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Draft:John T. Pinna

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John Thomas Pinna is an American international development professional, religious freedom advocate, and national security adviser. Over a 25-year career, Pinna has managed and raised over $600 million in development funds across 43 projects, engaging in policy development in 22 countries, primarily in the Middle East, North Africa, and Asia. He is the founder and executive director of Muslims for Muslims International (M4M) and the co-host of the Crossing Faiths podcast, the first Muslim-Christian podcast to foster interfaith dialogue, now the largest multifaith podcast.

Early life and education

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Pinna received his master’s degree in diplomacy with a concentration in International Conflict Management from Norwich University and a Bachelor’s degree in Asian and European History from Marist College.[1]

Career

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Early career

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Pinna began his career in government relations with the Southern Nevada Home Builders Association. He was influential in implementing ISO 9000 quality management standards (QMS) and establishing universal processes for new builds. This was a significant achievement in expanding the industry’s labor force to international markets and reducing construction defects. The National Association of Homebuilders later adopted these systems, with Pinna informing the nationwide rollout[2] leading to significant legislative dividends.

International development and religious freedom

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Pinna then began a career in international development, establishing himself by securing funding for vocational training, economic growth, and women's empowerment initiatives. This work was at multiple agencies, including the United States Department of State and USAID, and led development initiatives at institutions like the American University of Afghanistan (AUAF), where he secured $40 million in USAID funding for operational costs and development projects, including for the Business Innovation Hub and the International Center for Afghan Women's Economic Development at AUAF.

In 2009, Pinna became the Director of Government and International Relations at the American Islamic Congress (AIC).[3] He led efforts to advocate for religious freedom globally and in the United States.[4] His work involved coordinating large-scale interfaith dialogues, including events[5] featuring figures like the Dalai Lama,[6][7][8] and advocating for the reauthorization of the U.S. Commission for International Religious Freedom (USCIRF).[9] Collaboration with the Dalai Lama was associated with the Capitol Hill Speaker Series, which comprised several discussions connecting the dots between Washington policymakers and issues in the Muslim world.[10] At AIC, Pinna increased funding by 530%, securing nearly $10 million for international development and interfaith projects.[3] This included programming, writing, and events on topics such as economic empowerment[3][11][12] and film festivals.[13][14]

Pinna has been a public-facing faith leader at various events, including the National Prayer Breakfast, hosted annually by the United States President. Pinna was a Muslim representative at the National Prayer Dinner in 2019.[15] Internationally, Pinna has collaborated with organizations to meet with local religious, civil society, and government officials concerning international religious freedom.[16][17]

National security and policy contributions

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Pinna has played an influential role in shaping U.S. national security policy, particularly in religious freedom and counter-radicalization. This includes writing on improving the reporting and measurement of hate crimes and critiquing policies such as the “See Something, Say Something Act”.[18]

Pinna contributed to drafting sections of the U.S. National Security Strategy (NSS) and has advised the National Security Council (NSC) as a member of the Faith-Based Security Advisory Council[19] on country-specific policies related to Afghanistan, Pakistan, Iran, and Tunisia. He also worked with U.S. government agencies on conflict monitoring and religious freedom initiatives, contributing to developing and presenting datasets on religious persecution.[20]

Muslims for Muslims International

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In 2016, Pinna founded Muslims for Muslims International (M4M), an NGO promoting the Amman Message's operationalization, focusing 80 percent of operations on intra-faith engagement of the Ummah and 20 percent of operations on multifaith engagement and programming. M4M operates with the principles of the 2004 Amman Message, focusing on empowering Muslim communities globally and fostering interfaith collaboration to reduce extremism internationally.[21] The organization also emphasizes grassroots faith engagement and innovative approaches to addressing religious persecution.

