From Professional Basketball to Muslim Youth Care

My name is Ibrahim Muhammad Heshaam Jaaber, a third generation American-born Muslim and Founder & President of Color Me Muslim. I am a graduate from the University of Pennsylvania, where I was an all-Ivy League basketball player for 3 years as well as player of the year for 2 years (mashAllah). From there I went to play professionally all around the world - Greece, Italy, Lithuania, and most recently Iran. I have also played in the NBA summer league with both the Detroit Pistons and Los Angeles Lakers, and was briefly on the Houston Rockets' roster in 2011.

However, I chose to walk away from professional basketball to live the deen and serve a more important purpose: saving and strengthing our Muslim youth.

Addressing Our Youth's Identity Crisis with Arts

There is a major identity crisis in the muslim community, especially amongst the youth, and much of it is due to the lack of available social and cultural outlets. These aspects of the Islamic dynamic have been left underdeveloped for way too long and as a result many of our brothers and sisters are seeking alternatives that lead them away from the path of Allah. If we do not provide the proper platforms for our youth and community at large we are going to continue to see them leaving the folds of Islam in order to find fulfillment by other means. We have to bring out the beauty and diversity of this way of life and give Muslims more reason to be proud of our legacy because too often do we struggle with our identity for being too shy and too insecure about Islam.

Also, Art in Islam and its importance has always been underrepresented at our banquets and conferences - usually left to an hour-long session at the end of the night or a corner in the bazaar. Professional artists who are dedicated to their craft need a platform that specifically caters to the significance of their unique talents. Until then, our Muslim artists will never be given the recognition that they deserve. 

Help Me Launch the First-Ever "Color Me Muslim" Youth Arts Conference

We are raising money for the very first Color Me Muslim Youth Arts Conference dedicated to social & cultural advancement & appreciation. This conference features national competitions in the areas of:

• Spoken Word Poetry
• Quranic Recitation
• Fashion
• Media
• Visual Arts
• Athletics
• & More!

We intend to bring together the best of the best both locally and internationally for this occasion. We will also be highlighting islamic culture, with our one of kind grammy style identity ball and award ceremony. Most importantly, we are providing a platform of discussion and dialogue so that we can celebrate and grow our understanding of the social and cultural parameters of this beautiful, perfect and complete way of life; Al-Islam. This conference is unique from others because it addresses religious matters in creative ways. At most conferences no one has a voice but the speakers but we involve and engage all those who attend by facilitating opportunities for everyone to express themselves, whether through our competitions and exhibits or within the setting of our workshops and seminars. 

We hope to launch the conference in August in New York City inshallah. If you would like to partner and bring "Color Me Muslim" to your city, please contact us at colormemuslim@gmail.com.

Why "Color Me Muslim"?

The name Color Me Muslim was taken from the title of a book my father wrote about 50 years of his life growing up Muslim on the American soil. From Jim Crow South, To Big City Lights and Life Overseas - it seems that he has witnessed it all. I was so inspired by the contents of his book and the expression "Color Me Muslim" itself that I not only decided to use it as the foundation of my movement but also as a means of perpetual charity for his benefit while he is here and when he is gone insha Allah.

To me, the expression "Color Me Muslim" itself represents the first identity of a diverse people. Meaning that before our race, nationality, or ethnicity - before any political affiliations or social orientations - We Are Muslim. Islam supersedes all other classifications. And no matter how vast the spectrum may be, our submission to Allah will always be the common thread that unites us. Long Live The Deen!!!

What You Get

For roughly every $30 we raise, we can sponsor 1 youth to attend the conference and get a free shirt, back-stage access to the speakers and performers, and more! Help us fulfill our goal of sponsoring 500 students by raising $15,000. In return, we've got some great perks to share: