Malek Bendelhoum

About Malek Bendelhoum

I am a Nonprofit Leader, Social Entrepreneur, Public speaker, certified strategic planner, and Storyteller with 10+ years of experience. I speak all over the country speaking at conferences, Mosques, and institutions of higher learning such as UCR, CSUSB, UCLA, USC, Stanford, NYU, SDSU, UCSB, UCSD, University of Chicago, and others. Topics range from Islam and Muslims, Social Change, Nonprofit growth, Social Entrepreneurship, and more. I was born and raised in the Inland Empire in a multicultural home with my father from Algeria and my mother an African American from Alabama. My parents instilled in me the importance of education, civic engagement, and community involvement at an early age. This lead me to Co-found Sahaba Initiative in college, an organization that serves underserved communities in the Inland Empire. Currently, I serve as the organization\'s Executive Director. In 2018 Sahaba Initiative was voted Nonprofit of the year in California and has been recognized by numerous publications such as Press-Enterprise, LA Times, The Washington Post, New York Post, and Spectrum News.Additionally, I run two digital social enterprises that connect prosperity with purpose. We help individuals in underserved communities learn and earn skills along the way to financial independence.

Experience

1. Chief Executive Officer

   Sahaba Initiative

   Oct 2024 — Present · Inland Empire, CA, US

Education

• University of California, Riverside

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Psychology-Law & Society

  2008 — 2010

• Riverside City College

  Associate of Arts and Sciences - AAS, Business Administration, Paralegal Studies

  2006 — 2008

• University of California, Riverside

  Bachelor of Arts - BA, Political Science

  2008 — 2010