Board of Directors
Na’eel Cajee. Board President
Born in Seattle, Washington to immigrant parents from South Africa, Na’eel grew up in Oklahoma and California. Currently, Na’eel Cajee is an undergraduate at Harvard University. A high school valedictorian, Na’eel has been involved in community service throughout high school and college. He continues to be interested in public policy, public health, and community development.
At Harvard, Na’eel coxes the varsity rowing team, serves on the editorial board of Ascent Magazine and directs the Prison Education Program. Na’eel co-founded Stockton2020 and the Libraries Change Lives Campaign— America’s first youth-based library advocacy group — after his freshman year at Harvard.
In high school, Na’eel served as the student trustee on the Lincoln Unified School Board, represented Stockton at the Search Institute’s Healthy Communities/Healthy Youth Conference, and developed a workshop for vulnerable youth for the City of Stockton’s Youth Education & Action Team (YEAT). He also worked as a literacy tutor at a local drug rehabilitation center.
As a middle-schooler, Na’eel attended a renowned African seminary, and received a diploma in the memorization and cantillation of the Qur’an. He has since participated in numerous regional and national recitation competitions, and annually serves as prayer-leader during the month of Ramadan as well as at other times.
Fluent in English, Na’eel is conversational in Arabic and Spanish, and understands Urdu and Gujarati. He enjoys squash, rock climbing, graphic design, calligraphy, and acting.
Nabeel Cajee. Executive Director
Born the youngest of three in Stockton, CA Nabeel Cajee is currently a student in University of the Pacific’s Dental and Law Programs. Nabeel Cajee is a founding member of Stockton2020 and Stockton2020’s Library Change Lives Campaign, the nation’s first youth-based library advocacy movement. Nabeel is currently active in several youth-empowerment and community-improvement efforts in Stockton, CA.
A league champion in debate, Nabeel was captain of his high school’s Speech and Debate team and continues to coach his former team. In addition, he was active in student & school governance and as a peer mediator. Nabeel held offices in Lincoln High’s Student Council. He served on Lincoln High’s School Site Council and Lincoln Unified School District’s Wellness Committee. He also co-founded an interfaith public affairs club on Lincoln High’s campus and played varsity tennis.
Outside of school, Nabeel codeveloped a workshop for vulnerable youth for the City of Stockton’s Youth Education & Action Team and volunteered as a literary tutor at the Gospel Center Rescue Mission, a local drug rehab. Nabeel currently sits on Head Start of San Joaquin’s Delegate Policy Committee. Nabeel believes strongly in youth development, for the past two years he has served as an advisor for the CAIR California’s Muslim Youth Leadership Program.
Nabeel has visited 28 countries and 31 states. He in conversational in Spanish. His interests include community organizing, reading, rock climbing, graphic design, movie editing, tennis, debate, and a good conversation over a cup of chai or coffee.
“The greatest oak,” Nabeel’s favorite motto reads,” was once a little nut who held its ground.”
Sadia Saifuddin. Chief Information Officer/Secretary
Sadia Saifuddin was born in Los Gatos, California, and was blessed with a large extended family on her mother’s side that you usually only read about. Growing up in Fremont, California, Sadia’s Pakistani parents encouraged her to aim high and achieve good grades, leading to her drive for success today.
Sadia is currently a Junior at Lincoln High School in Stockton, California. She attended a private middle school in Sacramento, California, centered around her faith of Islam. Al-Arqam Islamic School provided her with the opportunity to found the school’s very first ASB Government and Yearbook Committee, which remain strong institutions to this day.
A league and district champion in debate, Sadia attended the State and National Championships her sophomore year in Student Congress debate. Serving as Lincoln High’s speech captain, she discovered her passion in politics and aspires to be a US Senator one day. Meanwhile, she has interned at Senator Machado’s office during the summer of 2007 and partakes in government-centered conferences and workshops such as the Muslim Youth Leadership Program at the State Capitol. She plans on double majoring in Political Science and Human Rights, becoming a civil rights activist is high on her list.
Sadia is heavily involved in her Muslim Community and develops workshops to better the community. She is an active member of her mosque and a member of Indian Music Relief Charities (IMRC).
Sadia speaks English and Urdu fluently, and can understand and speak some Spanish. She travels around the United States often, attending different business conferences with her Youth Leadership and Financial Literacy team.
Sadia spends her time reading classical novels and speaking at youth empowerment events. Her interests include traveling, cooking, reading, debate, and of course, smiling at every opportunity life brings her.
Alfred Acac. Chief Finance Officer/Treasurer
Andrew is a student at Cal Poly in San Luis Obispo. He is a Computer Engineering major and is currently in the Honors Program at Cal Poly. Andrew was born in Detroit, but has lived in Stockton since he was two.
Andrew was immersed in the importance of the library from an early age. His mother, Tandy Gotschall, retired as a librarian in 2006 and his sister, Peaches Ehrich, is a librarian at the Cesar Chavez Library in downtown Stockton.
Andrew volunteered as a Math Tutor at the Troke Branch Library for the four years he attended Lincoln High School. Andrew believes the library should be a place where everyone in a community can go to enhance not only their minds, but their lives. He has used his computer skills and willingness to learn to develop the website for Stockton2020.
Andrew has traveled to Mexico, Scotland, England, France, and Romania, as well as 22 states. His interests include computers, basketball, church, mission trips, and just being around other people.
Andrew is looking forward to what Stockton2020 can achieve in raising awareness for a revitalized library system in Stockton and San Joaquin County.
Avani Patel is currently a student at American University in Washington, DC. An International Relations/Economics major, she plans to pursue a career in diplomacy or intelligence. At American, Avani is currently Secretary of the South Asian Student Alliance, a Sister of Phi Sigma Sigma, and in Alpha Lambda Delta, a National Honor Society.
Avani graduated from Lincoln High School in 2006. At Lincoln, she served on the Student Council, and was Secretary/Treasurer of Interact Club. Also in her high school years, Avani served as Troke Teen Advisory Board’s president for 4 years. As president, she coordinated events and worked to enhance the Teen section of the library.
It is this natural interest in the library and reading that led Avani to co-found Stockton2020. She hopes that by revitalizing the library system in Stockton, the city will not only survive, but thrive as well.
Avani has traveled all over the world including Paris, London, Mexico, Canada, and her homeland, India.
Avani’s interest include: dancing, traveling, learning about cultures and languages, and laughing every chance she gets.
