Zehra Quadri, a woman with many dreams, was born in Muradabad, India. At a young age, she graduated with a degree in Social Science. At the age of seventeen, she married. A year later she arrived in the great city of Chicago. While working two full-time jobs and taking care of her babies, she also mixed the challenges of learning American-English and adapting to life in the United States.

After many tragedies, Ms. Quadri found herself working through the social stigma of divorce and making ends meet for her two daughters and herself. Through discovering first-hand the lack of services available to South Asian women and families in Chicago, especially Chicago’s north side, she realized that she herself could help other women, both immigrants and citizens, who suffer similar trials to what she had experienced. At first, Ms. Quadri, with her own resources and the help of her daughters, began offering emergency services from her home. In August of 2000, ZAM’s Hope was founded by Ms. Quadri and incorporated as a 501 (c) 3 not for profit.

The mission of ZAM’s Hope is to assist immigrants, primarily low-income South Asian women and their families, to adjust to life in the Chicago land area and to improve their quality of life through services that include emergency assistance, after school care, citizenship support, economic empowerment, family support, and cultural preservation. ZAM’s Hope is open to all without regard for religion, gender, ethnicity, disability, income, or sexual orientation.

Presently, Ms. Quadri works for Cook County and serves ZAM’s Hope as President. At ZAM’s Hope most evenings and weekends, she can be found assisting with both the legal aspects and the daily needs of those who come to ZAM’s Hope seeking hope and help.

All goals not yet fulfilled, Ms. Quadri is in the process of opening a newly renovated graphic business and will soon open “Kids Café” for the community as well. Proud of her family who reside in Chicago, she is thankful to them as well as the community. Ms. Quadri encourages all to follow their dreams.

Additional Resources: Zehra's  Video Remarks