Islamic Scholarship Fund

📢 Calling all aspiring changemakers! 🌟

Embark on a transformative journey with the ISF Congressional Policy Internship and shape the future of inclusive policy! 🏛️✨ We’re recruiting for our Summer cohort!

🔍 About the Fellowship: Work in congressional offices, gaining hands-on experience in policy creation and implementation.

🌐 What You'll Learn: Navigate the intricacies of the policy-making process, develop skills to shape inclusive policies that leave no one behind, collaborate with thought leaders and policymakers on Capitol Hill, and make a meaningful impact on public policy.

🎯 Ideal Candidate Traits:

Passion for public policy and government service
Alignment with ISF's mission and vision for positive change
Outstanding communication and leadership skills
Demonstrated potential to impact public policy

🤝 Are you ready to be a catalyst for positive transformation? Apply now! Your journey towards becoming a policy influencer starts here.

📆 Application Deadline: January 8th, 2024
🔗 Apply Now: https://islamicscholarshipfund.org/internship/

ISF is hiring a Development and Communications Coordinator.

This position plays a crucial role in supporting fundraising, marketing, and communication initiatives for the Islamic Scholarship Fund.

It involves managing various aspects of fundraising, including email campaigns, events, social media, online and in-person events and campaigns, and donor communication.
Apply and share!

More information:
https://islamicscholarshipfund.org/isf-jobs/

🌐 Our Collective Impact!

In 2023, ISF awarded over $3.06 Million, granting scholarships, supporting filmmakers, placing interns, fellows, and amplyfying muslim voices.

Your support is the driving force behind our success and impact that we have made together. Join us in celebrating the achievements and impact we've made together. 💙

This is your last chance to make a tax-deductible donation. Thank you for being part of our collective impact! 🌟

https://islamicscholarshipfund.org/eoy-campaign/

🎥 Cinematic Pioneers!

ISF institutionalized support for American Muslim filmmakers 15 years ago. ISF provides funding and platforms to American Muslim filmmakers and storytellers for authentic stories of our community.

Together, let’s empower creativity and diverse storytelling in the world of cinema! 📽️✨

Tomorrow is the last day of 2023! Make your mark on the year by supporting ISF's mission. Your tax-deductible donation can empower change. Give today! 🎉

https://islamicscholarshipfund.org/eoy-campaign/

👥 Increasing Representation!

ISF interns and fellows successfully joined Congressional offices, with alums like Tahreem Alam now working in government.

Let's continue creating pathways for Muslim voices in public policy. 🏛️🗣️

Countdown: 3 days! Time is running out to contribute to ISF and make a tax-deductible donation. Let's finish the year strong together! 💪

https://islamicscholarshipfund.org/eoy-campaign/

🌍 Media Advocacy Unleashed!

In 2023, ISF conducted impactful workshops, connected alums with media outlets, and showcased powerful narratives to keep media accountable.

Together, we amplify voices for justice and truth. 🎙️🇵🇸

⚖️ Judicial Empowerment!

In 2023, ISF opened doors by placing Muslim judicial interns with state and federal judges.

This initiative provides crucial access to the judicial system, empowering the next generation of legal minds. 🏛️✨

Just one week left in the year! As we reflect on 2023, remember the impactful work ISF has done. Join us in creating positive change by making a tax-deductible donation today.

https://islamicscholarshipfund.org/eoy-campaign/

🎓 Law Graduates Ace the Bar!

Cheers to the recipients of ISF's bar scholarships in 2023, not only preparing for the state bar exam but acing it!

Your success is a testament to dedication, resilience, and the power of support. 📚🏆

🏛️ Diverse Voices on Capitol Hill!

ISF placed 11 aspiring policymakers into internships on Capitol Hill in 2023, shaping the future of public policy.

Your support of ISF continues to create pathways for change and ensures diverse voices are heard at the highest levels. 🇺🇸🌟

📊 Breaking Down Barriers!

