Local Hero: Umar Hakim Dey, A Compton Native Focused on Community Building

Nominee Name: Umar Hakim Dey
Title: Executive Director, Inkerij Foundation

About Umar Hakim Dey

A native of Compton, California, Umar Hakim Dey served 10+ years as director for a faith-based organization. There, Umar achieved grassroot accomplishments in community service. He now heads INKERIJ Foundation, which is a 501(c)(3) Social Enterprise, where Umar shifted his focus to lead what he coins as a “breakthrough organization that focuses on community building.”

Umar founded INKERIJ® (pronounced as Encourage), which is an advisory organization whose mission is to "help to build capacity for purpose-driven organizations and individuals through program development, audience insights, and 1-to-1 leadership coaching." Here he combines both business and community service work into a social entrepreneurial model, helping the same service market build its power to combat social ills post-pandemic.

Umar is responsible for facilitating INKERIJ Foundation’s programming and its social-preneurial vision for social change. This change means providing an intuitive educational experience that empowers local Angelenos. He earned a Business Management degree and a Masters in Ethical Leadership. It’s all based on transferable skills and wisdom learned in Compton.