Summer 2026
Kiswa Karim
Communications Intern - Summer 2026
Kiswa is a Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago with a strong passion for journalism and advocacy. When the COVID pandemic hit, she began writing book reviews and quickly discovered her love for storytelling. In sixth grade, she contributed to her middle school's social justice club’s first newspaper for three years, further growing her interest in journalism and changemaking. Now, rising in her senior year of high school, she will serve as the Editor-in-Chief of North Star News at Niles North High School. Kiswa is also the founder of Uplifting Health, a club dedicated to addressing health disparities in minority communities through advocacy and education. She participates in Policy Debate and enjoys discussing social and political issues. Outside of academics, she loves crocheting and runs her small business, Krochet Kottage, where she creates handmade pieces. Kiswa is passionate about using writing, leadership, and community involvement to create meaningful change and inspire others through her work.
Zaynah Shaikh
Communications Intern - Summer 2026
Zaynah Shaikh is a Summer 2025 Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She will be a senior at Adlai E. Stevenson High School in the fall, and hopes to major in Biology on a pre-med track. Her passion for advocacy and representation within Muslim communities, paired with her firsthand experience witnessing the gaps in institutional support for Muslim students, led her to join CAIR-Chicago with the devotion to create real change in school environments. At Stevenson, Zaynah holds executive positions in both the Muslim Student Association and Student Council, where she plays an active role in both organizations. Some of her activities outside of school include owning her own matcha cart business, leading a Beads for Babies initiative that funds an orphan sponsorship program for children in Gaza, and fostering cats with a local rescue organization!
Giselle Dreher
Outreach/Government Affairs Intern - Summer 2026
Giselle Dreher is a Summer Outreach/Government Affairs Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is a fourth-year high school student at DePaul College Prep. After graduating from high school, she plans to major in Political Science and later become a criminal defense attorney, representing individuals who have been unfairly impacted by a biased justice system. She chose to intern at CAIR-Chicago because of her passion for helping people, advocating for civil rights and social justice, and gaining a deeper understanding of nonprofit work. In her free time, Giselle enjoys running, working out, and learning how to cook and bake new dishes.
Penelope Tennant McGovern
Outreach Intern - Summer 2026
Penelope McGovern is a Summer Outreach/Government Affairs Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is a third-year student at the University of Michigan, double-majoring in Sociology and Asian Studies. Her sociology classes focus on law, justice, and social change, and her Asian studies focus is on Mandarin Chinese and East Asia. She chose to intern at CAIR-Chicago to help in the fight for civil rights and social justice, and to gain experience in nonprofit work to influence her home community, Chicago. In her free time, Penelope dances in the collegiate competitive ballroom scene, and studies up on a variety of other dance styles.
Hana Amin
Communications/Operations Intern - Summer 2026
Hana Amin is a summer Communications and Operations Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is a student at the Indiana University Kelley School of Business, where she serves as the Director of Marketing for the Kelley Student Government and as a Voting Board Member of the Indiana University Funding Board. She was raised in the suburbs of Chicago. By joining CAIR, she hopes to get hands-on experience in advocacy work while exploring civil rights law. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, watersports, and trying new experiences.
Noor Choudhry
Communications Intern - Summer 2026
Noor Choudhry is currently serving as a summer Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She will be entering her junior year at Neuqua Valley High School and has a strong interest in law and civics. Noor is actively involved in her school’s Youth and Government program, as well as the YMCA’s Youth Advocacy Program, where she serves as a student mentor. Noor chose to intern at CAIR to gain practical experience and contribute to meaningful initiatives. In her free time, she enjoys reading, baking, trying new coffee drinks, and experimenting with makeup.
Reshmika Janga
Communications Intern - Summer 2026
Reshmika Janga is an incoming junior at Loyola University of Chicago with a double major in Political Science and Statistics. She is on the Pre-Law track, hoping to go into immigration or international human rights law with a passion for equality and justice in human rights. She has academic interests in understanding implicit racial biases in the legal system and the comparative legal studies of legal systems globally. She hopes to continue working towards education and advocacy after her undergraduate and law school career to achieve just legal treatment. CAIR greatly aligns with her career goals and personal mission of enacting justice for discriminated against communities and Reshmika is looking forward to working with CAIR as a Communications Intern! In her free time, Reshmika loves to listen to music and explore different restaurants and cafes around Chicago.
