MYLS-Chicago Symposium and 5 year anniversary this Saturday

The Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium (MYLS)-Chicago initiative commences its fifth year of motivating and guiding Chicagoland’s Muslim American youth with its ninth symposium on Saturday, November 17th at the University of Illinois at Chicago, Student Center East. The theme, "Five Years of True Devotion: Mind, Body, and Soul," recognizes MYLS-Chicago’s five years of cultivating youth leadership development as young adults define their identity as Muslim Americans, understand the social issues of our society and exercise civic engagement by helping to improve our communities, nation, and world.

MYLS-Chicago draws on the Muslim American community's outlook of moving beyond a decade riffed with fear and uncertainty to establishing genuine connections, insights and promise. Ultimately, MYLS-Chicago encourages Muslim American youth to mutually own their personal and collective responsibility in order to be proactive and engaged in our society.

This year’s event will feature U.S. Congressman André Carson (D-IN) and local Islamic Theology university instructor Omer Mozaffar. In addition, several CAIR-Chicago and MYLS-Chicago alumni will speak on a panel to share their experiences of service and prospects for the future of Muslim Americans.

Previous MYLS events had the honor of featuring U.S. Congressman Keith Ellison (D-MN), Islamic scholar Zaid Shakir, Chicago Sun-Times reporter Rummana Hussain, Marci Zinke of the American Red Cross, and Scott Alexander of the Catholic Theological Union.