A Vision of Hope for the Future

By Somayeh Nikooei
Executive Director
Islamic Scholarship Fund

On Tuesday night, candidates made history in elections across the country. Zohran Mamdani was elected as Mayor of one of the world’s most influential cities. The election drew 2 million voters to the polls, the highest turnout the city has seen for a mayoral election in decades. Virginia voted for Ghazala Hashmi as their Lieutenant Governor, the first Muslim American woman to be elected to a statewide office. Sam Rasoul ran for re-election and won, and will be returning to the Virginia House of Delegates. There are even more candidates than we can list here who either held their seats or will be taking office in the coming days. 
For months, we felt the promise of their campaigns. We watched as unapologetically Muslim candidates took to the stage in some of the most recognized cities and offices in the world, sharing fresh ideas for transforming policies and refusing to shy away from today’s most pressing issues. We witnessed change in action, and were shown that the equitable future we have imagined for our communities is possible.
Here at ISF, we want the next generation to know that their dreams are part of that future. We want to empower them to pursue lives of ambition and resolve. We want them to know they have a right to be heard, and that they can make an enormous difference in our country’s most influential institutions. 
It’s why we focus our efforts on opening doors for our participants, whether they aspire to make award-winning films, fight for justice as attorneys, rewrite narratives, or run for office. Our goal is to ensure that no person misses out on life-changing opportunities or feels they have to compromise their values to find success. Together, we are fostering a new generation of unapologetic leaders, with the tools they need to transform courthouses, newsrooms, and film institutions, and even change the face of politics. 
This is the work that will sustain us and ignite our creativity, passion, and dedication. This is what will transform our communities, cities, and countries. This is how we will continue to fight anti-Muslim discrimination, shift narratives, and address the concerns that matter most to our families and loved ones. 

It will not be through fear-mongering, unfair advantages, or suppressing our values. It will be through moral courage, a vision of hope, and the belief that everyone deserves a seat at the table. We hope your day is filled with the promise of this vision, and that we can continue to work alongside you to make our participants’ dreams a reality.