Anthropologist and freedom business mentor Zarinah El-Amin Naeem curates exhibitions and events and experiences for students and the public that look at the intersection of art and spirituality.

Zarinah uses her collections and exhibitions to capture people’s attention and inspire conversations to help build understanding and respect between peoples of diverse backgrounds.

She accomplishes this by giving engaging speeches and workshops and providing creative intersecting experiences for adults and children in conjunction with her exhibitions, events, and travel.

Zarinah started Beautifully Wrapped with the publication of a wall calendar, ironically not to do all it does now, but to simply sell is as a fundraiser for a girl’s education program in Senegal called 10,000 Girls.  The response was one of gratitude and so Zarinah organically expanded the project into what it is today.  Drawing upon her experience in international development and diversity and inclusion, Zarinah began to create unique opportunities for dialogue.  She’s been featured for her work in several publications including NPR, local news stations and the national paper of Bermuda.

Beautifully Wrapped presents the beauty, power, and global influences of headwrapping and highlights women and men of all backgrounds, regardless of ethnicity or religion who love the art.

Projects include a wall calendar and companion traveling exhibition celebrating the beauty and splendor of headwraps.  Each year, we select 13 photos from an international pool of photographs submitted by professional and amateur photographers.  These images feature an eclectic and diverse array of people — from students in the United Arab Emirates, to community activists in Chicago — all of whom enjoy adorning their heads with cloth.

The Calendar also serves as a fundraising tool for our work in girl and women empowerment.   We originally began with in order to support 10,000 Girls, a non-profit based in Senegal founded by Dr. Viola Vaughn. We now support the Enliven Your Soul Foundation for Global Advancement. Our social goals are to organize, encourage, and advance women and their families globally through education, economic opportunities and cross-cultural exchanges.

With each tuck, pull, fold and pin, wrapping has the unique ability to transform not only your look, but your spirit.  -Zarinah El-Amin Naeem, Curator and Headwrapologist