We are so happy to share that Sagirah Shahid has joined our team at MRAC as a Program Director! She will be working with the Programs Team to provide direct services related to all of MRAC’s grant programs.
Sagirah Shahid is a Black Muslim poet, arts educator, performer, and poetry editor from Minneapolis, MN. She has over 10 years of experience working within the nonprofit sector including as a staff member of African Economic Development Solutions, Reviving the Islamic Sisterhood for Empowerment, and Minnesota Center for Book Arts.
As an artist, Sagirah has a long track record of collaborating with community organizations and groups to support the creative expression of historically marginalized communities. From serving as one of the inaugural mentors for the Write Like Us program, an equity-driven creative writing program across five Twin Cities metro-area community colleges, to co-curating the City of Saint Paul’s and Public Art Saint Paul’s Sidewalk Poetry project in 2021, Sagirah is always delighted to work collaboratively with communities to ensure Minnesotans from all walks of life have access to the arts.
Sagirah has served as a panelist for MRAC in 2017, 2019, and 2023. She has also served as a panelist for the Minnesota State Arts Board in 2017 and 2022. Sagirah has completed community organizing training with the Inner-City Muslim Action Network, anti-racism training with the Muslim Anti-Racism Collaborative, and she is a 2023 Josie R. Johnson Leadership Academy Fellow.
Sagirah is a published author, a well-rested auntie, and an appreciator of wildflower gardens.
Please help us to welcome her!