Under Pinna’s leadership, M4M has participated in significant international initiatives, including securing safe passage for the 60,000 Afghan refugees evacuated during the 2021 Kabul airlift[22] during the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and supporting women’s education through scholarships and curriculum development in STEM fields. Pinna also led M4M’s efforts to consult for Bard College, assisting Afghan students in continuing their education during the Taliban takeover.[23]

Pinna has been a vocal advocate for vulnerable populations and minority faith groups such as the Kalash people of the Chitral Valley of Northern Pakistan.[24][25]

Crossing Faiths podcast

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In 2019, Pinna co-founded Crossing Faiths, the first Muslim-Christian interfaith podcast, alongside Matthew Hawkins,[26] a former Southern Baptist policy director. The podcast has garnered nearly 3 million listeners globally, 83% of whom are millennials. Crossing Faiths facilitates conversations on religion, politics, and global issues, modeling interfaith cooperation and dialogue between people of different faiths.

Notable achievements

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Pinna consulted and raised funds for Amen-Amen-Amen: A Story of Our Times, an award-winning documentary film about Jews and Muslims in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), and the historic gift of a Torah Scroll to Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, which was broadcast on PBS 5 times[27] and premiered in Tel Aviv, the Vatican, Jakarta, London, Dubai, Berlin, and Abu Dhabi.[28]

During his time at AIC, Pinna created a translated version of the comic book Martin Luther King and the Montgomery Story[29], which inspired non-violent resistance and led to the Arab Spring.[30][31] Following the Arab Spring, Pinna was involved in the civil society response to the protests.[32]

While at AIC, Pinna was a founding organization of the International Religious Freedom (IRF) Roundtable in 2009 and co-sponsor of the IRF Roundtable events on Capitol Hill, running the Capitol Hill Distinguished Speaker Series from 20019 -2014.[33] This included leading efforts for the reauthorization of USCIRF in 2012.[34]

Controversies

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Within Islamic practice, Pinna has received pushback on some of his stances, including statements that those who violate the maxims of violence are on the other side of Islam under the Amman Message.[21] Additionally, Pinna has stated that imams should be trained in the country in which they reside.[citation needed]

Pinn has been critical of Islamic and other faith-based terror groups, lumping them together as doomsday cults.[citation needed]

Pinna has been vocal about misusing international development taxpayer funds and not being applied for its intended purpose. During his tenure at The American University of Afghanistan, Pinna voiced concerns about the need for the required financial and organizational audits and assessments overdue by five or more years leading to his departure. Before leaving, he conducted an internal evaluation that informed the AUAF leadership and board, USAID, and DOD on his initial findings. He brought in the Asian Foundation to conduct the first organizational capacity assessment (OCA) required by USAID but overdue by five years, the required USAID mid-term assessment for programs over $20 million and insisted the evaluation be conducted under ISO 9000 standards, the first time this was performed for any USAID program. This included whistleblowing about fraud committed by board member Abdul Huda Farouki.[35][36]

Pinna has also received criticism for writing on instances of religious persecution and presenting results that contradict historically understood causes. This expansion of data analysis includes factors such as ethnicity and culture, which have yet to be included in instances of potential religious freedom.[37][38] Considering religious persecution has been on the rise, Pinna has prioritized the idea of using data to drive more accurate policy decision-making rather than anecdotal evidence to understand the causes of persecution better.[37][39]

Pinna was associated with the Mitchell Firm, where he was charged with diversifying the business model. The firm received press coverage as the sole lobbying firm for the controversial Church of Scientology in the United States Congress.[40]

Entrepreneurship

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In 2019, Pinna returned to the Hudson Valley, where he opened the Half Moon Rondout Café in Kingston, NY.[41] The café specializes in fresh-to-order donuts and babka. Pinna was taught to bake babka while in Moscow as a student at Pushkin University studying Russian language and culture.[42] The babka has been integrated into Pinna’s international work through what he has deemed "Babka Diplomacy". The café has received many positive accolades and is involved in many community initiatives.[43][44][45]

Personal life

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Pinna is based in the Hudson Valley but maintains a residence in Washington, D.C. He regularly bakes in his café. Pinna regularly consults with companies and organizations.[citation needed]

