Masoud Juya is pursuing a PhD at the University of North Texas through a Fulbright Scholarship. Here, he recounts his journey, and how it has shaped his commitment to public service. An entrepreneur, an educator and a Fulbright Scholar, I was born in a village near the City of Herat, considered to be Afghanistan’s cultural and […]

Afrina Khan found her passion as a certified holistic health counselor. She trained in more than 100 different dietary theories, from all the new-age, raw food, and vegan movements to ancient traditions like Ayurveda and the work of Dr. Weston Price. She also trained in a variety of practical lifestyle coaching methods such as stress […]

This Ramadan, MALA hosted a series of Iftar parties in Chicago, Washington, DC, and New York City. We loved making new friends and breaking fast with old ones! MALA intern Farah Harb participated in our May 23 Iftar meet-up in Chicago and chatted with attendees about their favorite Iftar memories and traditions. As we finish the […]

Every May, we dedicate the day to celebrating mothers and their unconditional love and support (even though they deserve to be celebrated every day!). However, women should never be defined solely by motherhood: all their passions and achievements should be highlighted and recognized. On Wednesday, June 6, MALA will host Chicago Mompreneurs to do exactly this […]

  Kiran Ansari shares her love for the varying Ramadan calendar.   I love how Ramadan comes at a different time each year. As Muslims follow the lunar calendar, Ramadan starts around ten days earlier every year. It may sound weird how this month-long holiday does not have a fixed date in our conventional Gregorian […]

"But really, being someone who moved around a lot, you had to be flexible, adaptable, and observant of the world around you and the things that change from one place to the next. Coming from that experience at a young age really defined my next steps in life."

"My parents would remind me everyday about the significance of education and how fortunate I was to have the have the chance to explore educational opportunities."

"I realized that my identity as an Indian Muslim made me a “cultural bridge” of sorts between the majority of Indians who are Hindu and American Muslims, who consist of a wide array of ethnic groups. I credit my parents for refusing to give into tribalism and religious paternalism, and encouraging me to respect and learn about other religions."

"I want to change the global perception on the media that Muslim and African American are oppressed, depressed, and repressed in society when it comes to having a voice."

"I am very happy and lucky to be able to find a career or a calling that is going to be able to give me financial success, but also that I really enjoy."

"My advice to young people is that the time that you are living in is the time that you are prepared to live in."

"My body was not supposed to be violated in this severe way, nor was my soul. Yet, both happened. But I am comforted in knowing that there are others I can talk to who understand my pain."

"Today, I know that the two separate sides of me were never separate at all; they are the same. They are American. They are Muslim. They are me."

“Others tend to see your results and envy your outcomes, but they fail to take notice of the amount of hard work and sacrifices you have made to get where you stand today.”

"This country never failed to surprise me by showing the generous amount of human, constitutional, and civil rights citizens of America have and how much power and independence an individual could have in this country."

"The civil and organized environment in America is a stark contrast to the pandemonium that I had gotten used to in Bangladesh. I feel that there is order in this new land whereas there was always chaos in my previous home. America is not just the land of opportunities, it is the land of possibilities."