EL was born and raised in Fort Greene, and spent his childhood between Brooklyn and the Bronx with his parents and siblings, with whom he is very close. In a case of mistaken identity, El was shot in a drive-by shooting in 2012 that left him paralyzed from the waist down. Today, El is a core member of the OPEN DOORS Design Team, using bold graphics to creatively inspire and uplift the community.
Alhassan "El" Abdulfattaah
My shooting was random. I was going to the store. The guys in a passing car thought I was someone else, and they shot me. It was 2015. I had just graduated from high school and gotten a job. I was trying to get into college. This happened, and it shattered everything. You get shot, your whole life changes.
