(WASHINGTON, D.C., 9/27/23) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, today thanked congressional sponsor Rep. Gerald Connolly (D-Va), MAS DC and all those who helped make its 8th annual Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium (MYLS) a success.
The sold-out event, open to DMV youth ages 13-19, was held on September 25, 2023, at the Rayburn House Office Building on Capitol Hill.
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This year’s MYLS program was themed “Sustainable Activism: Cultivating Change for Long-Term Impact,” and aimed to offer insights into building resilience, overcoming setbacks and maximizing resources to create a sustainable approach to activism.
CAIR presented an award honoring Congressman Connolly for his support for Muslim youth civic engagement. Keynote speaker Imam Johari Abdul Malik emphasized spiritual reminders for building resiliency in his remarks to the participants. The program included a tour of the U.S. Capitol, a one-on-one discussion with an American Muslim congressional staffer, and a training by CAIR’s Government Affairs director Robert McCaw on how congress works and how students can mobilize to make government work for them.
“Activism is a dynamic means to achieve justice and positive change, but it can also lead to disillusionment, burnout and fatigue,” said CAIR representative Zainab Chaudry. “With the right perspective and mindset, we want young leaders to know that they can overcome any challenge in their advocacy despite any inevitable obstacles.”
The Washington-based civil rights organization has been organizing Muslim youth leadership programs in states across the country for more than a decade. Participants have gone on to become respected community leaders, public servants, activists, community organizers, and youth leaders.
MYLS is designed to encourage civic and political engagement by American Muslim youth, empower them to guide their communities from the margins to the mainstream of society and to provide resources to foster a well-integrated American Muslim identity that flourishes in a pluralistic America.
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