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Ema Mujic is a current sophomore at DePaul University. She shares her enriching story about how she decided to view her displacement from her native culture of Bosnia to cherishing her loved ones as her true meaning of home.   My name is Ema Mujic, and I am a currently a sophomore at DePaul University. […]

Nadia P Manzoor is a British Pakistani actor, writer, and producer, whose autobiographical  one-woman show, Burq Off! has had sold-out runs in New York, LA, San Francisco, London and Toronto. It has been called  a “Gutsy, honest, hilarious must-see!” by Deepak Chopra, and “Terrific” by The Economist. She is the co-creator and performer of Shugs

In her heartfelt story, Mai reflects her journey as a healthcare professional from Amman to Chicago. Her compassion, commitment, and dedication reflects her values.  Momarrida. In Arabic, this word translates to healer. It is also the only word used to refer to nurses back home in Amman. At five years old, my family and I

Muhammad Pirzada is an intern for MALA. In his story, he shares how growing up in Saudi Arabia and Pakistan influenced his journey as an American.   There are a lot of contradictions between Eastern countries and the Western World. However, the poverty, unjust practices and war can not be eliminated from our planet, until

Uzo is from Ukraine, and describes his unique background. His journey to the United States is spectacular, and he describes how music was a source of individuality and unity for him. Uzo also helped coordinate a safe space for Muslim students to pray at his university. He is a global DJ, and the Co-Founder of

Grishma Shah is a Mass-Media Consultant that works with filmmakers, actors, curators and film festivals. For the last three years, Grishma has been a film programmer for the Chicago South Asian Film Festival (CSAFF) presented by Zee Cinema which takes place in the heart of Chicago. Latterly, she has ventured into event management, becoming the

Malika MacDonald Rushdan is Irish-American and the National Director of ICNA Relief USA’s Women’s Shelter Network. She was awarded the prestigious U.S. Senator John F. Kerry Leadership award and earned a fellowship at Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. While with ICNA Relief she has developed a successful women’s transitional housing model, opening the firstt facility

On October 11, 2016, MALA partnered with Illinois Humanities and the Jane Addams Hull House Museum to screen The People’s Girls, a documentary investigating the issue of sexual harassment. In honor of International Day of the Girl, over 70 individuals attended the screening as part of the ‘Film and Talk Back Series, She Power Rising:

Shahid Yaqoob, born in Pakistan, lived comfortably in America until 9/11 brought about a type of discrimination he had never witnessed before. It changed his life and his motivation for it — making his priority to give Pakistanis proud of where they come from and where their country is going. My name is Shahid Yaqoob,

Amela Rugova shares her personal journey as a Muslim-American from Bosnian heritage. I think an integral part of youth is overcoming your feelings of ‘otherness.’ At that stage in life, all of us are trying to develop a sense of self and find that niche where we feel like we belong. It goes without say