References

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  1. ^ "Marist Graduate Studies 2016-2017 e-Catalogue". Office of Graduate and Adult Enrollment.
  2. ^ Skaer, Mark (December 6, 2001). "SNHBA Implements New Quality Assurance Program". ACHR News.
  3. ^ a b c American Islamic Congress (March 20, 2012). "AIC Presents Pioneering Event to Explore the Growing Economic and Political Influence of American Muslims". Prnewswire.com.
  4. ^ Lewis, Tanya. (June 2012). "Affluent and Untapped". PR Week Global.
  5. ^ "IGE to Co-Sponsor an IRF Event on Capitol Hill". Institute for Global Engagement. 2024.
  6. ^ Dias, Elizabeth (February 5, 2015). "Dalai Lama: 'Muslim Practitioners Must Extend Love towards Entire Creation of Allah.'". Time.
  7. ^ "His Holiness the Dalai Lama Participates as a Special Guest in the National Prayer Breakfast". dalailama.com. 2015-02-06.
  8. ^ Kunleng News (February 6, 2015). "Kunleng News Feb 6, 2015 ཀུན་གླེང་གསར་འགྱུར། ༢༠༡༥ ཟླ་ ༢ ཚེས་༦". YouTube.
  9. ^ LaFranchi, Howard (December 13, 2011). "Religious Freedom No Match for Washington Gridlock?". The Christian Science Monitor.
  10. ^ "Capitol Hill Speakers Series". American Islamic Congress. Archived from the original on 2015-09-23.
  11. ^ "Islamic finance: Taming the Afghan frontier". Islamic Finance News. 2019-02-26. Retrieved 2024-12-17.
  12. ^ "Muslim Growth Is Good For Muslim Businesses, Marketing". HuffPost. 2012-04-11.
  13. ^ "Cairo Human Rights Film Festival". American Islamic Congress. April 23, 2018.
  14. ^ "Alhurra Darfur Documentary in Cairo Human Rights Film Festival.” 2024. USAGM. 2024. https://www.usagm.gov/2010/12/03/alhurras-documentary-konoungo-the-darfurian-exile-receives-top-billing-at-cairo-human-rights-film-festival/.
  15. ^ Lenthang, Marlene (May 2019). "Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Host National Day of Prayer Dinner at the White House". Daily Mail.
  16. ^ “Religious Freedom Meetings & Contacts.” 2018. Saintnicholasfreedom.org. 2018. https://saintnicholasfreedom.org/religious-freedom/.
  17. ^ "The Path to Peace: Just Relations between Nations". Islam Ahmadiyya. 2024.
  18. ^ Raines, J. B., & Pinna, J.T. (2015). EXPANDING HUMAN RIGHTS AND CIVIL RIGHTS VIOLATIONS IN THE UNITED STATES: SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING POLICY. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 11(1). Retrieved from https://eujournal.org/index.php/esj/article/view/4934
  19. ^ "Acting Secretary Chad F. Wolf Approves Appointments to the Faith-Based Security Advisory Council". U.S. Department of Homeland Security. 2020-12-17.
  20. ^ "2020 Evidence Summit on Strategic Religious Engagement". U.S. Agency for International Development. 2020.
  21. ^ a b "The Amman Message: Addressing Islam's Contemporary Crisis". International Christian Concern. April 1, 2019.
  22. ^ Alvarez, Priscilla; Liebermann, Oren (September 13, 2021). "Inside the Effort to Resettle Thousands of Afghans in the United States". CNN.
  23. ^ Bard Public Relations, 58 Displaced Afghan Students Graduate from Bard College in 2024
  24. ^ "The Kalasha – Voiceless Nation Teeters on the Brink of Extinction". International Christian Concern. July 2, 2019. {{cite web}}: Text "Part 1 of 2" ignored (help)
  25. ^ "The Kalasha – Voiceless Nation Teeters on the Brink of Extinction". International Christian Concern. July 3, 2019. {{cite web}}: Text "Part 2 of 2" ignored (help)
