Shehlla Khan

Shehlla’s Reflection:

When I look back at my journey with PATH, I realize it has been about much more than campaigns or issues. It has been about relationships: people from different faiths, backgrounds, and communities coming together around shared values and a common purpose. Meeting Cynthia Marshall and learning about her vision for PATH helped me see the power of bringing people together. Through this journey, I discovered how faith can be put into action and how much more we can accomplish when we work together.

My mosque, Dar al-Taqwa, became a member of PATH in 2009, and my involvement has always been deeply rooted in my faith. There is a beautiful example from the life of the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be upon him ﷺ). Before prophethood, a group in Makkah came together to stand for justice and help people in need. The Prophet ﷺ later said that if he were invited to such a pact in Islam, he would gladly join it. This is known as “Hilf al-Fudul”, the “Alliance of the Virtuous”. Our  imam saw the good PATH was doing and wanted our mosque to be part of that work.

My first campaign with PATH was to win a women’s-only swimming time at the Columbia pool. Women at my mosque shared that they would feel more comfortable swimming in a space with other women, so we organized to make that possible. We received a lot of backlash, including hateful comments accusing me of trying to bring Shariah law. But we were simply asking for a space where women could feel comfortable, and women from other faiths and backgrounds also supported and led the effort.

I remember speaking at a press conference in downtown Columbia. I was nervous because of the negative attention and criticism. But when I arrived, leaders from PATH stood beside me. One of the Columbia Association board members was so moved by my words that she was brought to tears. That experience taught me that when you go through challenges together with others, you build trust and deeper relationships.

After we won the women’s-only swimming time, I ended up learning how to swim and I enjoyed it. The lifeguard was a sweet Iranian girl who not only taught me how to swim, but also taught me how to swim laps.

I never knew I could be a leader until I joined PATH. I learned how organizing works: identify an issue, bring people together, and take collective action. Over time, I became more confident in my voice and my ability to lead and advocate for change. I also learned that leadership is not something we do alone—it grows through relationships and collective action.

When Rev. Louise Green was our organizer, she envisioned bringing together an interfaith alliance (Howard County Clergy Alliance) of churches, mosques, synagogues, and other faith communities to learn from one another and act together. When Louise was leaving, she saw my passion for this work and asked me to co-lead the alliance with Rev. Tyrone Jones and Rev. Mary Ka Kanahan. Today, I continue that work with Rev. Claire Matheny and Rev. Paige Getty.

The Clergy Alliance has become a community that shows up for one another. When a synagogue in Pittsburgh was attacked, and later when a mosque in New Zealand was attacked, our interfaith community stood together in solidarity and support. Those moments showed me that true solidarity is about showing up when it matters most.

My faith, Islam brought me to this work. PATH gave me the opportunity to grow, to build relationships across differences, and to discover a leader within myself. It has shown me that when we bring our values, our faith, and our people together, we can create meaningful change for the whole community.