Our 2023 scholarship recipients are a diverse cohort, with 10% pursuing Ph.D., 31% in Law, 34% in Grad studies, and 25% in Undergrad programs.

The diversity of ISF's Alums is what makes ISF truly special. 🌐✨

Only 2 weeks left in 2023! Let's end the year on a high note. Consider making a tax-deductible donation to ISF and be part of the change. Your support matters! 🌟

https://islamicscholarshipfund.org/eoy-campaign/

ISF's Scholarship Application (https://islamicscholarshipfund.org/scholarship/) is open until March 21st, 2024 for the 2024-25 school year. Every year, ISF awards up to $10,000 in scholarships to up-and-coming changemakers in media, policy, public interest law, and film. ISF is hosting two info sessions to advise applicants on eligibility, application requirements, and how to make your application stand out from the rest.

Register for Info Session #1 on January 17th at 4PM PST / 7PM EST: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_GVXC1x-OTqi47vz7o9mCRg #/registration

Register for Info Session #2 on February 21st at 4PM PST / 7PM EST: https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_mBTDir-WQbqM3G65GbQfQg #/registration

👩‍🎓 Women in Power!

Applauding the strength and resilience of our female scholarship recipients, comprising 60% of the awardees in 2023. 👏

Their achievements contribute to a future where women are leaders in every field! 💪✨

🎓 Celebrating Knowledge!

In 2023, the ISF community came together to award 42 scholarships, fostering academic excellence across 29 universities in 19 U.S. States.

Your support creates a ripple effect, shaping the future of countless students.

Let’s continue to into 2024! 🌟📚

https://islamicscholarshipfund.org/eoy-campaign/

Discover how you, as an individual, can make a difference and keep the media accountable. Our expert panelists will offer insights on transforming the media narrative through short letters to the editors and writing op-eds.

Your voice matters; we can strive for a more peaceful world together.

Tuesday, 12/12/2023 from 6:30-8:00 pm CST (Virtual)

Register now to secure your spot and be a part of this important training: bit.ly/MediaTrainingISF

This event is in partnership with the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, CAIR-Chicago, and Muslim Civic Coalition.

ISF has empowered a new generation of changemakers dedicated to making our country a more equitable place. While Representatives Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar have been instrumental in protecting our rights as American Muslims, we need many more courageous voices on the Hill advocating for our communities. This continues by placing more Muslims on the Hill to foster a pipeline of leaders.

Tahreem Alam, an ISF congressional intern and fellow alum who interned and worked with Representative Ilhan Omar, is now a legislative correspondent/staff assistant in her office.

Heba Mohiuddin spent her summer as an ISF congressional intern in Representative Sara Jacobs’s office and has since become a full-time staff assistant there.

We are able to accomplish this because of your support, and for that we thank you! Support our future alums here: https://secure.islamicscholarshipfund.org/forms/donate2isf

Interested in applying for our summer Congressional Policy internship? Look no further! Join us on 12/11 for our webinar that will discuss all things DC, Capitol Hill, and will provide some insight into the selection process! RSVP in our bio!

Today, on International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People, ISF is proud to stand in solidarity with the Palestinian people. With pride, we honor all our ISF alums who are standing for the rights of the Palestinians through their legal work, policy work, journalism, and films.

If the last few weeks have reminded us of anything, it’s that representation matters and that our interventions as Muslims in policy, media, and law are important and consequential.

We want to thank our supporters who make our work possible and acknowledge our alums, in particular, who have been at the forefront of advocacy, policy, and media work to challenge Israel’s genocide in Gaza and the brave people of Palestine who continue to remind us what courage and faith, in the face of violence, truly looks like.

Join our movement Thank you for supporting ISF in 2023. With your help we can go into the new year even stronger and continue to empower the next generation of American Muslim leaders. Your generosity will help reach an equitable future! The Islamic Scholarship Fund is a registered 501(c) 3 nonprofit charity. All don...

