Shirin works on building collective synergy and community around stories of courage, creativity and change, as well as creative approaches to parenting and growing children and youth with special needs, specifically, those on the autism spectrum.

Shirin’s work in community service for women and children with special needs gives her insight into opportunities for the creative growth of people in personally challenging situations. Her personal role as a mother to two young boys, one of whom has autism, gives her an empathetic perspective towards nurturing early creativity.

Through Flying Chickadee’s zine Courageous Creativity and book projects, she practices her own creativity through her love for editing and community building. She is passionate about the opportunities for change created in the bridges between different cultures, and is hopeful that this publishing and storytelling platform will encourage many to share their stories.

Born in an Indian-Muslim family, then married into an Indian-Hindu one, and now a naturalized American, Shirin is passionate about relinquishing the boundaries of these identity labels and simply being one’s innate, loving self.