Mohammad Razvi was born in Pakistan and came with his family in the 1980s. He and his family relocated to Brooklyn, NY. His family was one of the first to move into the Midwood section along Coney Island Avenue, what would later become “Little Pakistan”. The terrorist attacks on Sept. 11th changed him in ways he didn't expect, and gave him an unforeseen calling. Like his neighbors, Razvi mourned the victims of the World Trade Center attacks, in which three local residents died.

As a businessman, he feared the economic impact from the attacks might crush his working-class, mostly Muslim community, striving immigrant already suffering from a deepening national recession. As Pakistani neighbors came into his various businesses on Coney Island Avenue, asking for help. He struggled to learn how to navigate New York City's bureaucracy. He advocated on behalf of his neighbors after many were detained by Federal law enforcement. He translated for immigrants on the brink of being deported and offered his assistance in many forms.

Within 5 months after 9/11, the 32-year-old aspiring real estate mogul with a wife and children transformed himself into the Executive Director and formed Council of Pakistan Organization (COPO). COPO is an advocacy team whose influence reaches beyond its Pakistani base to a wider South Asian community. The fledgling non-profit started in a store front which was supposed to be a fabric store. Instead it became the fabric that held the community together. COPO quickly attracted South Asian immigrants with low incomes and limited access to city services like healthcare and affordable housing. COPO became a liaison between the U.S. government and Muslim-Americans negotiating with law enforcement agents who searched the neighborhood for suspects based on their name only. Today his organization offers a wide range of services such as: English lessons, immigration clinics, citizenship prep, youth programs and social services form the city.

Later to address the needs of other community members he changed the name to Council of Peoples Organization. Razvi recently sold his outside businesses to work full time at COPO. Razvi was elected as a Board member of the New York Immigration Coalition for his relentless services to the immigrant community. He has received awards from City, State and Federal elected officials recognizing his efforts to unite the immigrant communities of New York. Razvi is also a co-founder of We Are All Brooklyn coalition, and on the board of CAUSE NY, Youth Bridge, Midwood Development Corp, FBI Citizens Academy New York Division, Muslims Consultant Network, Center for the Study of Brooklyn at Brooklyn College, and Brooklyn Borough President’s Task Force For New Diversity.

Razvi is referred to as the ‘Heart of Coney Island Ave’. Razvi believes that the community must be educated and empowered to advocate for its own cause.

Recently in 2007, Razvi was requested by the community members to be a candidate in the 40th City Council District race. Although Razvi did not win he still was able to voice the concerns of the community even more. The community felt political empowered through his campaign and supported him in any way possible. Razvi tirelessly continues to advocate for people with out a voice. He believes that “The ultimate achievement of a man is not the gaining of knowledge but sharing it with others for their betterment.”