Basel is a graduate of the University of Connecticut with a major in Chemical Engineering and Environmental Engineering. At UConn, he served as the president of the Students for Justice in Palestine chapter for two years. He currently works as an Environmental Engineer, hoping to translate his work in environmental amelioration to the Palestinian cause.

Basel is one of the lead organizers for Palestinian mobilization within Connecticut. He has been involved in the activism space for years, participating in demonstrations, educational initiatives, meetings, etc. He serves on the steering committee of the CT Palestine Solidarity Coalition and collaborates with Students for Justice in Palestine, CAIR, and other orgs.

Layan Alnajjar is a Palestinian-Syrian activist and organizer, committed to advancing justice, education, and humanitarian aid for the Palestinian cause. As a founding leader and executive committee member of the nonprofit organization We Will Return, Layan helps drive initiatives that empower communities and amplify Palestinian voices, while also collaborating closely with the Connecticut and Boston Coalitions for Palestine.

​A Marketing graduate from the University of Connecticut and current MBA candidate in Digital Marketing, Layan brings professional experience from various organizations to her work at the intersection of advocacy and marketing.

Nour, a recent alumnus of the University of Connecticut, graduated with an Economics degree with aspirations of pursuing law school in the near future. Over the past two+ years, she has actively participated in Students for Justice in Palestine, where she held the position of Vice President. Nour's involvement extends beyond this organization, as she is also a member of Women in Business.

Recognized as a key organizer within the movement in Connecticut, Nour serves on the steering committee of the Connecticut Palestine Solidarity Coalition and holds a position on the board of Eyewitness Palestine. Throughout the year, she collaborates with CT organizations to coordinate various initiatives & events regarding Palestine.

Heba graduated from University of Saint Joseph with a Masters degree in Physician Assistant studies and completed her undergraduate studies at University of Hartford with a bachelors degree in Health Sciences. She has 3 years of experience in Urgent care and currently specializes in Pulmonary and critical care in Connecticut. She also took part in a medical mission trip to Turkey in 2023 through International Medical Relief, providing medical assistance to those affected by the earthquake.

With family members back in Gaza, she aims to help those affected by recent events and work towards providing humanitarian aid through joining We Will Return. She hopes to bring assistance to Palestinians who are in need.  

Khaled was born in Jordan and migrated to Kuwait with his family in 1972 where he finished high school. In high school, he was heavily involved in the activism space, as a student and head member of the General Union of Palestine Students (GUPS). GUPS focused on educating the public, organizing demonstrations, and raising money for the people of Palestine.

​​He came to the USA in 1983 to study business finance at the University of Louisiana. As a student, he was again an active member of the GUPS and became president while attending university. Projects included explaining the Palestinian cause to the American public and organizing students to work for the cause. He moved to Connecticut in 1987 and started his own business in Hartford. He is a strong advocate of the Palestinian people, employs Palestinian workers, helps them to settle in CT, and to open businesses of their own.

​He motivates fellow Palestinians to become active in the community and has worked with Palestinian American Congress, non-profit SAMS children, Tree of Life, and the United Holy Land Fund.

A career trade unionist and labor lawyer, John represented Teamsters and Building Trades Unions before his retirement in 2023. He lives in Connecticut with his wife, Dr. Mina.

He previously served as Vice-President of the Tree of Life Educational Fund, a non-profit corporation established by the First Congregational Church of Old Lyme, CT to provide journeys of cross-cultural and transnational travel experiences, interfaith conferences and educational opportunities. In this role he traveled to Palestine numerous times including leading delegations of U.S. trade unionists to Palestine in 2015 and 2017. 

John was a founder of the Connecticut Anti-Apartheid Committee which succeeded in passing divestment legislation through the Connecticut legislature in support of the struggle for freedom and equality in South Africa.  John and Mina have two grown daughters, Leila and Maya.

Nancy Mansour serves as the Executive Director of Eyewitness Palestine, an educational program that inspires and trains participants to be accountable social justice advocates for Palestine within their own communities. Nancy Mansour is also the co-founder of Existence is Resistance, a grassroots organization dedicated to the liberation of Palestine.

Renowned for her unwavering dedication and bold spirit, Mansour has years upon years of experience advocating for justice in Palestine and working for collective liberation across social justice movements. She tirelessly lends her presence to a myriad of US-based Palestinian solidarity events and serves as a strong voice for Palestine in the US, the UK, and across the globe.

Mohamad is a Palestinian retired mechanical engineer based in Massachusetts. He brings decades of administrative, engineering, and technical experience, with a strong foundation in problem-solving, systems thinking, and practical leadership.

Driven by a deep personal connection to Palestine and a commitment to serving Palestinian families, Mohamad is honored to support We Will Return’s mission of providing humanitarian relief and building pathways of hope for communities in need.