Victoria Jabara
Survivor, President and Co-Founder, The Khalid Jabara Foundation
2023
Victoria Jabara is a dedicated advocate and trailblazer in the fight against hate, and her journey is a testament to her unwavering commitment to building a more inclusive society. As a founding member and the President of the Board of the Khalid Jabara Foundation, she has played a pivotal role in turning tragedy into a catalyst for change.
Victoria’s story is deeply rooted in the memory of her beloved brother, Khalid, whose life was tragically cut short by a hate crime in Tulsa in 2016. In response to this devastating loss, she and her family channeled her grief into action, co-founding the Khalid Jabara Foundation. This organization stands as a living tribute to Khalid’s memory and an embodiment of her family’s determination to eradicate hate from our communities.
The mission of the Khalid Jabara Foundation is clear: to actively combat hate in every community by fostering turning strangers into neighbors, and nurturing the growth of kind and inclusive communities that are free from hate. The foundation’s approach includes initiatives in social justice and anti-hate education, legal reform, and the promotion of hate crime awareness and prevention.
Victoria and her family’s efforts in preventing future tragedies related to discrimination bore fruit with the creation of the Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act. This landmark legislation, included in the broader COVID-19 Hate Crimes Bill, was signed into law by President Biden on May 20, 2021. The Jabara-Heyer NO HATE Act, also named after Heather Heyer, who was tragically killed in a hate crime for demonstrating peacefully in Charlottesville in August 2017, provides vital funding to local, state, and federal governments to update their data collection standards to align with the new National Incident-Based Reporting System. This legislation not only honors Khalid and Heather’s memory but also sets the stage for more effective hate crime prevention and prosecution across the nation.
Victoria holds a bachelor’s degree in French and international relations from the University of Oklahoma, as well as a master’s degree in public policy from George Mason University in Washington, D.C.
Currently residing in Tulsa, Oklahoma, Victoria Jabara continues to be an inspiring force for positive change. Her work with the Khalid Jabara Foundation serves as a beacon of hope and a reminder that, even in the face of hate and tragedy, one family’s dedication can spark a movement that touches countless lives.
At the Summit
The catalytic power of this Summit in bringing together those who are devoting their lives to pushing back and working to confront, understand and work towards solutions around hate in our society is a noble and difficult task. The Summit not only energized those who attended but led to connecting the dots in a global network of those doing this work. The stories of the victims of hate were painful to witness but their courage in coming forward was inspirational. Those who attended left energized with the hope that by working together solutions can be forged.
