Three Lessons on Public Service by Waleed Hashmi
My name is Waleed, and like many of you, I’m interested in changing the status quo by addressing problems that impact our communities. Change comes in many ways, whether it’s through non-profit work, charitable causes, social-media awareness, activism, journalism, community service, private philanthropy, and more. For me, public service has been the route I’ve been most passionate about. In the last decade I’ve learned many things about how people from our communities can play a role in effectuating change they wish to see in their communities and broader society. I’d like to share three observations in this post:
1) our voice and history matters;
2) anyone can and should participate;
3) long-term change requires foundation and pipelines.
As a Muslim-American of South-Asian heritage, I always enjoyed tracing my roots in different corners of America’s democracy. In college, I learned that the U.S. Supreme Court chamber, for example, has a marble commemoration of the Prophet Muhammad as one of the greatest lawmakers in history. When I was interning in the House of Representatives, I learned about the story of Dalip Singh Saund. In 1956, Saund became the first person of Asian descent elected to serve as a U.S. representative. I was inspired to see his portrait in the halls of our Capitol building, where people can still see it today. These are just a few of many examples that show our community’s history, sacrifices, and efforts. We are interlinked with American history in more ways than we think, and therefore should recognize that our voice and opinions are valuable.
Portrait of Dalip Singh Saund in U.S. Capitol Building
Because of our tax-paying contributions and voting rights, each of us has the power to make a difference. However, many communities don’t engage to the extent they should. Asian-Americans are the fastest growing racial group in the country, but have one of the lowest voter turnout rates. Greater civic participation can change that. During my congressional internship in 2013, I remember taking hundreds of calls and emails from constituents in Northern Virginia (NoVA) about various issues including healthcare, foreign policy, immigration, taxes, etc. Less than 5% of people contacting our office were from my community, even though we make up a sizeable portion of the NoVA population. I think it’s important to remember that our public officials at the local, state, and national levels work for us, and that we should feel comfortable reaching out to their offices for our unique challenges and issues. As President Biden noted in his 2021 Ramadan statement (which I think is applicable to all brown communities) “Muslim-Americans have enriched our country since our founding. They are as diverse and vibrant as the America they have helped build.” We are leading efforts to fight COVID-19, creating jobs as entrepreneurs and business owners, teaching in schools, and risking lives as first responders. As a community, we should feel confident in our ability to participate in public policy issues and activities.
Finally, I think long-term change requires building a foundation by cultivating future generations. Asian-American families don’t tend to focus on careers and degrees that they think won’t bring financial success or longevity. There is a lot of wisdom in this approach, but I think we also have to support those who pursue “non-traditional” fields if we are serious about having our voice heard. We have more mentorship and guidance available today for young people than ever before, and several non-profits are doing amazing work to help in this regard. For example, I volunteer with two organizations that I think embody the principles of public service inclusion and leadership development: the Washington Leadership Program (WLP) and the American Pakistan Foundation. I encourage you to check out their work! Supporting young change-makers through internships, fellowships, and development programs is critical for our community to establish itself at all levels of policy and decision-making processes.
One of my undergraduate professors once told me “discourse is the great boon of humanity”. The first step toward community goals is through discussion and conversation. I hope we can continue coming together around issues that connect us, and work toward building a more perfect union.
Twitter: @waleedjhashmi
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/waleed-hashmi-849a3b5a/