Challenge the Status Quo...

While racism, discrimination, and prejudice affect us all, young people are among the most vulnerable. But with the right resources and adult allies to support them — our youth can transform our communities for the better. It’s time to empower our youth with the tools they need to challenge the status quo and push for that transformative agenda for social justice in the Muslim and broader communities. And this is why CAIR-LA has created The Muslim Gamechangers Network (MGN). 

MGN is a four-month social justice training program for Muslim high school students which will equip participants with the tools to critically understand their world, effectively challenge injustice,and build legacies of positive change in their communities. The program consists of weekly interactive sessions and field trips centered on themes of identity, community history, social responsibility, and organizing tools, all grounded in an Islamic worldview.

The current MGN cohort has 50 students enrolled, Alhamdulilah. The program expense is $25,000, costing $500 to support each student throughout the entire program. CAIR-LA is able to cover 50% of the current costs with additional support of 20% from Al-Ansaar Academy. We need you to help raise the remaining $7,500.

(Check out the video above.)

The current MGN program is being held in partnership with Al-Ansaar Academy in Rancho Cucamonga, CA every Sunday from 10am-12pm   

Some of the problems youth are facing today are racial and religious discrimination. Many youth don’t want to get involved with Muslim or social justice causes for fear of being subjected to law enforcement scrutiny for political and religious activism. MGN fosters the confidence and sense of self that our youth need to understand the power they hold as American Muslims and the kind of impact they can make. 

During their 4-month program, they will elevate their social consciousness by:

• Understanding the world around them, and reflecting on their personal experiences with identity and empowerment.
• Understanding the history of their family, hometown, and community.
• Learning how to make daily choices that can impact other people in the world.
• Learning how to mobilize people effectively through coalition-building, media engagement, and grassroots organizing in order to build a socially responsible society.

"Ultimately, MGN's vision is to carry the prophetic tradition of building self-awareness,social responsibility, and justice for all," Zienab Abdelgany, the creator of MGN, said. 

MGN has been blessed with remarkable facilitators who are young Muslim American activists that can relate to our youth and share similar experiences. They inspire our students to follow in their footsteps as future Muslim leaders.

Here are some facts of the program and where the money is going:

Muslim Day at the Capitol: At Muslim Day at the Capitol, students will have an opportunity to meet state legislators, discuss issues of concern and help bring about positive social change.

Manzanar Pilgrimage: Students will attend the annual pilgrimage to Manzanar, one of the ten concentration camps in which Americans of Japanese ancestry were incarcerated during WWII, to show solidarity with the Japanese American community and learn about this important history.

Culmination Ceremony: After four months of comprehensive curriculum, relationship-building and transformation, the students deserve to celebrate their accomplishment of finishing the program with a grand culmination ceremony.

• $22 per Student for Certificate, Gift and Supplies
• Total: $900                

So, How Can You Help?

1. Lend your support to MGN by donating on this page. Every amount counts!

2. Share this LaunchGood campaign via email and social media with all your family and friends. 

3. Please pray for the success of this organization, the project, and for our youth. 

The community’s support has allowed MGN to expand to other areas nationally!

Reward Your Support

We know these gifts are just tokens of appreciation, but we value your support and hope you accept these gifts as a symbol of the work you’re supporting. See PERKS on the right for full descriptions of the various gifts.

Where the funds will go:

The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit organization.Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue,protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

“This project is simply the most innovative, groundbreaking, and sophisticated attempt to work with Muslim youth that I've seen in Southern California... [The organizers] have developed a curriculum that encapsulates Islamic spiritual understandings, US social history, impetus for solidarity and grassroots organizing techniques. They have built a safe, encouraging, and most importantly empowering space for Muslim youth in the community. It is definitely not your boring Sunday school program or apologetic assimilation pipeline... It is the real deal.

It is a project that can only get better, and hopefully can expand and serve more of the community.Check out this video for more info. If you got the means please support this worthy cause."

-Professor Yousef Baker, community organizer and International Studies professor at CSU Long Beach.