Last week, the Muslim Public Affairs Council held its second annual Southern California Muslim American Young Leaders Summit, bringing 27 young leaders together to discuss pressing policy issues with local government agencies, civic groups, and media professionals. The three-day Summit allowed the young leaders to engage with officials in local government, including Los Angeles Deputy Mayor Arif Alikhan and City Council members Bernard Parks, Dennis Zine and Tom LaBonge.

 During a meeting with executives from 20th Century Fox Television, including "24" creator Howard Gordon and Vice President of Diversity Development Ron Taylor, the delegates got a firsthand perspective on how media images are crafted and what opportunities exist for aspiring artists and filmmakers. The delegates also met with media professionals from the Los Angeles Times and KTLA News, as well as Amnesty International and the Japanese American National Museum . During these meetings, delegates addressed issues ranging from domestic environmental concerns to civil liberties and homeland security.

"The summit was an enlightening and unique experience. It was encouraging to see the wealth of opportunities that it provided for us to get politically and socially involved, said Yasmin Nouh, a junior at UC Irvine. As Muslim Americans, we have a unique voice and it's always important to be reminded that our voices can be heard through a variety of outlets and must be shared with our community at large."

The delegates also discussed the barriers which exist within their communities and the need to get involved in public service as an expression of the values they hold as Muslims. All left with a renewed sense of energy and commitment toward applying the lessons they had learned to advocacy work in their local communities. The delegates will be participating in a series of follow-up events to raise the level of civic engagement within their local communities.

MPAC is dedicated to developing and supporting young leaders in order to help address the challenges facing America and its diverse Muslim communities. As such, the Muslim American Young Leaders Summit is a crucial means by which young Muslim Americans engage with various sectors within our government and civil life.

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