Name: Mai Dabees
Class Year: 2025
Major: Political Science Minors: Environmental Studies and MECANA Studies
Hometown: Naples, Florida
Internship Organization: CAIR Philadelphia
Internship Title: Advocacy and Outreach
Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
What's happening at your internship? We would love to hear what kind of work you are doing!
In June, I spent a lot of time organizing and attending CAIR events such as the Muslim Youth Leadership Summit, Muslim City Hall Day, and the Young Professionals Eid Picnic. I have also been attending rallies and charity events in support of Palestine and designing infographics to hand out when CAIR tables at cultural events. However, this month, I am attending a lot more events coordinated by other organizations that work with CAIR, such as the Presidential Town Hall and the Muslims and Mental Health panel discussion hosted by the City's Department of Behavioral Health. In between events, we have been canvassing in West Philadelphia and registering people to vote. This has not been the most successful endeavor following the presidential debate at the end of June, and I hope that Biden’s withdrawal from the presidential campaign improves our success.
Why did you apply for this internship?
My unconventional ties to the United States and the Muslim faith have defined the course of my life, and I would like to focus on American-Islamic relations this summer. As an Egyptian American growing up in a white Florida suburb, I had a complicated relationship with both my country and my faith due to both the lack of Mosques and Muslim communities and the abundance of white Americans who were sure I did not belong in their country. Bryn Mawr College is where I finally felt in touch with both. After joining the Muslim Student Association and spending time in the Philadelphia area, I was able to find a welcoming community of Muslim Americans. I felt an obligation to give back to the Muslim American community in the Philadelphia area. Last year I did extensive research on the Council on American-Islamic Relations and tried to apply through Haverford’s Center for Peace and Global Citizenship, but that application was only open for Haverford students. So this year, I saw my chance through the Summer of Service program and I took it.
What has been your favorite part of this internship?
Like I said before, I was so fortunate to find a warm Muslim community at Bryn Mawr through MSA. But through CAIR, I am now connected with the larger Muslim community in West Philadelphia and Center City. Although I plan to keep in touch with my friends from Bryn Mawr after college, I am so happy to be connected to a more permanent Muslim community. I plan to stay in the Philadelphia area after college and would love to work full time with CAIR. After connecting with young Muslims in the area and giving back to the community, I am actually excited for my life after college.
Career & Civic Engagement Center Political Science Environmental Studies Middle Eastern, Central Asian, and North African Studies