IN___SERVICE

civil rights strategy in the age of AI & tech

Today we see new challenges to civil rights alongside the rapid advancement of AI and emerging technologies. These shifts are connected at every level, impacting all sectors, local to global. IN___SERVICE is here to connect the dots by bringing institutional knowledge and experience to the novel strategy questions in this new era. 

FOUNDER: SANIA W. KHAN

Sania is a civil rights attorney and public policy strategist with more than a decade of experience in government. She has served as an advisor to leaders of foundations, businesses, and non-profits on strategies related to AI in the public sector. Her expertise sits at the intersection of civil rights law, policy, government, tech, and culture.

EXPERIENCE

Former Chief of Staff & Senior Advisor, Civil Rights in the Biden-Harris Administration

  • worked on AI and civil rights matters across federal agencies, including with the White House

  • worked on implementation of the Bi-Partisan Infrastructure Law, the CHIPs Act, and Inflation Reduction Act

  • Managed development and implementation of an agency strategy plan, U.S. Congressional budget proposals and testimony

  • led workforce development & equity efforts and initiatives

Former Assistant Attorney General, Civil Rights Bureau at the New York State Attorney General’s Office

  • Notable Cases: Travel bans, DACA, and the addition of a citizenship question to the decennial Census

  • Founded a first-of-its-kind Technology & Civil Rights Initiative

  • led investigations, policymaking and litigation across civil rights issues—including but not limited to voting rights, housing, education, employment, and racial justice

Current New York Advisory Committee Member for the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights

EXPERTISE

Civil Rights Strategy

across subject areas—policy design, guidance through enforcement investigations, and program strategy

AI/Emerging Technologies

program, investment and deployment support with a special focus on public sector use cases

Government Affairs

bureaucracy hacking, broad technical assistance aka deciphering regulatory landscapes, policy advocacy

Political Strategy

advocacy strategy for candidates, campaigns and organizers, preparation of congressional and other testimony, navigation of appointment processes—e.g. judicial nominations, speech writing

Fundraising & Grants

grant writing, development, and donor relations

Executive Coaching

leadership and operational advisory, as well as career transition mapping for senior public and private sector leaders including but not limited to partners, general counsels, chiefs of staff, and executive directors

Further details can be provided upon request

WORK

advised an organization building a public benefits platform powered by AI for up to 1 billion users on fundraising, programmatic, and scaling strategies

co-built an AI tool to assist direct service legal intakes for some of the most vulnerable New Yorkers

worked with state and city governments on AI deployment and navigating worker equity in federal investments

advised philanthropic foundations on funding and programmatic strategies for AI in the public sector

advised funders, organizations and businesses on navigating the landscape of federal and private funding, including litigation support on a recent lawsuit

advised political and judicial candidates as well as advocacy campaigns at city, state, and national levels on strategy issues

HOW CAN WE BE IN___SERVICE?

NOTE: While our team includes licensed attorneys, our strategic consulting services are not legal representation. The insights, analyses, and strategies we share — whether on this site, in publications, or in conversations — are for informational purposes only and do not constitute legal advice.