April 4, 2024
I was born and raised in Dhaka, Bangladesh. I studied English Literature, worked at various nonprofits, and wrote for national newspapers before moving to New York in 2015 for a master’s in international relations at The New School. My interest was primarily in capacity building of local organizations and evaluating the impact of social welfare programs. I quickly found my place at AAFSC and have been a part of the organization for 6 years. At AAFSC, I strive to support and create systems that give marginalized or disempowered communities equal access to resources and opportunities, with a long-term and broad impact. AAFSC provides me with the opportunity to do so every day.
My team and I work closely with immigrant, refugee, and undocumented families to ensure that their basic needs are met, their rights are safeguarded, and their voices are heard. We provide trauma-informed, linguistically, and culturally relevant solutions to frequent inequities that immigrant families confront, such as housing instability, food shortages, unemployment, and a lack of access to healthcare, mental health services, and educational opportunities. Direct service providers also assess and improve the safety and well-being of children while advocating for parents/caregivers.
As an immigrant woman of color, I am inextricably linked to the communities I serve. I have the perspective of a common lived experience and a shared identity. Immigrant women’s labor is frequently disregarded, and low-income immigrant communities have few options despite their unwavering contributions in building this country. It is a privilege to be a part of uplifting our voices and centering our collective well-being.
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Labiba is a Program Director at the Arab-American Family Support Center, supporting immigrant and refugee families to ensure their basic needs are met through AAFSC’s Preventive Services Program. To learn more about our work, visit aafscny.org.