From July 23 through July 26, the California chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-CA), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, will hold its 19th annual Muslim Youth Leadership Program (MYLP) at the State Capitol in Sacramento.
MYLP is an intensive four-day program designed to empower Muslim high school students with the knowledge and skills to become future leaders in government, law, and media.
WHAT: 19th Annual Muslim Youth Leadership Program
WHEN: Thursday, July 23, to Sunday, July 26
WHERE: State Capitol, Sacramento
MEDIA OPPORTUNITIES – FRIDAY JULY, 25:
- Jummah (Congregational) Prayer2 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Capitol Lawn (Corner of 10th Street and L Street)
- Mock Committee Hearing9:45 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.Capitol Building, Rooms 437, 444, 447
- Mock Assembly Session3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Capitol Building, Assembly Chambers
CONTACT: Lina Mokeddem, lmokeddem@cair.com, 916-517-0763
BACKGROUND
This year’s program will bring together 35 Muslim high school students, selected from a competitive statewide pool, to participate in workshops on community organizing, leadership development, and public speaking.
Students will also take part in a mock committee hearing—where they’ll examine proposed bills, deliver testimony, and debate their merits—followed by a mock Assembly session simulating floor debate and voting. Together, these experiences offer a hands-on understanding of how state laws are shaped and passed.
In a statement, CAIR-CA Legislative and Government Affairs Director Oussama Mokeddem said:
“MYLP equips Muslim youth with the tools they need to navigate and influence the systems that shape our lives. By demystifying the legislative process and grounding students in the values of civic responsibility and justice, we’re not just building future leaders, we’re cultivating a generation ready to speak truth to power.”
Since its inception in 2005, over 600 California students have participated in MYLP. The program boasts alumni who have been accepted to elite universities, such as Harvard, Stanford, Cornell, John Hopkins, UC Berkeley, and UCLA, with many going on to elected office. Graduates have also become community activists, who have created non-profit organizations and taken on groundbreaking leadership positions.
CAIR-CA is a chapter of CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
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CONTACTS: CAIR Greater Los Angeles Area Communications Manager Enjy El-Kadi, 714.851.4851, eelkadi@cair.com; CAIR Sacramento Valley/Central California Communications Contact Tasneem Manjra, 916.441.6469, tManjra@cair.com; CAIR San Diego Executive Director Tazheen Nizam, 760.201.7626, tnizam@cair.com; CAIR San Francisco Bay Area Communications Manager Lorrie Adam, 408.498.5779, ladam@cair.com