{{Short description|Pakistani-Canadian advocate for equitable education}} '''Meena Waseem''' is a Pakistani-Canadian and Muslim advocate for accessible education from Kitchener, Ontario.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Making Headlines |date=2019-03-09 |title=Pakistani Canadian Student Wins Prestigious Scholarship |url=https://muslimlink.ca/news/pakistani-canadian-student-wins-prestigious-scholarship |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=muslimlink.ca |language=en-gb}}</ref> In February 2019, she was named one of thirty-five Loran Scholars nationwide.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Nielsen |first=Kevin |date=2019-02-15 |title=Kitchener high school student awarded $100,000 scholarship |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4965374/kitchener-high-school-student-awarded-100000-scholarship/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=Global News |language=en-US}}</ref> In April 2019, she was named Kitchener-Waterloo Woman of the Year in the Young Adult category, making her the youngest recipient of the award.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Recipients |url=https://womenoftheyear.ca/recipients/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=Women of the Year |language=en-US}}</ref>

== Education == Waseem attended Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute in Kitchener, Ontario<ref>{{Cite web |last=Outhit |first=Jeff |date=2019-02-26 |title=Waterloo Region high school students say schools should teach mindfulness and time management early |url=https://www.therecord.com/news/waterloo-region/2019/02/26/waterloo-region-high-school-students-say-schools-should-teach-mindfulness-and-time-management-early.html |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=therecord.com |language=en}}</ref> where she was student council president.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Hicks |first=Jeff |date=2019-02-12 |title=Kitchener teen lands $100,000 scholarship |url=https://www.hamiltonnews.com/news-story/9171897-kitchener-teen-lands-100-000-scholarship/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=HamiltonNews.com |language=en-CA}}</ref> She is a Bachelor of Commerce student at Queen's University.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Bowden |first=Olivia |date=2020-09-10 |title=Canadian university students use Instagram to reveal racism on campuses |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/canada-universities-racism-instagram-1.5716603 |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=CBC}}</ref>

== Advocacy and influence == Waseem is known for co-organizing Stolen By Smith, a campaign calling for improved diversity, equity, and inclusion at Queen's and the Smith School of Business at Queen's.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Waberi |first=Osobe |date=2020-08-24 |title=Ontario business schools foster 'hostile environment': Racialized students |url=https://torontosun.com/news/provincial/ontario-business-schools-foster-hostile-environment-racialized-students |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=torontosun |language=en-CA}}</ref> She has criticized business schools for lacking inclusive policies<ref>{{Cite web |last=Smyth |first=Mackenzie |date=2020-09-26 |title='Stolen by Smith' Instagram account highlights discrimination in Queens commerce |url=https://charlatan.ca/2020/09/26/stolen-by-smith-instagram-account-highlights-discrimination-in-queens-commerce/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=The Charlatan, Carleton's independent newspaper |language=en-US}}</ref> and curriculums that teach equity-centred leadership.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Francis |first=Angelyn |date=2020-10-04 |title=Why business schools will need a curriculum overhaul if corporations are going to meet their pledges for equity, inclusion and diversity |url=https://www.thestar.com/news/gta/2020/10/04/why-business-schools-will-need-a-curriculum-overhaul-if-corporations-are-going-to-meet-their-pledges-for-equity-inclusion-and-diversity.html |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=thestar.com |language=en}}</ref> She is also outspoken about the minimization of equity-deserving students' experiences in business schools.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Zoledziowski |first=Anya |date=2020-07-10 |title=Business School Students Are Sharing Racism Horror Stories on Instagram |url=https://www.vice.com/en/article/business-school-students-are-sharing-racism-horror-stories-on-instagram/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=Vice.com |language=en}}</ref> Stolen By Smith led to the creation of similar calls to action at business schools across Canada.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Lewington |first=Jennifer |date=2021-10-27 |title=Business schools have committed to becoming more inclusive. But has anything actually changed? |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/rob-magazine/article-business-schools-have-committed-to-becoming-more-inclusive-but-has/ |access-date=2022-07-18}}</ref>

In March 2022, Waseem also organized Ramadan dining hall supports<ref>{{Cite web |last=Fu |first=Anne |date=2022-03-25 |title=Queen's Hospitality Services gears up for Ramadan |url=https://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2022-03-25/news/queens-hospitality-services-gears-up-for-ramadan/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=The Journal |language=en}}</ref> for Muslim students observing Ramadan at Queen's.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Tabassum |first=Aysha |date=2022-03-11 |title='You're more than just the problems you're trying to solve': Queen's student activists, part five |url=https://www.queensjournal.ca/story/2022-03-10/features/youre-more-than-just-the-problems-youre-trying-to-solve-queens-student-activists-part-five/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=The Journal |language=en}}</ref>

In response to employers' concerns about the Great Resignation, Waseem was outspoken about the importance of workplace flexibility for Gen Z employees.<ref>{{Cite news |last=Fisher-Quann |first=Rayne |date=2022-04-26 |title=What do Gen Z women want in the workplace? |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/article-what-do-gen-z-women-want-in-the-workplace/ |access-date=2022-07-18}}</ref>

Waseem was part of a team that created Waterloo Region's first youth wellbeing data collection project.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Heeger |first=Sean |date=2020-07-23 |title=Waterloo org running pilot survey to get feedback from youth |url=https://observerxtra.com/2020/07/23/waterloo-org-running-pilot-survey-to-get-feedback-from-youth/ |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=THE OBSERVER |language=en-US}}</ref>

She is a Young Director in Cohort 5 of the FORA: Network for Change Girls on Boards program.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Girls on Boards - Cohort 5 |url=https://www.foranetwork.org/gb-cohort-5 |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=Fora |language=en-CA}}</ref>

Waseem serves on the Board of Directors of the Sexual Assault Centre of Kingston.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Board of Directors |url=https://www.sackingston.com/board-of-directors |access-date=2022-07-18 |website=Sack |language=en}}</ref>

== References == {{reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Waseem, Meena}} Category:Year of birth missing (living people) Category:Living people Category:Activists from Ontario Category:Canadian women activists Category:Education activists Category:Queen's University at Kingston alumni Category:Canadian people of Pakistani descent