Arij Mikati Email & Phone Number

Greater Chicago Area

I lead the storytelling and culture change work at Pillars, which works to reclaim the histories and reimagine the futures of Muslims in America with the most crucial set of voices: our own. Muslims in America are at the center of much of today’s news and entertainment media, but few of us are in a position to help shape those stories or exert agency in the telling of them. To be clear, our work is not about creating “positive” stories about Muslims. This work exists to support Muslims who want to tell authentic and provocative stories, full of the mess, nuance and beauty that exists across the human experience. My work takes aim at the dearth of uplifted content created by Muslims in America and looks to infuse the existing landscape with fresh ideas and voices. Muslim communities are not voiceless. I create new pathways to amplify a range of voices that lead to the expansion of opportunities for our communities and those around us.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

With a team of other anti-racist organizers, I work to provide the training, consultation, and thought-partnership required to transform institutions into radically inclusive, just, intersectional, and multi-racial spaces.

I train, educate, organize, coach, consult with, and create with artists to shift culture toward a just world where everyone can thrive.

Greater Chicago Area

I led program strategy for Year 3 of the Onegoal-Chicago program and managed team execution for Postsecondary partnerships, Direct Support, and Teacher Support teams in order to ensure post-secondary retention for over 3500+ students.

Greater Chicago Area

I led the student retention program and managed a portfolio of directors of teacher support to ensure Year 3 Fellows had access to the support they needed to persist in college. I analyzed Fellow data and profiles and identified the resources necessary to ensure OneGoal Fellows persisted to the sophomore level. I invested stakeholders at local high schools and universities, and served to be a key strategic partner in ensuring these institutions were prepared to support OneGoal at all selectivity levels.

Greater Chicago Area

I managed a portfolio of OneGoal Program Directors (PDs) to guide their students through the OneGoal program and to meet student outcome goals, while also ensuring efficacy in the delivery of the model. I delivered training and support aligned to OneGoal’s mission, guiding and inspiring Program Directors to meet their responsibilities and relentlessly pursue goals and deliverables. I collaborated with the OneGoal Senior Director of Teacher Support, the peer Directors of Teacher Support and the entire Chicago Program Team to continuously monitor data and benchmarks, reflect on best practices, determine unique ways to differentiate support to PDs and identify enhancements to the program that not only served Chicago’s students, but also contributed to the evolution of the program model as OneGoal expanded further nationally.

Greater Chicago Area

I managed and developed a cohort of 23 bilingual teachers to fundamentally transform the lives of students and inspired corps members to become lifelong advocates for educational equity. I owned and supported broader regional and organizational priorities (i.e. help select new corps members, create professional development arcs, extend pedagogical expertise to Chicago classrooms, build strong relationships with school leaders, etc.), was a Fellow in the national Values-Based Leadership Development Fellowship, and was a Design Fellow in the national Design Fellowship.

Charlotte, North Carolina Area

I was the lead ESL Teacher and Department Head at the school. I was also a Teach For America Learning Team Leader, responsible for planning and executing effective, targeted professional development to first and second year corps members. I served as LEP Community Chairperson, School Leadership Team Facilitator, FAC representative, and RTI Team member at my school.

Minneapolis, Mn

I co-founded and co-managed a multidisciplinary artist collective. It was dope.

Vergas, Mn

I coached K-12 students in Arabic for a top language immersion program. I provided emotional support and instruction on cultural intersectionality for children of families interested in maintaining a strong cultural tradition, and provided environmental education in the target language.

Minneapolis, Mn

I led special event planning and coordination for a campaign that involved managing a student population of over 50,000 voters. I spearheaded fundraising and volunteer recruitment on the University of Minnesota campus.

Elevate: Executive Organization Leadership Fellowship In Partnership With Teach For America

Competitive Fellowship focusing on developing Senior/Executive Organizational Leaders to enhance in their ability to lead, programming.

Master'S Degree, Teaching English As A Second Or Foreign Language/Esl Language Instructor

Bachelor'S Degree, Theatre/Theater

Bachelor'S Degree, Political Science And Government