Helping refugees and (im)migrants find home in New Haven.

Daliya is a junior at Jonathan Edwards College studying Global Affairs with a certificate in Data Science. Raised between Bulgaria and Libya, she immigrated to Winchester, Virginia when she was eleven. Her interest in migration advocacy and aid stems from her own experience starting over in a new country and her time in Libya during the civil war. Working with the women's group this past year, she was inspired by the perseverance of the young women and hopes to continue fostering interpersonal relationships between immigrant communities and their new homes as the Co-Director. Besides MAY, Daliya is the Co-Editor-In-Chief of the Yale Human Rights Journal, shares her love for the outdoors as a FOOT leader, serves her spider community on the JECC, and dances with Rangeela. You can reach out to her at daliya.alielabani@yale.edu.

Kaylen is a junior in Ezra Stiles majoring in Global Affairs and pursuing an Arabic certificate. As a New Haven native, she is passionate about assisting and empowering under-resourced communities in the inner city, having mentored youth in low-income housing developments and tutored in programs promoting STEM education in New Haven Public Schools. She loved working with Women’s Group last year, learning from the students’ experiences and helping create a safe community among the high schoolers and volunteers. Outside of MAY, she is a Public School Intern and Coordinator, and a World Fellow Student Liaison. You can reach her at kaylen.yun@yale.edu.

Deewa is sophomore in TD from Portland, Oregon. She is majoring in Political Science and this is her second year working with MAY. Coming into her first year, she wanted to get involved in the New Haven community and MAY was an amazing opportunity to do so. She is looking forward to the year ahead! You can reach out to her at deewa.rahim@yale.edu.
 

Ishnan is from Hamden, Connecticut, majoring in Global Affairs. Outside of her academic commitments, Ishnan works as a Peer Liaison for the Chaplain's Office. She is super excited to serve as Co-Directer for MAY this year. In her spare time, you would find her spending time at Yale's cultural centers and museums and boba shops. She is excited to meet everyone! Feel free to reach out to her at ishnan.khan@yale.edu.

Fardouza Farah is a Junior in Grace Hopper, studying Ethnicity, Race, and Migration. At MAY, she is a co-director of the Education & Outreach team, working closely with IRIS. Outside of MAY, she is a CCE (Consent, and Communications Educator), and works with the Title IX office’s Advisory Board. She is Co-President of Beyond Bars, an org on campus dedicated to amplifying the stories of incarcerated women and providing attention and resources to sexual misconduct survivors in the prison system. She is also Vice President of Her Kitaab, a non-profit working with and for refugee women internationally. Where she is leading an initiative in Somalia which presents legal, english, and financial literacy curriculums to Somali women. Above all, she is incredibly passionate about immigration law, consent education, and prison reform work. You can reach her at fardouza.farah@yale.edu.

Hi everyone! My name is Seung Min (first-name) Baik Kang (last-name) and I’m a junior in Branford College hoping to double major in History and Economics. I am an international student born and raised in Guatemala although both my parents are South Korean. On campus, I sing with the Yale Glee Club (Yale’s principal undergraduate chorus) and serve as Co-Head Peer Liaison at La Casa Cultural. I am an avid runner and love exploring different restaurants and coffee shops in New Haven. I’m beyond excited to be Co-Director of the Immigration Group. Growing up in Guatemala, I had the opportunity to work extensively with migrant communities and cannot wait to continue facilitating that work this year. Feel free to reach out at seugmin.bakkang@yale.edu if you have any questions!

Helen Qi is a sophomore in Hopper College studying Ethics, Politics, and Economics. She developed a passion for immigration law through her experience as a Congressional Intern and a Legal Immigration Intern. On campus, Helen plays viola in the Yale Symphony Orchestra and is involved in the Yale Undergraduate Legal Aid Association, Yale Undergraduate Diversified Investments, and Yale Alpha Phi. In her free time, Helen enjoys painting, taking pictures of food, and buying things that are pink and fluffy. Helen is excited to serve as Co-Director of the Immigration Group. You can reach her at helen.qi@yale.edu.

Munira Elbashir is a junior in Davenport College, studying Political Science and Economics, with an Arabic certificate, originally from Sudan. Along with MAY, Munira is the Co-Managing Editor of the Human Rights Journal, a Peer Liaison at the Afro-American Cultural Center, and the Co-President of the Urban Improvement Corps, a tutoring and mentoring organization based in The Afro-American Cultural Center. As part of the Yale Undergraduate Legal Aid Association, Munira has also translated grant information and eligibility documents for immigrants in the New Haven area seeking legal permanent residences. In her free time, Munira enjoys drinking tea with friends, running, and playing board games with her family. You can reach out to her at munira.elbashir@yale.edu.

Fiona Chen is a sophomore in Pauli Murray College pursuing a double major in Political Science and Ethnicity, Race, and Migration while aiming for a human rights certificate. Growing up in New Haven, she is passionate about serving the community and has experience working with various non-profit organizations throughout the city. Fiona has also interned for organizations that aim to uplift and support underserved communities in the Greater New Haven area. Outside of MAY, Fiona is involved with the Yale Undergraduate Legal Aid Association as a project manager, the Yale Women’s Leadership Initiative, and the Yale Scholars of Finance. You can reach her at fiona.chen.fc494@yale.edu.

Joleen Bakalova is a first year in Jonathan Edwards College with a prospective major of Global Affairs and/or Anthropology. Growing up in a Chinese-Bulgarian immigrant household, she spent her latter school years working in youth political organizing, including lobbying Congressmembers on international humanitarian crises. With her time as an intern at United Nations Women and the Foreign Policy Research Institute, volunteering at an Austrian refugee settlement during her gap year has inspired her to get involved with migration advocacy at Yale. Outside of MAY, she researches at the Yale Policy Institute’s Global Displacement Crisis Center and sings in the Yale Glee Club. You can reach Joleen at joleen.bakalova@yale.edu.

Mohamed is a junior from the Bronx, NY studying Global Affairs and History. As the child of first generation immigrants, he is passionate about helping migrants adjust and ensuring educational equity amongst children who are first and second generation immigration. Along with MAY, he is involved with Code Haven at Yale, YIRA, the Beinecke, Y-SASCA, and BlackGen Capital. You can reach him at mohamed.diallo@yale.edu.