violence. Nurjahan’s story of resilience as a Muslim woman, a survivor, a mother, and a dancer has been featured in Cosmopolitan, Women’s Health Magazine, dozens of podcasts, and shows on stages across the country.
Storyteller, Healing Our World: Exploring Gender Equality