Interview: Zena and Mena Nasiri of Girls of the Crescent, Championing Books with Muslim Characters

(Rochester Hills Mayor Bryan Barnett, June 6, 2022)

Rochester Hills, MI – Zena and Mena Nasiri share a passion for improving the world around them. Through their nonprofit organization, Girls of the Crescent, the Nasiri sisters collect books with female Muslim main characters and donate them to schools and libraries, supporting representation of our diverse population. Their initial desire to help other young girls in their community has transformed into a mission with a global reach. Zena and Mena have gained international attention for their extraordinary work and yet in many ways they are still ordinary siblings who live …right down the street.

It’s the people that make Rochester Hills, Michigan great. This podcast celebrates the ideas and perspectives, the creativity and passion, and the backgrounds and vocations of our people. It raises the awareness of the diversity of our neighbors, introduces us to new ways of thinking, and familiarizes us with those we didn’t know, or didn’t know much about. It’s about investing time and getting to know people — people who literally live right down the street.