Monica Iken

Family Member

Monica Iken is the founder of September's Mission, a nationally recognized nonprofit organization devoted to building a positive and meaningful legacy out of the events surrounding 9/11. Iken lost her husband, Michael, a bond broker on the 84th floor of the South Tower.

Iken channeled her grief into establishing September's Mission soon after the attacks. In January 2002, former New York Governor George Pataki appointed Iken to the Family Advisory Committee of the Lower Manhattan Development Corporation. In this capacity, Iken met regularly with civic, business, political, and family leaders to help establish a proper process for honoring the lives that were lost on 9/11. In addition, Iken has sought out the advice and support of families and groups around the world, including Oklahoma City and Hiroshima, that have undergone a similar memorial process. As a leading voice for the relatives of the victims killed on 9/11, Iken is a frequent speaker at civic alliance meetings, regional planning gatherings, and other symposiums dedicated to the memorial process.

In addition, Iken has been featured in prominent news media outlets including CNN, the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, Reuters, New York Observer, San Jose Mercury News, New York Post, New York Daily News and Newsday.

Iken was awarded the 2003 Pace Setter Award by the City Council of New York and was nominated for the New York Public Library's 2004 Brooke Russell Astor Award. She was also a member of the chairperson selection committee for the World Trade Center Site Memorial and the draft memorial program committee for the design competition for the World Trade Center Site Memorial.

Iken was born, raised, and currently resides in Manhattan. She graduated with a degree in education from Hunter College in 1995 and was a schoolteacher for several years in the New York Public School system prior to founding September's Mission.