Encouraging political participation and advocating for others
Nadia and Arriana Belkin are sisters who were inspired to be active in issues that concerned them at a young age. “Stuffing envelopes at the kitchen table, knocking on doors, preparing for debates, and listening in on strategy meetings all became the norm for our house in 2001,” says Nadia, recalling when their mother ran for City Council in Lakewood, Colorado, as the first person of color.
“It was inspiring, even at the age of ten, to watch the diversity of people streaming through our doors to support my mum’s vision for a better tomorrow for their community,” says Nadia. However, the 9/11 tragedy was used against her mother in the election, and the family saw bigotry and racism at work, perhaps encouraging the young girls to find ways to counter them as adults.
Nadia is currently the National Deputy Field Director at America Votes, an organization whose goals are “to advance progressive policies, win elections and protect every American’s right to vote.” She is also a founding member of the America Votes Partner Diversity Coalition.
Nadia notes Mawlana Hazar Imam’s emphasis on the importance of pluralism and its effects on strengthening civil society, by working to bring diversity into the democratic process. She remarks: “We see and hear, time and time again, that voters don’t understand the power of their vote or the system of government more broadly.” She and her teams engage with voters, talk about the democratic process and empower people to get to the polls. “Voting is a muscle and people must practice using it.”
Arriana Belkin also believes in the association between a strong civil society and democracy. She serves as the Public Affairs Manager for Planned Parenthood of the Rocky Mountains, protecting and expanding reproductive health services through organizing legislative and electoral efforts. Says Arriana, “My team and I advocate for others...I am able to use my voice and my organization’s resources to speak up for others who might not have the means to do so themselves, and work to break down barriers to health care.”
Arriana is also on the Board of Directors for Emerge Colorado, an organization that recruits and trains women to run for leadership positions in government. She states, “Through both my work at Planned Parenthood and Emerge Colorado, I help to shape and mentor individuals into leaders so they can enact change in their communities.”
These women bring diversity of ethnicity, religion, and gender into their respective fields and boardrooms. “It is important for all women to remember that they deserve a seat at the table. Our voices and experiences are powerful and worth hearing. Together, we have the power to make a difference in our communities,” remarks Arriana.
Helping Refugees Resettle
The refugee issue is a global phenomenon, affecting the US currently. Originally from Afghanistan, Sharifa Khaliqyar is a recent immigrant herself and works as a Refugee Resettlement Case Manager at Catholic Charities in Houston.
Working closely with refugee families, Sharifa helps them navigate the lifestyle, culture, and laws of the US during their first six months as new immigrants. From helping families obtain housing and food, apply for social security numbers, enroll their children in school, to writing resumes and finding jobs, she is usually the first point of contact for these families, many of whom have language barriers and few other resources.
Reflecting on her life in Afghanistan, where she had neither the freedom, not the courage to drive or travel alone, one of Sharifa’s primary goals here was to be mobile and independent. She learned how to use public transportation and GPS, ultimately obtaining her driver's license, which allowed her to be promoted to her current position of Case Manager, where she can empathize with the issues refugees face and have practical solutions to offer them.
Educating children for a better future
Shirin Lutfeali’s calling is in the field of education. She was on a pre-med path in college when she spent a summer with the Aga Khan Health Services in Northern Pakistan. “That experience showed me that there was a bigger world out there and that I could be a part of providing assistance to those that needed it,” she says.
Shirin reached out to a favorite high school teacher for career advice, who helped her realize that a career in education could be a “stepping stone to other exciting ventures.” Her journey began as an elementary school teacher, after which she took up a position in international education with the Aga Khan Foundation in Tajikistan.
Currently, Shirin is an Advisor for Literacy and Numeracy at Save the Children, an international NGO that aims to protect children, advocate for their rights, and provide access to education and health care. For example, in Bangladesh, Save the Children works with local partners to implement a national-level reading program, reaching more than a million children by assisting with dissemination of materials, and support with training and follow-up.
Serving their communities as pioneers in their fields, these women are role models and offer meaningful advice. Shirin says to her own daughter and other young women in the community:
“Nobody can limit you but yourself, so don’t hold back and give 100% to doing what you love. Focus on excellence and doing your job extremely well, not only because the world is competitive, but because there are people who really need us to be our best and need our knowledge and skills to improve their lives.”
Arriana recalls the advice given to her by her own parents: “Never second guess your voice; speak your truth and remember that your words and actions can repair the world.”
“When I enter a room I always count the number of women, the number of people of color and the number of women of color at the table. I am in a leadership position and often, the answer is just one, and it is me…I remain in this work because I am committed to strengthening civil society and participating in the knowledge society and because I want to see diversity in the political space at the leadership level.” Nadia Belkin.
"I try to see issues through the lenses of my multiple identities, some of which are a Shia Ismaili Muslim immigrant woman, born in Pune, India, and raised in Lakewood, Colorado in a Muslim/Jewish household. I am uniquely positioned to help uplift voices of the up and coming leaders in my faith community as well as in the wider community." Arriana Belkin.
"There are so many ways to improve the quality of life of people in the developing world, but one of the most concrete strategies I’ve seen is through economic empowerment and the creation of jobs. I would love to start a foundation that provides jobs to women from local communities that have rich arts and crafts traditions like sewing, knitting, making jewelry, etc. and to help connect these women to vendors, so they can sell their products and make a livable income." Shirin Lutfeali.
"Trust yourself...and know that success can be achieved only when there is a challenge."
Sharifa Khaliqyar.