We are thrilled to share that the application for ISF's 2024 Scholarship Program is now live. Applications are due, March 21st, 2024.

Students in the fields of policy, public interest law, media/journalism, or film are eligible to receive funding for their undergraduate or graduate education. Recipients receive:

-Scholarships up to $10,000
-Professional Mentorship
-Professional Development Opportunities
-Access to a community of like-minded individuals dedicated to increasing American Muslim representation in policy & media

Learn more & apply here: https://islamicscholarshipfund.org/scholarship/

Premiering TONIGHT at 9pm EST on PBS “A Town Called Victoria”

Directed by Islamic Scholarship Fund recipient Li Lu, this three part docuseries reflects on 2017 mosque arson in a small town in Texas called Victoria.

As Saamidah, a young Palestinian-American girl, anxiously starts her first day of school, she finds her identity in question when faced with a world map that doesn't include her homeland.

ISF’s Film Programs Director and film alum, Iman Zawahry, worked on a children’s animation about Palestine. Please take a moment to watch and share it, as it is a tool and resource in amplifying Palestinian voices and the Palestinian narrative.

I Am From Palestine | Award-Winning Short Animation (full) | Rifk Books Award-winning children’s animation about the Palestinian-American experience in K-12 schools. Synopsis: As Saamidah, a young Palestinian-American girl, anxio...

Three important takeaways from a recent Insider article, co-written by one of our ISF Alums, Lila Hassan. Read the complete article here: https://www.businessinsider.com/israel-gaza-hamas-civilian-casualties-children-deaths-airstrikes-palestinian-2023-10

Now more than ever, we understand why we need Muslims in policy pushing for justice.

There's just one week left to apply for ISF's 3-month Spring Congressional Policy Internship. Applications are
due on October 30th at 11:59PM PST.

Have questions about the internship or what to expect? Check out this FAQ to get your questions answered.

ISF alums are challenging the narrative. Please check out this article, written by Lila Hassan, linked here: https://www.wired.com/story/palestinians-claim-social-media-censorship-is-endangering-lives/

Congrats to Mira Tarabeine for receiving a policy scholarship!

Mira is a dedicated advocate for equity, focusing on creating equal opportunities. She is currently the Economic Advancement Manager at the Tiyya Foundation, where she has placed over 70 refugees in sustainable jobs. This fall she will be attending the University of Chicago's Middle Eastern Studies program, aiming to contribute to foreign policy at the Department of Homeland Security and shape inclusive policies for underrepresented communities once she graduates. Mira's past experiences laid a strong foundation for her future endeavors.

As a policy intern at the Muslim Public Affairs Council, she developed strategies for inclusivity in government by studying the organization's objective policies. Additionally, her internship at the United Nations Relief and Works Agency showcased her dedication to empowering marginalized communities by bridging language and accessibility gaps. Mira's graduation from Occidental College in Critical Theory & Social Justice further enhanced her analytical skills, demonstrated.

Congratulations to Areeb Siddiqui for receiving a law scholarship!
Areeb is a 3L at Yale interested in pursuing a career in government lawyering. Areeb attended UT Dallas, where he became involved in work related to segregation, predatory lending, and financial discrimination, which ultimately led him to work in informal settlements in South Africa. At Yale, Areeb is involved in the Housing, Free Exercise, and Veterans Legal Services Clinics. Areeb has also recently gained an interest in religious discrimination work, which led him to intern at the ACLU Religious Freedom Project. Areeb took a gap from law school to work as a law clerk at the White House Counsel's Office and now works for Senator Whitehouse on the Senate Judiciary Committee. He has also worked at Arnold & Porter in DC and at the Department of Justice Civil Rights Division. After graduation, Areeb will serve as a law clerk to Judges Maria Kahn on the Second Circuit and Denise Cote on the Southern District of New York.

Congratulations to Sumya Abida for a media scholarship!

