chloe
04-21-2010, 10:03 PM
By SOPHIA TAREEN
Associated Press Writer
CHICAGO (AP) - Dana Jabri believes the only way for young Muslim Americans to move forward is by jumping into politics.
The 16-year-old child of Syrian immigrants has phone banked for political candidates, served as a primary election judge and encouraged other suburban Chicago high-schoolers to pay attention to state politics.
"We care just as much as anyone else about America's problems," said Jabri, who wears hijab, a Muslim woman's head scarf. "I aspire to be the first hijabi senator."
Jabri is part of a younger generation of Muslim activists in the U.S. whose role has shifted in the last decade from combating post 9/11 backlash and educating those with little exposure to Islam to becoming politically involved and delving into universal issues, like human rights and environmentalism.
Most are the children of immigrants _ one study estimates more than half of Muslims in the U.S. are foreign-born _ and from a young age have felt scrutiny because of their faith.
"They are the catalytic generation," said Eboo Patel, the executive director of Chicago-based Interfaith Youth Core and member of a White House faith-based advisory board. "The earlier generations built the private institutions: mosques, schools, places to get married, have funerals. This generation will have a huge focus on public institutions."
The young activists' work appears to be gaining traction, particularly in the Chicago area, which experts estimate has nearly half a million Muslims, one of the largest concentrations in the country.
Activists have launched "Illinois Muslim Action Day," where Muslims, mostly youth, act as legislative pages and meet with lawmakers at the State Capitol in Springfield.
In its first year, the event drew just under 500 Muslims. Organizers have registered more than double that number for this year's event, planned for Thursday. More than two dozen buses will depart from area schools and mosques.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=576&sid=6237836
Associated Press Writer
CHICAGO (AP) - Dana Jabri believes the only way for young Muslim Americans to move forward is by jumping into politics.
The 16-year-old child of Syrian immigrants has phone banked for political candidates, served as a primary election judge and encouraged other suburban Chicago high-schoolers to pay attention to state politics.
"We care just as much as anyone else about America's problems," said Jabri, who wears hijab, a Muslim woman's head scarf. "I aspire to be the first hijabi senator."
Jabri is part of a younger generation of Muslim activists in the U.S. whose role has shifted in the last decade from combating post 9/11 backlash and educating those with little exposure to Islam to becoming politically involved and delving into universal issues, like human rights and environmentalism.
Most are the children of immigrants _ one study estimates more than half of Muslims in the U.S. are foreign-born _ and from a young age have felt scrutiny because of their faith.
"They are the catalytic generation," said Eboo Patel, the executive director of Chicago-based Interfaith Youth Core and member of a White House faith-based advisory board. "The earlier generations built the private institutions: mosques, schools, places to get married, have funerals. This generation will have a huge focus on public institutions."
The young activists' work appears to be gaining traction, particularly in the Chicago area, which experts estimate has nearly half a million Muslims, one of the largest concentrations in the country.
Activists have launched "Illinois Muslim Action Day," where Muslims, mostly youth, act as legislative pages and meet with lawmakers at the State Capitol in Springfield.
In its first year, the event drew just under 500 Muslims. Organizers have registered more than double that number for this year's event, planned for Thursday. More than two dozen buses will depart from area schools and mosques.
http://www.ksl.com/?nid=576&sid=6237836