Urij Wako
Communications - Summer 2026
Urji Wako is a Summer Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago and a rising junior at Walter Payton College Prep. She chose to join CAIR so she could be involved more in the Chicago community and be a part of the positive impact of the organization. She is very passionate about better understanding and learning how to benefit her community, as well as empowering and educating the individual, particularly muslim women, within said communities. Previously, she was involved in her community by writing and performing poetry at community events to highlight social and political issues. In her free time she enjoys reading, playing volleyball, and writing & studying the intricacies of history and Islamic theology.
Aisha Fatima
Communications Intern - Summer 2026
Aisha Fatima is a Summer Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is a rising senior at Adlai E. Stevenson High School, and serves as her school newspaper’s Managing Editor. After high school, she hopes to gain a further education in journalism and political science on the pre-law track. She was interested in working in CAIR-Chicago for the opportunity to gain hands-on experience in advocacy efforts related to civil rights and community engagement through media representation. Outside of school, she interns with the County Clerk and works on the back end of midterm election efforts, and works with public health organizations to spread awareness within her community. In her free time, Aisha enjoys playing guitar, watching movies, and knitting.
Noah Hanif
Government Affairs Intern - Summer 2026
Noah Hanif is a Summer Government Affairs intern at CAIR Chicago. He will be a senior at Adlai E Stevenson High School in the fall, and hopes to major in political science. At Stevenson High School Noah was involved in promoting conversation between politicians and students, as well as standing up for student free speech. Some of his activities outside of school include being a translator for local food pantries, reading, and exploring small restaurants in and around Chicago.
Carlos Hevia-Aza Tomillo
Law Clerk - Summer 2026
Carlos Hevia-Aza Tomillo is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. He is a rising 2L at Harvard Law School, where he is the director of the school's International Refugee Assistance Project chapter and an editor on the Harvard Human Rights Journal. Carlos graduated magna cum laude from the University of Chicago in 2023, with a bachelor's degree in Human Rights and Political Science.
Originally from Spain, Carlos moved to the United States in 2012 and has since dedicated significant time to supporting immigrant communities, both as a member and advocate. Carlos chose to work at CAIR-Chicago this summer to continue pursuing his commitment to human rights and community-based work in the city where he plans to practice after graduation.
Alli Barberena
Civil Rights Intern - Summer 2026
Alli Barberena is a summer Civil Rights Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is a rising 3L at DePaul University College of Law, where she is President of the International Law Society and Development Coordinator for DePaul Law Review. She attended undergrad at the Ohio State University where she majored in Sociology and Criminal Justice. Alli is pursuing a career in International Human Rights Law. She is a part of the International Human Rights Law Clinic at Depaul, where she has traveled to Timor Leste to advocate for survivors of conflict-related violence. She is excited to be a part of CAIR’s Civil Rights Department this summer.
Logan Gouss
Outreach/Communications Intern - Summer 2026
Logan Gouss is an Outreach and Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. He is an International and Global Studies Major at Middlebury College with a minor in Arabic. He previously studied Arabic in Morocco as part of the U.S. Department of State’s NSLI-Y program. He chose to join CAIR to contribute to work that combats Islamophobia, protects civil liberties, and promotes interfaith understanding. His professional interests include diplomacy, Middle East studies, and conflict resolution. In his free time, Logan enjoys listening to music, watching films, learning languages, and following current events.
Xitali Ocote-Arellano
Outreach Intern - Summer 2026
Xitlali Ocote-Arellano is an Outreach Summer Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is going into her second year at Lehigh University, pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and Health, Medicine, and Society, with a minor in Philosophy. At Lehigh, Xitlali works at the Center for Cultural Engagement and is involved in Phi Alpha Delta, Lehigh’s Pre-Law Professional Fraternity. Xitlali chose to intern at CAIR because she wants to pursue a career in the legal field and believes civil rights should be at the forefront of that. She wants to make a meaningful difference by advocating for policy changes that combat inequities across Chicago. In her free time, she is a passionate advocate for equitable healthcare access and loves learning about Latino cuisine.