  26. ^ Crossing Faiths and Building Bridges - PASS. 2020-05-01. {{cite book}}: |work= ignored (help)
  27. ^ "AP Joins Global Initiative to Expand Reporting on Religion". Associated Press. 2019.
  28. ^ THIRTEEN Specials | Amen-Amen-Amen. Retrieved 2024-12-17 – via www.pbs.org.
  29. ^ "The MLK Graphic Novel That Inspired Generations of Civil Rights Activists". HISTORY. 2023-12-19. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  30. ^ Francis, Elliott. 2011. “MLK Comic Book Helped Inspire Arab Spring | WAMU.” WAMU. WAMU 88.5 - American University Radio. August 24, 2011. https://wamu.org/story/11/08/24/mlk_comic_book_helped_inspire_arab_spring/.
  31. ^ Mendel, Noah. "Can a Comic Book About MLK Change the Middle East (At Least a Little)?". History News Network. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  32. ^ “Roundtable in Washington DC: Between the Army and the Muslim Brotherhood: Whither Egypt? - William Selig.” 2024. Tparents.org. 2024. https://www.tparents.org/Library/Unification/Talks/Selig/Selig-120725.htm.
  33. ^ “IGE to Co-Sponsor an IRF Event on Capitol Hill.” 2024. Institute for Global Engagement. 2024. https://globalengage.org/igeupdates/ige-to-co-sponsor-an-irf-event-on-capitol-hill/
  34. ^ Choate-Nielsen, Amy (April 6, 2012). "Fighting for Rights: Muslims Join the Battle for International Religious Freedom". Deseret News.
  35. ^ Nordland, Rod (May 30, 2019). "U.S.-Funded Afghan College Is under Scrutiny for Missing Millions, Officials Say". The New York Times.
  36. ^ “Three Senior Executives at Defense Contracting Firms Charged with Scheme to Defraud the U.S. Military in Connection with $8 Billion Troop Supply Contract and with Violating the Iran Sanctions Regime.” 2018. Justice.gov. November 29, 2018. https://www.justice.gov/opa/pr/three-senior-executives-defense-contracting-firms-charged-scheme-defraud-us-military.
  37. ^ a b Pinna, John. (2020). Evaluating the Effectiveness of Freedom of Religion and Belief Assessments in Collectivist Cultures 7-12-23JP.
  38. ^ Nevola, Luca (2022-04-28)."Coding Religious Repression and Disorder: Outcomes and Critical Reflections From the ACLED-Religion Pilot Project". ACLED. Retrieved 2024-11-04.
  39. ^ “The Front Line of Faith.” 2019. Libertymagazine.org. 2019. https://www.libertymagazine.org/article/the-front-line-of-faith.
  40. ^ Walker, Hunter. 2015. “Church of Scientology Washington Lobbyist.” Business Insider. Insider. April 8, 2015. https://www.businessinsider.com/church-of-scientology-washington-lobbyist-2015-4#:~:text=For%20over%20ten%20years%2C%20records,its%20lobbying%20efforts%20since%202003.
  41. ^ "Half Moon Rondout Café Is a Must for Coffee & Donuts in Kingston". Valley Table. November 2, 2022.
  42. ^ Schneider, Bruce (September 8, 2023). "Half Moon Rondout Cafe: Donuts, Coffee, and Babka with a Story". Chronogram Magazine.
  43. ^ jbuono (November 11, 2022). "Kingston, NY Cafe Celebrates Veterans Every Day with Act of Kindness Program". Hudson Valley Country.
  44. ^ “2024 Food Winners.” 2024. Chronogram Magazine. July 2024. https://www.chronogram.com/chronogrammies-awards/2024-food-winners-21071054.
  45. ^ Durkin, Annemarie. 2020. “Resilience: Ulster County Pays Local Restaurants to Provide Meals for Those in Need.” Chronogram Magazine. May 2020. https://www.chronogram.com/news-politics/ulster-county-teams-up-with-local-restaurants-to-provide-meals-to-those-in-need-amid-ongoing-public-health-crisis-10508346.
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