Fahd Ahmed immigrated from Pakistan as an undocumented, working-class young man and became active with DRUM – Desis Rising Up & Moving in 2000 after his own family members faced deportation and were targeted through the War on Drugs. Today, he serves as DRUM’s Executive Director, leading an organization that builds the leadership and power of thousands of low-income South Asian and Indo-Caribbean immigrants to drive social and policy change across immigrant rights, education, racial justice, housing, gender equity, and workers’ rights.
Under his leadership, DRUM has played a major role in key victories, including helping stop Amazon HQ2, securing $2.1 billion for the Excluded Workers Fund, and winning $2.4 billion in rent relief during the pandemic. The organization has also stood with families impacted by NYPD violence and abuse, and was one of the five “Day One” endorsing organizations for NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani, helping deliver significant South Asian and Indo-Caribbean voter turnout. Through its DRUM Beats initiative, the organization knocked on 19,000 doors and phone-banked more than 60,000 community members.