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Aslam Kakar was born in Pakistan, in the most humblest of traditional Islamic families. Having grown up without a father since the age of 2, Aslam goes over his journey of the pursuit of knowledge and his experience here in the United States. This story was recorded in partnership with MALA and StoryCorps. This story […]

Safiyyah Abdul-Qawiyy is the Founder and CEO of Muslim Sisters of Staten Island, a non-profit organization dedicated to empowering Muslim women and children in Staten Island by providing resources, services and hosting programs for civic engagement. She is also a mother of three, grandmother of one, registered Nurse and Professor. My name is Safiyyah Abdul-Qawiyy. I

This piece, which originally appeared in the Guardian, was written in the author’s personal capacity and the views expressed do not necessarily reflect the views of the U.S. government.Maryum Saifee is a career diplomat. Prior to joining the U.S. Foreign Service, Saifee worked at the Ford Foundation and served as a Peace Corps volunteer in

Sabia Khan knows that identity can take many forms and be influenced in many ways, but when it comes to her own identity, it’s her beliefs — shaped by many factors — that are most important. In her story she shares how she tries to respectfully share her identity with those around her and the

Darko is a high school principal living in Uptown. He came to Chicago in 1996 with his two sisters as Bosnian refugees. He loves helping kids succeed and the fact that there is a place for everyone in the city of Chicago. This story was produced by One Chicago, a campaign that facilitates access to

Taskeen Yar Khan joins her mother, Naazish, on Thanksgiving to discuss college, community service, and transitions. Their conversation highlights issues of connectedness in the technological era, and the universal importance of family–regardless of how we define our own families. This story was recorded in partnership with MALA and StoryCorps. Story production credit: Sydney Jarol Naazish:

Nasir runs a community center for his fellow Rohingya Muslims, a religious group that has faced genocide in his home country of Myanmar. In 2012 he moved to Chicago with his family, influenced by movies that depicted the city in a positive light. Nasir loves the people of Chicago, especially how willing his neighbors were

Lina Mohamed shares her story as an Ethiopian American with a diverse cultural heritage. Born in a small town in Texas, Lina was never afraid to pursue her dreams. She recalls her journey into the big city of New York, and how she hopes to make a difference in the lives of others by obtaining

Dina Soliman shares her personal journey, being born to an Egyptian family in Queens NY. She stresses the importance of education and communication, and the need for inspirational role models in her community. This story was recorded and produced in partnership with MALA and StoryCorps. “I grew up in Queens with an Egyptian Muslim family.

Malisa moved to Rogers Park ten years ago with her husband, a survivor of the Bosnian war. She was drawn to Chicago because of its vibrancy and similarity to her hometown Singapore, but decided to stay after seeing the diversity and inclusiveness of the city. Melissa and her family love the variety of activities Chicago