Gratitude and Transition: An Important Message to the ADAMS Community

Message from
Br. Oussama Mezoui,
Executive Director of ADAMS

Assalaamu Alaykum Dear Community,

In March 2024, I had the immense honor of being appointed the Executive Director of the ADAMS Center, a role that allowed me to serve this remarkable community. I am eternally grateful for the warm welcome I received from the community. Meeting so many of you and having the opportunity to serve this vibrant, growing community has been a deep blessing. I am also deeply grateful for the trust and confidence the board of trustees placed in me. 

It is therefore with a very heavy heart that I announce my decision to step down as Executive Director of ADAMS at the end of January. I appreciate that this news will come as a surprise to you. This has been an incredibly difficult decision, especially knowing the shared hope, excitement, and vision we all have for the future of this incredible community. 

After much reflection and prayer, I have come to realize that, as much as I love this role, it has come at a time in my life when my personal responsibilities must take precedence. The demands of the Executive Director role at ADAMS, which often require working unconventional hours, have made it increasingly challenging to balance these responsibilities. With a young family who needs my presence and aging parents who require my attention, I feel deeply called to focus on these family duties during this season of life. As part of this commitment to putting family first and being closer to where I am most needed, we have made a decision to relocate as a family. 

During this historical period of transition for ADAMS Center, it is my sincere hope that I have been able to provide stability and a path forward. Looking ahead, I am optimistic about the future of the ADAMS Center which has a strong foundation. I am committed to working closely with the Board of Trustees to find a suitable replacement and to ensure a smooth handover of responsibilities. This is a fantastic opportunity and I am confident that, together, we will identify a leader who can lead ADAMS Center to even greater heights. 

It has been an honor to serve as Executive Director, and I look forward to supporting the ADAMS Center in a consulting capacity, where I will focus on Fundraising. 

May Allah (swt) continue to bless this organization and this community. 

Sincerely,
Oussama Mezoui

Message From
Br. Tariq Islam,
ADAMS Board Chair

Dear ADAMS Community,

Alhamdulillah in all situations. On behalf of the organization I am announcing the resignation of Oussama Mezoui as our Executive Director, effective at the end of January 2025. While we will miss him, we are grateful for his leadership and the stability he has provided during a period of historic transition for ADAMS. Brother Oussama has had a positive impact on our staff culture, fostering collaboration, professionalism, and a renewed sense of mission throughout the organization. Indeed, he has been an asset to ADAMS, and was the right individual at a time when we needed him most. Through succession, we will continue to build upon the foundation that he has established here.

We sympathize with Oussama's heartfelt decision to prioritize his family during this season of his life. As a community rooted in faith and compassion, we know the importance of putting family first. We are also pleased that Brother Oussama has expressed a willingness to continue supporting ADAMS as a fundraising consultant, and we look forward to benefiting from his expertise in this new capacity as we journey into the new calendar year, inshaAllah.

The ADAMS Board remains fully committed to institutionalizing the organization and building on the strong foundation we have laid together. As the new year approaches, we could not be more excited about the opportunities in front of us and we look forward to all of the things that we can accomplish together with the help of Allah. ADAMS is sustained by Allah first, and all of you. Over the next several weeks, we will work diligently to identify and hire a new Executive Director who will collaborate with us to continue moving ADAMS forward. 

If you or someone you know is interested in this exciting and impactful role, we encourage you to apply . We also ask you to forward this opportunity to individuals within your network who you believe are qualified and passionate about serving our community.

Thank you for your continued duas, support, and partnership as we navigate this transition and work toward an even brighter future for ADAMS.

Sincerely,
Tariq Islam
Chair of the ADAMS Board

ADAMS Center, 46903 Sugarland Rd, Sterling, Virginia 20164, (703) 433-1325