Ep 98: Casting New Narratives: A Journey from Stereotypes to Celebrated Stories in Media with Arij Mikati

Arij Mikati holds the position of Managing Director of Culture Change at Pillars Fund, bringing over 15 years of extensive experience in storytelling, nonprofit leadership, and anti-racism work. She is recognized for her commitment to challenging harmful narratives about Muslims in the US and amplifying Muslim voices in the arts, leading to features in prominent publications such as Variety, Teen Vogue, NPR, and Al Jazeera. Arij's active involvement in moderating conversations on equity, anti-racism, and Muslim representation in the media underscores her dedication to creating inclusive, intersectional spaces. With her significant expertise and contributions to the discourse on overcoming stereotypes through storytelling, Arij emerges as an authoritative and compelling guest, offering valuable insights and perspectives to the podcast's audience.

The key moments in this episode are: 

00:05:59 - Manifesting Career Paths 

00:11:31 - Identity and Mission-driven Work 

00:14:11 - Pillars Fund Mission 

00:17:26 - Muslim Representation in Media 

00:20:30 - Staying Grounded Amidst Political Disruption 

00:25:12 - The Classist Perception of Religion

Connect with Arij Mikati

Website: pillarsfund.org

Instagram: @arijmikati

Substack: arijmikati.substack.com

Instagram: @pillarsfund

Connect with Amina AlTai

Website: aminaaltai.com

Instagram: @aminaaltai

TikTok: @theaminaaltai

Linkedin: linkedin/in/aminaaltai