Zahirah is President and CEO of SLATE-Z, a collective impact effort addressing economic revitalization and environmental sustainability in South Los Angeles. SLATE-Z collaborates with 100 local partners and is part of a national Promise Zone Network working to transform 22 high poverty zones in urban, rural, and tribal communities. Prior to joining SLATE-Z, Zahirah was a Senior Program Officer at The Ralph M. Parsons Foundation, where she helped launch and lead the Foster Together Network, a countywide collective impact initiative working with governmental entities, elected officials, community based organizations, caregivers, and youth. Zahirah has also held program officer positions at the Annenberg Foundation and United Way of Greater Los Angeles. Before entering philanthropy, Zahirah represented a broad array of nonprofit and governmental entities as a community economic development and environmental attorney. 

Zahirah earned a B.A. in Political Science from Vassar College and a J.D. with a specialization in environmental law from Tulane University Law School.