Public Service

The Advancing Muslim Communities Fellowship allows our students to give back to local, national, and international communities through engaged and effective public service opportunities.

In partnership with the Haas Center for Public Service and through a generous gift from Stanford alumni Anna Khan and Ansaf Kareem, the Markaz established the Advancing Muslim Communities Fellowship in 2022-2023. This fellowship funds and supports undergraduate students working with nonprofit organizations that center Muslim communities, issues, and regions. Through these public service fellowships, students engage and apply their academic experience and leadership skills to address issues of social change. Fellows spend the summer working full-time with a supervisor/mentor in a domestic U.S. community organization.

Applicants propose their own placements with organizations with which they have corresponded before the application deadline. For inspiration, the Markaz has created a list of relevant organizations doing work in a variety of fields, including public policy, civil rights, philanthropy, education, interfaith work, health and tech. 

Selection process for these fellowships typically begins in the Winter Quarter and will be announced in our newsletter. For questions about these fellowships or connections to any organizations, please contact Markaz staff directly.  

Advancing Muslim Communities Fellows

Summer 2024

YuQing Jiang, Muslim Civic Coalition (MCC).  YuQing will work with the MCC, a national community organizing body, to facilitate meaningful discussions between Muslim community members and Chicago public officials. During these sessions, participants will explore pressing social issues and discuss policy solutions. YuQing hopes these outreach programs will amplify Muslim voices, foster meaningful dialogue, and empower civic engagement in the months leading up to the 2024 Elections. 

Hana Doueri, Human Assistance and Development International (HADI). Hana will work with HADI, a California based non-profit, to expand cultural and religious sensitivity training for public school teachers. Drawing on her background in political science and education, Hana will bring the training to new districts, tailoring the content to reflect community demographics and regional incidents of Islamophobia. Hana will further enhance HADI's training curriculum by adding interactive cultural elements like dance and food. 

Summer 2023

Husna Nashnoush, Tayba Foundation. Husna interned for the Tayba Foundation, a nonprofit organization aiding the justice impacted community with services ranging from mental health, substance abuse programs, food pantry access, case management, and computer literacy. She furthered the organization's mission by conducting a mapping and outreach project to build stronger relationships with transitional homes for formerly incarcerated women.


Heena Khan, Afghan Women's Council. Heena collaborated with the Afghanistan Women's Council, a women-owned and operated nonprofit in Afghanistan. Her efforts were dedicated to designing mental health resources to empower Afghan women, contributing to their well-being and independence, including tailored mental health awareness workshops. Additionally, Heena supported the organization's fundraising efforts to secure essential hygiene supplies.