Advocacy and Public Policy Leadership Training and Development

GREENBELT, Md. - July 25, 2019 - PRLog -- Earlier this month, a new educational and development program has been launched for youth of the DC and Baltimore metro areas. Islamic Leadership Institute of America (ILIA) a leader in youth development and leadership training has been offering programs in the areas of project management, leadership styles and traits, business and entrepreneurship since 2009.

With the recent changes in the political climate and the increase in hate crime across the nation fueled by the xenophobic and racist administration the need to engage youth for positive change has never been stronger. ILIA's new program will provide youth from across the nation's capital and surrounding areas the opportunity to receive quality education and development programming through experiential learning courses, internships and coaching.

Youth will have opportunities to apply what they learn in real-life situations providing them life-long learning experiences. ILIA's Greenbelt Chapter will be home to the program due to its proximity to both Washington DC and Annapolis, Maryland. Students will engage with faculty, elected servants, and local, state and federal officials.

The program plans to offer a mix of workshops, field programs, and academic research; and participants will be trained by experts from across the region and internal ILIA faculty. Participants from all faith backgrounds and beliefs ages 16 and above are welcome to apply. The organization plans on providing limited scholarships for youth who are unable to afford tuition and fees.

The new educational program launched on July 15th, 2019 under the leadership of Alawi Masud, Program Manager. Ayman Nassar, Founder and Chief Student Experience Officer at ILIA encourages all youth at some point in their lives before completing school and entering the workforce to "experience advocacy and promoting a cause that you believe in through your elected officials. It's a great way to learn, gain discipline and understand the bigger context".

Masud a youth himself invites his peers to join saying, "if you are passionate about fixing an issue when you are starting out, go as far as you can with it. If you are passionate about ridding society of a problem, do not be satisfied with simply going to a protest, but rather join a rapid action network, ask what your representatives are doing, make a resolution and work through it until you see the change you aspire to achieve".  He adds that youth should not be afraid of taking initiative and to make connections.

ILIA is a non-profit 501c(3) educational and research organization promoting youth development and leadership training. For more information about ILIA's Advocacy and Public Policy Leadership Development and Education program visit https://www.islamicleadership.org/publicpolicy