My One-Year Anniversary Update
Dear Friends and Supporters,
It has been an amazing one-year for me at MCN filled with change, renewal, learning, and growth. I am so grateful to be a part of this space that allows me to lend my voice and leadership for a community that I hold near and dear to my heart. I can assure you that it would not have been possible without all of your support, advice, and recognition.
Transitions are difficult. However, they are a natural part of organizational development. I am fortunate to have an incredible team of past and new staff members who helped in this process, and a Board of Directors who were steadfast in their guidance and support. I am proud to report to you that we've not only managed a successful leadership succession, but that within just a year, we've been able to secure the organization both financially and programmatically that has set us up for growth. For example:
- Our Muslim Youth Leadership program grew from serving 15 students in FY19 to over 75 students in three boroughs (Queens, Bronx, and Brooklyn) and in three schools in FY20.
- Our MYNYC Bridge Mentorship program has successfully enrolled 25 mentors and mentees in the program (up from 15 last year), with internship placements in some of the most prestigious programs in our city, i.e. JP Morgan Chase Investment Internship; Metropolitan Museum of Art; Brooklyn District Attorney's Office; and more.
- We were able to solidify the interfaith partnerships that allowed us to bring Muslim and Christian students together for an unforgettable peace and friendship building trip to the United Kingdom to the Rose Castle Foundation, kickstarting our programmatic exploration of bringing Muslim youth voices to the international peacebuilding and security nexus.
- We launched new programs, such as the Muslim Stakeholders Roundtable, and participated in campaigns, such as the Halal/Kosher food advocacy campaign that helped introduce halal/kosher school lunches to our children, that helped elevate the Muslim communities needs in our city.
All of this while we successfully executed our annual Sweet 16-anniversary event that demonstrated the strength of the community's support for our mission. I cannot be more grateful to you for your support. Stay tuned, as we continue on this trajectory and help shape the narrative about what it means to be Muslim in the United States of America.
Aniqa Nawabi
Executive Director
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