Born in Dubai, Fatima’s family immigrated to Canada and eventually to the United States to find a safe haven away from the Gulf War. As a Muslim, immigrant and woman of color, Fatima learned from a very young age what it felt like not to belong. However, she also learned the power that comes from fighting for her rights and building community. Fatima continued her medical studies, but found her passion as an educator and turned to become a teacher. She began training a cross-country team, obtained her teaching credentials and began working as a teacher at Watts.
California has built the world’s fifth largest economy of the backs of everyday people who are now barely able to make ends meet. Our leaders are throwing band-aid solutions into our communities, demonstrating their continued allegiance to big business by making backdoor deals with real estate developers, the oil and gas industry and many more. There is a clear lack of upward economic mobility for residents in our district, and we deserve better.