Finding Yourself Through Community Service | Katie Amin | TEDxGraceStreetWomen

“Amanha”

One of the few Muslim Arab female firefighters in the USA, Katie Amin is involved and passionate about her community. In her TEDxGraceStreetWomen talk, she takes the audience along her own journey of self-discovery and personal growth by seeing herself through the eyes of her surrounding community and in-turn extends herself through community service.

She touches on the concept of belonging, and how it is not limiting by nature, but optimally encompassing. Katie uses a powerful metaphor, inspired by a dream she had as a child, that fueled her drive and decision making along her journey across oceans and continents, as well through the continuum of time.

Katie Amin | Community Advocate & Firefighter

Katie Amin moved from Jerusalem to the U.S. with her family at the formative age of 13. Her first year in America was also her first year in high school. She struggled to fit in and to find her passion – that is, until she ventured out into the world of Emergency Services. Amin began to volunteer at a local rescue squad and quickly became a certified Emergency Medical Technician. Eventually, she felt the need to do more for her community. Amin became a firefighter— one the few female Muslim, Arab-American firefighters in the country. She was the only female in a class of 19 other male recruits. Throughout her journey she has learned how to overcome obstacles, both physical and cultural biases, in a male dominated firehouse, all while proudly wearing her hijab. In addition to being a volunteer firefighter with the Enon Volunteer Fire Department in Chesterfield County, she is working as the community outreach coordinator providing training to 450,000 citizens in Hands-Only CPR. Outside of the firehouse, Amin is traveling the world for a large corporation as a Loss Prevention Manager and Trainer and currently studying for her bachelor’s in Psychology Community Advocate | Firefighter This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx