IMAAM Center Leadership Seminar (July 23, 2016)

On Saturday, July 23, 2016, The Fairfax Institute hosted a leadership seminar for staff and board of the IMAAM Center from Silver Spring, Maryland. The all-day IMAAM Center Leadership Seminar was held at IIIT headquarters. The training modules included:

• Lessons of Leadership from Muslim History
• Importance of Strategic Planning
• Engaging Muslim Youth
• Interfaith Engagement
• Wealth Building and Fundraising
• Da’wah: Ethics of Engagement

The day started with insights from Dr. Ermin Sinanovic, reflecting on the qualities and lessons of leadership throughout Muslim History. The program continued with Dr. Iqbal Unus’ session on the importance of strategic planning and vision. The issue of how Imams and mosque leadership can engage with Muslim youth was a topic that was facilitated by Abidah Ali, Youth Coordinator at the ADAMS Center (All Dulles Area Muslim Society). Later, Farhanahz Ellis, a decades-long veteran of the field of interfaith engagement,  highlighted the importance and ways of interfaith engagement, and underlining the value of actively engaging local communities. Dr. Hisham AlTalib, President of the Board of the International Institute of Islamic Thought, discussed da’wah and the ethics of engagement, and Dr. Yaqub Mirza finished the seminar with a discussion of practical methods of wealth-building and fundraising. The leadership seminar concluded with certificate awards presented by Dr. Ermin Sinanovic and Dr. Yaqub Mirza.

The all-day seminar provided a wonderful opportunity for participants to reflect on workshop sessions and actively partake in discussions with speakers. The Fairfax Institute looks forward to pursue such fruitful connections as we move forward with our work. For more information on how your organization can receive leadership trainings, please call (703) 230-2843 or email tfiadmissions@iiit.org.