Isabel Gonzalez Belobradic
Communications Intern - Summer 2026
Isabel Gonzalez Belobradic is a Summer Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is a recent graduate of Goldsmiths, University of London, where she studied journalism and graduated with first class honors. Through her experience working at a local London news site, she was in constant communication with community and activist groups while reporting on current issues affecting local neighborhoods. She was also an active member of her community, volunteering at a women’s sanctuary in London and participating in a youth advocacy group in Oak Park. Isabel chose CAIR-Chicago for its commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices and combatting discrimination. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching horror movies, and crafting. She looks forward to strengthening her writing skills to advocate for justice and fair representation.
Haazim Amirali
Law Clerk - Summer 2026
Haazim Amirali is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. He is a student at the University of California, Berkeley Law School, where he serves on the board of the Muslim Law Students Association and leads the Post-Conviction Advocacy Pro-Bono Project. Haazim graduated cum laude from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in both History and Political Science. Before starting law school, he worked to support currently/formerly incarcerated individuals as a John Gardner Fellow on Community Legal Aid’s Re-Entry Team and as a Legal-Policy Assistant on the ACLU of Northern California’s Criminal Justice Team. He is excited to support the Muslim community in Illinois. In his free time, he enjoys watching and playing basketball, going on long walks with his dog, and eating ice cream with friends.
Shahira Bhasha
Communications Intern - Summer 2026
Shahira Bhasha is a Summer Communications department Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is a graphic designer, graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago. As a fellow Muslim living in the Greater Chicago Area, and someone who has previously offered her design services to local Islamic organizations, she joined CAIR-Chicago to give back to the community she grew up in. She is a writer and digital artist with a strong passion for storytelling.
Deen Syed
Outreach Intern - Summer 2026
Deen Syed is a Summer Outreach Intern at CAIR-Chicago. He recently graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Religion. He is currently in a gap year and plans on beginning law school in the fall. Born and raised in Chicago, Deen is an active community member and volunteer at the Muslim Community Center.
By joining CAIR, he hopes to immerse himself in, contribute to, and learn from an esteemed professional organization with a history of defending civil rights, fighting bigotry, and promoting equality, especially in light of the current sociopolitical climate. In his free time, Deen enjoys rock climbing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and trying out new recipes.
Winter/Spring 2026
Deen Syed
Outreach Intern - Winter/Spring 2026
Deen Syed is a Winter Outreach Intern at CAIR-Chicago. He recently graduated from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign with a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and a minor in Religion. He is currently in a gap year and plans on beginning law school in the fall. Born and raised in Chicago, Deen is an active community member and volunteer at the Muslim Community Center. By joining CAIR, he hopes to immerse himself in, contribute to, and learn from an esteemed professional organization with a history of defending civil rights, fighting bigotry, and promoting equality, especially in light of the current sociopolitical climate. In his free time, Deen enjoys rock climbing, Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and trying out new recipes.
Amani Rashid
Outreach Intern - Winter/Spring 2026
Amani Rashid is an Outreach Intern at CAIR-Chicago for the Winter & Spring 2026 session. She is a senior at Dominican University, graduating this May with a Presidential Scholarship and a B.A. in Sociology with a minor in Criminology. After completing her undergraduate studies, Amani will continue at Dominican to pursue her master’s in Library Science. Amani chose CAIR-Chicago to further her commitment to advocating for civil rights, uplifting Muslim voices, building bridges across communities, and expanding Muslim representation in public institutions. She is also an active member of HEAL Palestine, where she helps coordinate awareness events and fundraisers supporting humanitarian, health, education, and aid initiatives for Palestinian families. In her free time, Amani enjoys taking road trips, creating Palestinian tatreez cross-stitch art, and spending time with her family.
Alishbah Wakeel
Operations Intern - Winter/Spring 2026
Alishbah Wakeel is a Winter/Spring Operations Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is a third-year student at University of Illinois Chicago, where she is pursuing a major in Marketing and Finance. Through her previous nonprofit involvement, she has supported research, coordination, and day-to-day operations. At UIC, she has been involved in student organizations focused on professional development, community engagement, and content creation. She chose to intern at CAIR-Chicago to gain hands-on experience while contributing to civil rights and advocacy work. In her free time, Alishbah enjoys art, weightlifting, and exploring different coffee shops.
