In 2023, the SABA North America Foundation launched its legal impact initiative in partnership with the Asian American Legal Defense and Education Fund (AALDEF). Through this initiative, SABA North America Foundation raised over $150,000 to focus on the legal needs of South Asians through impact litigation and direct legal services. This partnership resulted in the employment of attorney Erum Kidwai for a two-year period. In her role as a legal fellow with AALDEF, Erum focused on providing vulnerable South Asian communities with access to culturally competent, community-centered legal resources and to develop the infrastructure necessary to empower communities to do broader, high-impact work. These goals aligned with SABA North America Foundation’s more specific goals for the fellowship such as (1) assisting with litigation, pre-litigation, and advocacy, (2) facilitating know your rights programming, forums, and clinics, and (3) expanding pro bono networks.

During her fellowship, Erum was able to engage in important projects that resulted in: 

• Advancing the voting rights of South Asians in Nassau County, New York, thereby advancing “influence districts”.

• Engaging with community organizations such as Desis Rising and Moving Up (DRUM), Laal, Project Hajra, Malikah, Adhikaar, and Sakhi for South Asian Survivors.

• Providing direct services to asylum applicants and victims of wage theft as well as the placement of pro bono matters through AALDEF’s pro bono network.

• Policy and advocacy work to support South Asians being targeted because of their identities and political speech.