Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research is excited to announce the 2019 recipients of the Malcolm X Vanguards of Justice Scholarship. The scholarship recognizes members that made outstanding contributions to their community through service inspired by the legacy of a champion of social justice, El Hajj Malik Shabbaz Malcolm X.

The awardees serve as role models who strive to establish social justice, work for positive change in their community, and make the world a better place by contributing expertise where it is needed locally. Each recipient will receive $2,000 to put towards their studies or student debt. Applicants were required to be enrolled in undergraduate or graduate studies or be a graduate with student debt, maintain a 3.0 GPA or above, and display commitment to community service and social justice.

Rasheed Shabazz

UC Berkeley

Recipient of the Judith Lee Stronach Baccalaureate Prize, the inaugural AP-Google Journalism and Technology Fellowship

Fellow at the Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society

Executive Director, Habari Ummah, an online platform focused on mental health, community organizing, and supporting formerly incarcerated people in the Bay Area

Coordinator of Oakland Voices

Minha Khan

Stanford University

Co-founded Pakistan’s first in-school Adult Literacy Program, Mah-E-Noor

Director of Education of Stanford Global Development Association

Junior Manager of the Multilingual Education Project for The Citizens Foundation

Maryam Ahmed

George Washington University

Founder of Sisters' Suhbah, a faith-based campus community that fosters unity and spirituality on campus

Young Muslims Regional Coordinator 

ICNA Council for Social Justice Volunteer Coordinator

Nabintou Doumbia

Georgetown University Law

Co-founded Sisterhood of Yere Lon, a program that centers the identities, experiences, and radical dreams of liberation of young, Black African, Muslim-American girls in the city of Detroit by tackling unaddressed traumas and building a space for self-development

Inaugural fellow in the Muslim Wellness Foundation’s Deeply Rooted Emerging Leaders Fellowship

Asad Dandia

Columbia University

Founded Muslim Giving Back, serving underserved families in NYC with food, rent, and events. Over 50,000 hot meals distributed to homeless in NYC, Over $350,000 collected on behalf of families in need and Over 120 months of rent paid

Teaching Assistant at Islamic Center of NYU

Najaih Muhammad

Hampshire College

Coordinator of MANA, a food packaging facility in Philadelphia that feeds shelters

Founder and President of “F.I.R.E. : Female Initiative  Respect Empowerment”  To empower girls and to help each other have a successful future

Ayah Sarsour

Marquette University

Federal Public Defender Law Clerk

Finalist for the Sue Lehmann Teaching Fellowship Award

Teach for America Milwaukee Collective Board

Student Affiliate of the Klau Center for Civil and Human Rights

Yasmeen Azam

University of Chicago

Co-Founder of #WeCSULB Coalition, the first social justice and equity committee at California State University, Long Beach

Young Invincibles Board member for refugee support and educational mentorship towards applying for college 

Youth LA Regional Director, Muslim American Society 

Aicha Toure

University of Michigan

Founder of Young Muslim Action Committee 

Hosts and coordinator for “Know Your Rights” in Flint to help minorities who are affected by immigration policies and discrimination

Research Fellow with Flint Registry: providing resources and education to those affected by the Flint Water Crisis 

Maimuna Gassama

Johns Hopkins School of Advanced International Studies

Diversity Peer Educator at St. John’s University

UNICEF Chapter Vice President and Head of External Outreach

St. Johns “R.I.S.E” Network Mentor

The R.I.S.E. Network is a scholar’s empowerment network that provides Black and Latin freshman students with skill-based development, support and opportunities to enhance their overall academic career

Congratulations to the winners of the 2019 scholarship who will carry Yaqeen Institute for Islamic Research mission to inspire, instill conviction, and reclaim our narrative.

Disclaimer: The views, opinions, findings, and conclusions expressed in these papers and articles are strictly those of the authors. Furthermore, Yaqeen does not endorse any of the personal views of the authors on any platform. Our team is diverse on all fronts, allowing for constant, enriching dialogue that helps us produce high-quality research.

Authors