Shaila Huq is a communications strategist with a commitment to articulating the needs and perspectives of the communities she represents with dignity, justice, and collective truth. A New Jersey transplant who now calls Ward 7 her home, Shaila moved to DC 10 years ago with the intention of becoming a public health communicator. This led her to work on campaigns both locally and internationally around issues including sexual health, maternal and infant health, DC Statehood, the DC Census, sustainability, and environmental justice.

Beyond her professional role as a communicator, Shaila is a movement artist who performs and organizes under the moniker ‘Southside Shai’ to help bridge the arts gap across the Anacostia and also serves as co-chair of the Arts + Culture committee of Free DC. Her organizing and communication style is deeply informed by her pan-African and anticolonial perspective. However, and most importantly, her connection to her community is rooted in love, collectivism, and a desire to support the health of all neighbors, regardless of status, orientation, or otherwise.

She’d love to hear directly from you! Email shaila@fairbudget.org to have a conversation about how FBC can better represent the voices of real DC residents with our communications.