Get to Know our New Program Manager, Marouh Hussein

The Tishman Center is very excited to welcome our newest team member, Marouh Hussein. We are in the process of launching an Environmental Justice Movement Fellowship Program for environmental justice (EJ) leaders. Marouh will be instrumental in realizing this fellowship as the Program Manager. Read on to get to know her!

Introduce yourself! What sort of things most interest you and what kinds of things do you enjoy doing outside of work? 

I am a native New Yorker, and my favorite activity is finding a new green or open space (park, community garden, plaza, etc.) in the city to explore. I am part of a beautiful community garden in Harlem and enjoy volunteering there during my time off. I am also a big fan of dance and can often be found taking a class at a studio or enjoying a performance with my sisters. My personal mission is to empower individuals and communities to achieve their own goals by breaking down barriers to knowledge, resources, and skills. This has led me to take on roles in community organizing, global education, and leadership development, all with a common theme of capacity building. 

What were you doing before coming to the Tishman Center?

Prior to joining the Tishman Center, I was a Community Coaching Manager at Partnerships for Parks, a joint program of City Parks Foundation and the NYC Department of Parks and Recreation. I provided tailored organizational and leadership development support to volunteer-run community organizations across NYC’s five boroughs. A core part of my role was helping groups set goals and create action plans to reach their missions. It was exciting to see all the work that goes on behind the scenes to make parks beautiful and run smoothly, and to support the work of everyday New Yorkers who have decided to contribute their free time to activate these spaces. 

What is your role at the Tishman Center? What are you most excited about?

I manage the day-to-day operations of the Environmental Justice Fellowship Program. This includes everything from creating work plans to prepare for the launch of the program to staying up to date on the latest developments in environmental justice, climate justice, and just transition movements. I am super excited to launch the program and meet the EJ movement leaders that will participate in the program. A core part of the program will be the development and testing of new strategies and I am excited to see what the fellows come up with!

In the context of a rapidly increasing climate emergency, what do you think an institution like the New School’s responsibility is to our community both locally, nationally and abroad? 

I think it’s important for institutions like the New School to recognize the enormous amount of resources (not just funds) that they have and mobilize them in a way that supports bottom-up solutions to the climate emergency. Nonprofits and academic institutions historically have engaged in a form of support where solutions are handed to communities in a “one-size fits all” manner. I think for real change to happen, there need to be discussions about how community-driven solutions can be created, supported, and scaled.