Shahana Hanif, a 29-year-old Bangladeshi living in Brooklyn, is running to become the first Muslim woman on the New York City Council.
She is running for the political seat with an eye on improving how the city protects and cares for different groups of people within it, and changing its attitude towards them for the better.
“I’d like to see a city that is looking out for people with disabilities; a city that is looking out for women, young women; a city that is capable of providing adequate health care, paired with mental health services, with language access. A city that is protecting its most vulnerable tenants, whether in public housing, rent-stabilized housing, any other forms of housing. I see a city that has never elected a Muslim women to office,” she said, reports Teen Vogue.
Shahana has been a feminist organizer and advocate from a young age, helping women of color and Bangladeshi women in her community on various issues.
She was diagnosed with Lupus at the age of 17, and she has been carrying it ever since.
However, Shahana said the experience of having the disease has made her stronger mentally, and is helping her to better cope with the lockdowns induced by the coronavirus crisis.
“I feel reenergized…. With lupus, 12 years in, I've built up strong discipline on hope, change, and presence. Disability justice activists and healers have set up abundant ways to get through this,” she said.