Aneesa Shaikh
INTERN

Email: ans@advocatingopportunity.com

Aneesa Shaikh is an incoming law student and an intern at the Toledo office of Advocating Opportunity. Aneesa recently graduated from Cornell University with a major in Global Development and minors in Law & Society as well as Arabic Culture & Language. Aneesa's dedication to advancing social justice within historically marginalized communities is demonstrated by her involvement with a number of organizations and campaigns. During the summer of 2021, she served as the Field Team Organizer and Youth for Tahanie Lead for Tahanie Aboushi’s trailblazing campaign for Manhattan District Attorney of New York. Aneesa's work in this role was crucial in coordinating grassroots initiatives among a group of multicultural volunteers and young activists. Aneesa also facilitated essential discussions on the responsibilities of the Manhattan District Attorney's Office involving diverse and representative NYC community leaders, including Cynthia Nixon, Yuh-Line Niou, and Sochi Nnaemeka. Additionally, during her tenure as a Youth Ambassador for the Office of Ohio Attorney General, Aneesa actively investigated and assisted in the creation of legislation regarding important issues facing the Ohio AG’s Office, including the opioid epidemic, human trafficking, illegal immigration—as well as the significant political, legal, and social connections between them.

Within the Arab-American community to which she belongs in Toledo, Aneesa has designed and implemented an Intermediate ESL and American Culture course aimed for adult Arabic speakers, immigrants, permanent residents, in her role as a Volunteer Instructor and Legal Aide at Social Services for the Arab Community (SSFAC). Through engaging discussions on critical topics such as race relations, cultural customs, and the US citizenship process, Aneesa hopes to provide a platform for her students to both improve their language skills and expand their agency and autonomy within their own contexts. With her diverse experiences and passion for social justice across social and cultural diversity, Aneesa hopes to make a meaningful contribution to the legal field and beyond.

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