Monserrat Aguinaga
Operations Intern - Winter/Spring 2026
Monserrat Aguinaga is a Winter/Spring Operations Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is a first-year student at the University of Illinois Chicago, double-majoring in Sociology and Latin American Studies, with a minor in Arabic. Monserrat chose to intern at CAIR because she is deeply passionate about protecting civil rights, promoting justice, and combating discrimination and racism. She also wanted to make a meaningful impact by contributing her Trilingual skills. In her free time, Monserrat enjoys volunteering at her church, spending time with her family, and dancing to Latin music.
Sydney Lewis
Operations Intern - Winter/Spring 2026
Sydney Lewis is a Winter/Spring Operations Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is a freshman at Loyola University Chicago majoring in Sociology, with a minor in Criminal Justice & Criminology. She is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio. After graduation, Sydney intends to pursue law school and a career in public interest law, particularly public defense or civil rights law. She chose to intern at CAIR to explore her interest in civil rights law and get involved in the community. At Loyola, she is involved in Model United Nations, Pre-Law Society, and the Alpha Phi Omega Service Fraternity. She volunteers at Centro Romero, an after-school program for Hispanic youth in Rogers Park. In her free time, she enjoys hiking, crocheting, and playing the saxophone.
Isabel Gonzalez-Belobradic
Communications Intern - Winter/Spring 2026
Isabel Gonzalez Belobradic is a Winter/Spring Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is a recent graduate of Goldsmiths, University of London, where she studied journalism and graduated with first class honors. Through her experience working at a local London news site, she was in constant communication with community and activist groups while reporting on current issues affecting local neighborhoods. She was also an active member of her community, volunteering at a women’s sanctuary in London and participating in a youth advocacy group in Oak Park. Isabel chose CAIR-Chicago for its commitment to amplifying underrepresented voices and combatting discrimination. In her free time, she enjoys reading, watching horror movies, and crafting. She looks forward to strengthening her writing skills to advocate for justice and fair representation.
Shahira Bhasha
Communications Intern - Winter/Spring 2026
Shahira Bhasha is a Winter Communications department Intern at CAIR-Chicago. She is a graphic designer, graduated from the University of Illinois at Chicago. As a fellow Muslim living in the Greater Chicago Area, and someone who has previously offered her design services to local Islamic organizations, she joined CAIR-Chicago to give back to the community she grew up in. She is a writer and digital artist with a strong passion for storytelling.
Ayca Kosluoglu
Communications Intern - Winter/Spring 2026
Ayca Kosluoglu is a Communications Intern at CAIR-Chicago from Turkey. She recently received her Master's Degree from University of Chicago on Middle Eastern Studies. Her areas of interest in academics and professional life include global governance, human rights, migration management, and civic activism. Her advocacy work and research focus on how civil society organizations, public policy, and legal systems can safeguard vulnerable populations and alleviate structural inequality. She has lived and worked in a variety of diverse settings and dedicated her studies to policy-focused research, legal advocacy, and public interest work. She also wants to expand her expertise in advocacy-driven organizations and human rights-focused NGOs. In her free time, she likes to be outdoors, drawing, exploring the Chicago music scene, and hanging out with her friends.
Batool Jafferi
Law Clerk - Winter/Spring 2026
Batool Jafferi is a Winter/Spring 2026 Civil Rights Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. She is a rising 3L at the University of Illinois at Chicago School of Law. She graduated from Lewis University in 2022 with a degree in Political Science and a minor in Criminal Justice. Batool's interests include civil rights, international human rights law, and family law. She chose CAIR-Chicago because she is interested in Public Interest work and wants to protect the community against religious discrimination.
Haazim Amirali
Law Clerk - Winter/Spring 2026
Haazim Amirali is a Law Clerk at CAIR-Chicago. He is a student at the University of California, Berkeley Law School, where he serves on the board of the Muslim Law Students Association and leads the Post-Conviction Advocacy Pro-Bono Project. Haazim graduated cum laude from the University of California, Berkeley, in 2021 with a bachelor’s degree in both History and Political Science. Before starting law school, he worked to support currently/formerly incarcerated individuals as a John Gardner Fellow on Community Legal Aid’s Re-Entry Team and as a Legal-Policy Assistant on the ACLU of Northern California’s Criminal Justice Team. He is excited to support the Muslim community in Illinois. In his free time, he enjoys watching and playing basketball, going on long walks with his dog, and eating ice cream with friends.