A Student Speaks: Masuma Islam Lonczak, 2010 Graduate of Sisters Circle in Baltimore
“I moved from Bangladesh to the United States with my parents and sister, Makruma (also now a graduate of Sisters Circle). At the time, I was placed one grade level back because I knew very little English. Everything was new and different.
As a young woman, growing up I often struggled to find myself. I struggled to fit in with other students because of my social class status and at times felt unseen and didn’t know my place in the society as a woman of color. But with Sisters Circle by my side I was given the opportunity to meet other incredible women at various events such as career panels where women in diverse professions talked about their work. I met so many mentors within our network who are making positive differences in people’s lives.
Today, I'm a more confident independent woman because I know I matter and my place in society matters. It was my experience with Sisters Circle from early adolescence to young woman-hood that truly inspired me to pick my major in college and my career in Diversity education at Johns Hopkins University.
Sisters Circle has been there for every milestone of my life and my success today has a direct connection with this loving community. With mentors by my side -- those who truly believed in me and directed me to resources along the way -- I was able to get to places I never thought existed for someone like me.”
Sisters Circle received a grant from the IECA Foundation in 2019. They provide long-term mentoring to foster meaningful and sustainable change in the lives of girls and young women in Baltimore. As early as middle school, Sisters Circle motivates students to create a vision for their own future by providing career exploration workshops, exposure to professional role models and internship opportunities. They work with students to make intentional decisions about their future, define success for themselves, and choose their own path.
