Ishtiyaq Shajahan (CAS’26), a political science major eager to make a difference in his community, spent his summer in the Enlight Fellowship through Innovate@BU, where he launched a new nonprofit and explored the systems behind community-driven change.
Originally from Brooklyn, NY, with family roots in Bangladesh, Ishtiyaq became an Enlight Fellow because of its accessibility. “What drew me in was the low-barrier for entry,” he says. “They make it easy and accessible for people of various disciplines, especially non-business majors, to get involved in the social entrepreneurship scene.”
Through the Enlight Fellowship, Ishtiyaq was paired with an internship at the Boston Climate Action Network, where he gained firsthand experience in environmental lobbying and coalition work. “They’re a part of the Boston Green New Deal Coalition, which is made up of 30-35 member organizations all related to environmental justice,” he explains. “Getting exposure to that network has been monumental.”
“It showed me that what I want to do in the future is possible.”
His venture, Community Roots Hub, is a mobile pop-up initiative that offers gardening and cooking lessons in public spaces. But it’s more than a series of workshops. Ishtiyaq describes it as a “third place” — a welcoming, communal space beyond work or home — where neighbors can gather, share stories, and build social infrastructure through food. The goal is to promote food justice and green infrastructure while bringing people together.
His vision is ambitious: a statewide, and eventually national, network of food justice collaborators sharing resources, strategies, and support. “There’s a lot of mutual aid going around around Boston, but it’s fragmented and hyper-localized,” he notes. “So, one part of our mission is to expand the broader coalition across Boston, eventually across Massachusetts and even the country.”
Reflecting on his summer, Ishtiyaq encourages other BU students to take a chance on Innovate@BU programs.
“Whether it’s the Enlight Fellowship, the First-Year Innovation Fellowship, or any of the Innovate programs, get involved,” he urges. “Being in this ecosystem is so beneficial—it’s given me a lot of hope that I can have a good career and help the world at the same time.”
With his venture, Ishtiyaq is planting the seeds of a more connected and equitable Boston. His nonprofit, started during his time in the Enlight Fellowship, is growing into a movement powered by community, culture, and collective care.
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