As Fiza Quraishi’s Michigan Law classmates gathered to celebrate their 10-year reunion in September, the inaugural recipient of the Fellowship created in her memory began working at the National Center for Youth and Law (NCYL) in Oakland, California.
Amanda Grill, ’17, will spend a year at NCYL as the Fiza Quraishi Youth Law Fellow. NCYL works to improve the lives of disadvantaged children and youth through advocacy, public awareness campaigns, research, policy development, and litigation.
Quraishi, ’07, who was married to Adil Haq, ’06, came to NCYL as an Equal Justice Works Fellow after graduating from Michigan Law. She then spent her too-brief career there as a staff attorney. Known for her passionate advocacy on behalf of disadvantaged children, Quraishi’s death inspired members of her graduating class and the NCYL leadership to create the Fellowship.
“The more I learned how our society’s laws and structural forces shape children’s lives, the more I was motivated to find innovative solutions to affect their future,” says Grill.
While at the center, she will investigate different avenues for impact litigation cases, research strategies, and work on policy advocacy and legislation reform projects. She hopes to gain a better grasp of the tools necessary to fight for the just treatment of youth.
She also hopes to contribute to litigation and legislation that will help diminish some of the complex challenges children and youth face today, a goal that likely would resonate with her Fellowship’s namesake.
“Although I never had the opportunity to meet her, Fiza’s advocacy has lived on,” says Grill. “Her passion and dedication are said to have been fiery, brilliant, and energetic. It is a tremendous honor to serve as a Fellow in her legacy.” —KD
