Today, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, announced that registration has opened for its 10th annual Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium (#MYLS2025).
This year’s event will be held on Friday, July 25, 2025, on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. Open to students ages 13 to 19, #MYLS2025 is themed “Voices Unshaken: Defending Justice, Cultivating Resilience”.
[NOTE: All past MYLS programs have reached capacity. Those interested in participating are encouraged to register early to reserve a spot. Organizations, mosques and groups interested in co-sponsoring this year’s event may email mdoutreach@cair.com for more details.]
WHAT: Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium 2025 #MYLS2025
WHO: Students ages 13-19
WHEN: Friday, July 25, 2025, from 9:30am-4:30pm
COST: $15
REGISTRATION LINK:bit.ly/myls2025
This year’s Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium (#MYLS2025), themed “Voices Unshaken: Defending Justice, Cultivating Resilience,” will empower Muslim youth to rise as confident, principled leaders in the face of injustice. Held on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., the 10th annual symposium will bring together students ages 13 to 19 for a day of workshops, panels and advocacy training focused on amplifying their voices, building resilience, and inspiring change in their communities and beyond. As young people continue to speak out against genocide in Palestine and global injustices, #MYLS2025 will also emphasize the importance of preserving mental health and personal well-being while organizing, reminding students that sustaining movements for justice requires sustaining ourselves, too.
#MYLS2025 participants will gain insights from experts and congressional staffers and tour the Library of Congress and the U.S. Capitol where members of Congress meet and hold hearings on important bills. Meals will be provided.
“At a time when young Muslims are courageously raising their voices against injustice and genocide, it’s more important than ever to equip them with the tools to lead, speak out, and care for their well-being,” said CAIR Maryland’s Outreach Coordinator, Kimberly Syuardi. “#MYLS2025 is not just about building future leaders — it’s about creating a space where Muslim youth feel empowered, supported, and unshaken in their pursuit of justice.”
“There’s something transformative about standing where decisions are made and realizing your voice belongs there,” said CAIR Government Affairs Coordinator Shafiquil Muhshna. “#MYLS2025 gives young Muslims the chance to experience Capitol Hill firsthand — not just to observe, but to see themselves as future leaders in those very spaces. When our youth walk into the halls of power and see their identity reflected in civic life, it plants the seeds for lifelong leadership rooted in justice, resilience, and representation.”
CAIR’s MYLS programs are designed to train participants to develop strong leadership skills through raising self-awareness and participating in team-building exercises.
The core mission of MYLS is to encourage civic and political engagement among American Muslim youth, empower them to guide their communities from the margins to the mainstream of society and to help foster a well-integrated American Muslim identity that flourishes in a pluralistic society.
CAIR has been organizing youth leadership programs in states across the country for more than a decade. Participants of these programs have gone on to become respected community leaders, activists, community organizers, and youth leaders.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR Maryland Director Zainab Chaudry, zchaudry@cair.com, 410-971-6062; CAIR Maryland Outreach Coordinator Kim Syuardi, ksyuardi@cair.com, 202-850-9293; CAIR Government Affairs Coordinator Shafiquil Mushana, smushana@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, ihooper@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Manager Ismail Allison, 202-770-6280, iallison@cair.com