Mehrunnisa Wani

Mehrunnisa Wani covers the Mill Brook Houses in the Bronx’s Mott Haven.

Mehrunnisa is from in Kupwara, Kashmir and moved to New York when she was 7 , taking up her first hobby — rollerskating.

Mehrunnisa attended CUNY’s York College where she majored in journalism and political science.  She has interned at ABC World News as assistant to Diane Sawyer and as production intern, and also at The New York Daily News in collaboration with The Children’s PressLine. As an undergraduate, Mehrunnisa spent three years working as a staff writer for Pandora’s Box.

Her love for writing evolved from there as she quickly moved up in ranks from reporter to editor-in-chief.  It was during this time that her interest in journalism and politics began to deepen.  Mehrunnisa says she was drawn to journalism mainly because it demands dexterity and keeps her on her toes.

Now an M.S. student at Columbia University’s Graduate School of Journalism, Mehrunnisa hopes to explore all aspects of journalism, including investigative reporting and documentary filmmaking.  Mehrunnisa wants to be an adept storyteller in all mediums. Upon completion of her degree she wishes to return to South Asia to explore and bring attention to social and political issues.

Now a resident of Hollis, Queens, Mehrunnisa lives at home with her parents and two younger brothers where she enjoys home-cooked meals and free laundry.

You can follow Mehrunnisa on Twitter @mehrwani.