CAIR-LA Celebrates Graduation of Fourth Muslim Gamechangers Network
The Council on American-Islamic Relations Greater Los Angeles Area office (CAIR-LA) celebrated the graduation of its fourth Muslim Gamechangers Network (MGN). On Sunday, May 7, more than 40 Muslim high school students - the largest cohort to date - celebrated the successful completion of the four-month social justice training program at a graduation ceremony hosted at the West Coast Islamic Center (Masjid Al-Ansar) in Anaheim. Friends, family and community members attended the graduation ceremony.
CAIR-LA Leadership Development Coordinator and MGN organizer Yusra Khafagi welcomed the graduates and attendees with opening remarks. "I am so proud of each of the graduates today who underwent this program with so much passion and dedication. With the completion of this program comes a great responsibility but also the great reward to bring about positive social change for your communities."
From January 21 to April 29, students attended weekly interactive sessions hosted at Masjid Al Ansar to learn the tools that would equip them to become better community advocates and leaders. They delved into subjects including:
• understanding American Muslim history,
• learning how to deconstruct and combat stereotypes,
• examining their family histories,
• learning about economic justice and injustice,
• organizing a political campaign, building coalitions,
• and engaging government and media effectively.
During the program, participants shared reflections of how it transformed their worldview and opened their hearts to service and engagement with the greater community.
The graduation ceremony's keynote speaker was Al Jabbar, an elected Trustee with the Anaheim Union High School District. In his keynote address, Jabbar emphasized the importance of marginalized and immigrant communities seeking opportunities of civic engagement and public service to bring more diverse voices to power structures and socially and politically empower our communities.
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