Hi! My name is Quswa Qaiser and I go by the she/her. I’m 17 years old and I recently graduated from Bard High School Early College. This fall, I will be attending St. Francis College on their accelerated nursing track. I love writing poetry, henna, baking, laughing, and the rain. I’m passionate about helping people, advocating for many social issues across the board, standing up for myself and others, and bringing a smile to people’s faces.

I would describe the community research fellows (CRF) program to be a proactive space wherein ideas are taught and then practically applied. In the CRF program, the fellows are taught about a host of very dense social, economic, political, and humanitarian concepts and ideas, and they are then challenged to apply what they have learned. Whether it be through an informative presentation, eye-catching zine, engaging activity or game, or even a community service project.

Through CRF, I created and presented a research project on the history of abortion legislature in the United States in light of the overturning of Roe v. Wade in June of 2022. I then turned that research into a one page blurb that would be part of a zine. The following winter, I participated in a community service project in which we handed out necessities (non-perishable food items, winter attire, and hand-warmers) to the homeless and financially struggling public of Brooklyn.

The CRF program and my mentors at the BWC Legacy program have taught me so much. To highlight, I’ve learned how to put concepts I have learned and beliefs I employ into practical and actionable steps. I’ve also learned how to lead and facilitate a conversation. This past weekend, during the Joyful Futures: Envisioning Police-Free Schools Events hosted by Girls for Gender Equity (GGE) at Lower Eastside Girls Club,  I utilized these two key skills by creating and leading a Jeopardy-esque activity centered around praxis and critical consciousness. I covered topics such as racism, sexism, homophobia, classism, xenophobia, and more.