WRITING
A selection of articles I’ve written
Minneapolis Star Tribune
South High’s new mural displays many cultures.
Class of ’31 gives two a chance to start anew.
Finding a home for those trying to find their place
The City Inc.’s alternative high school program doesn’t belong in Northrop elementary school, many neighbors say.
Lost youth becomes seed for Kurdish dream
A childhood punctuated by bombs instead of music is driving a Kurdish Iraqi’s desire to open a school for Kurds.
North YMCA plans expansion to refocus on kids
The $6 million project would move adult activities to a new location, improve the aquatic center and add meeting rooms.
At 84, he’s a graduate at last
An early departure during the Depression left Joseph Kronek without the high school diploma he thought he had earned.
Adam Barron, excelled at sports, academics
News Obituary
Maureen M., Editor, Minneapolis Star Tribune
“Aisha brought a lot of energy and poise to her assignments at the Star Tribune. She is a good writer and interviewer and helped us broaden our understanding and use of multimedia.”
Mark M., FMR. Chief of Correspondents/Assistant Managing Editor Newsweek
“Aisha’s work certainly exceeded our expectations. One assignment helps explain why: during the 2007 summer, we embarked on a cover project to chronicle the lives of Muslim Americans. It was a sensitive and potentially controversial project. Some in the various Muslim communities we contacted were concerned how they would be portrayed by a major media organization. We also recognized, of course, that in our post-Sept. 11 world, many non-Muslim Americans look with some suspicion at Muslims and the Islamic faith; indeed, this was a major factor in our decision to publish this cover – the need for clear and fair reporting on a topic of critical importance. Each of the reporters working on this ambitious project needed to be sensitive yet aggressive in their work chronicling the various disparate communities we included. Aisha headed to Minneapolis to report from the large Somali community in the Twin Cities area. Her work demonstrated a sophisticated understanding of the issues facing Somali Muslims living in America and their often fraught interaction with the wider community in Minneapolis. She handled her assignment with care and tenacity.”