Sumya [soo-MYE-ah] is a current research fellow & education consultant at WolfBrown, an arts research and planning agency. Her interests include the integration of socio-political research with the practice of the arts. She uses documentary film, personal narrative writing, and poetry to explore topics in Asian & Middle Eastern culture and politics, religious studies, immigrant histories, and systems of education. Sumya is currently an undergraduate student at the City University of New York, studying English Literature & Creative Writing with a minor in Asian studies.

More than 450 supporters, partners, and community members joined us at the Grand Bay San Francisco Hotel in Redwood City last Saturday, Sept. 23rd, to attend ISF's Annual Banquet.

It was our first in-person Annual Banquet since the beginning of the pandemic, and the evening was filled with inspiration, love, and a shared commitment to positive change for our community.

The night's highlight was our alum roundtable discussion, which included our next-generation leaders who shared stories about their passion, courage, and desire to create positive social change for Muslim and oppressed communities.

We also celebrated the 10th anniversary of ISF's Film Grants by announcing our 2023 recipients and the ISF x Rifelion Writers Access Initiative winners. We are proud to share that this year, fourteen writers and filmmakers have received grants in the categories of narrative, documentary, distribution, and writing.

As we prepare for another year of impactful work, we ask you to help us reach our goal of raising $300,000. We are only $14,500 away and are counting on your support.

Congrats to Rafeeat Bishi for receiving a film scholarship!
Rafeeat, a Film & Television student at Boston University specializing in Production Management, aspires to become a producer who provides a platform for authentic storytelling for diverse voices.
Her journey into narrative filmmaking began as an Assistant Director on the short film "Bob," focusing on the experiences of a young Chinese immigrant boy and his mother in the United States. This experience deepened her understanding of narrative filmmaking and solidified her desire to work as a producer, emphasizing authentic storytelling without compromising identity.
In the long term, Rafeeat aims to develop their innovative abilities further and collaborate to create impactful work, including documentaries, narratives, and new media productions that highlight marginalized communities.

Congrats to Zaid Hassan for receiving a film scholarship!

Zaid Hassan is a passionate filmmaker and director residing in the vibrant city of Los Angeles. Currently, he is pursuing studies in Film Production at the renowned USC School of Cinematic Arts, where he is honing his skills and expanding his knowledge in the art of storytelling.
As a first-generation Muslim Pakistani American, Zaid's unique cultural background has played a significant role in shaping his artistic vision. He takes immense pride in infusing his work with thought-provoking dramas and thrilling narratives that carry undertones of Islamic influences. Through his films, he aims to challenge stereotypes, bridge cultural gaps, and shed light on the rich tapestry of diverse experiences that exist within society.

Last week, ISF announced the recipients of its 2023 Media Scholarships. Today, we are proud to introduce you to our 2023 Film Scholarship Recipients.

‌We are pleased to support five filmmakers this year!

Antonio López is a poetician working at the intersection of poetry, politics and social change. He serves on a number of boards including the Bay Area Water Supply & Conservation Agency, the Joint Powers Authority for San Mateo County Libraries, El Concilio of San Mateo County, RISE (Reaching and Inspiring Students through Education), among others. He holds degrees from Duke University, Rutgers-Newark, and the University of Oxford as a Marshall Scholar. His political work and poetry has been featured in a number of publications including NPR, PEN/America, Poetry, and others. He is a 2020-2021 National Book Critics Circle Emerging Fellow He is also a doctoral candidate at Stanford University in the program of Modern Thought & Literature His debut poetry collection, Gentefication, was selected by Gregory Pardlo as the winner of the 2019 Levis Prize in Poetry. His second collection, Leaves of Glass, is forthcoming. Antonio fights gentrification in his hometown as the Vice Mayor for the City of East Palo Alto.

Last week, ISF announced the recipients of its 2023 Law Scholarships. Today, we are proud to introduce you to our 2023 Media Scholarship Recipients.

We are pleased to support nine journalists and authors this year!