{"id":714,"date":"2008-07-20T13:27:59","date_gmt":"2008-07-20T18:27:59","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/blog.minaret.org\/?p=714"},"modified":"2008-07-20T13:29:22","modified_gmt":"2008-07-20T18:29:22","slug":"mpac-youth-summit-summary","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blog.minaret.org\/?p=714","title":{"rendered":"MPAC Youth Summit"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><meta content=\"text\/html; charset=utf-8\" http-equiv=\"Content-Type\" \/><meta content=\"Word.Document\" name=\"ProgId\" \/><meta content=\"Microsoft Word 9\" name=\"Generator\" \/><meta content=\"Microsoft Word 9\" name=\"Originator\" \/>\n<link rel=\"File-List\" \/><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>  <w:WordDocument>   <w:View>Normal<\/w:View>   <w:Zoom>0<\/w:Zoom>   <w:DoNotOptimizeForBrowser\/>  <\/w:WordDocument> <\/xml><![endif]--><\/p>\n<style> <!--  \/* Font Definitions *\/ @font-face \t{font-family:Wingdings; \tpanose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; \tmso-font-charset:2; \tmso-generic-font-family:auto; \tmso-font-pitch:variable; \tmso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;}  \/* Style Definitions *\/ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal \t{mso-style-parent:\"\"; \tmargin:0in; \tmargin-bottom:.0001pt; \tmso-pagination:widow-orphan; \tfont-size:10.0pt; \tfont-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\";} p.MsoTitle, li.MsoTitle, div.MsoTitle \t{margin:0in; \tmargin-bottom:.0001pt; \ttext-align:center; \tmso-pagination:widow-orphan; \tfont-size:10.0pt; \tfont-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tmso-fareast-font-family:\"Times New Roman\"; \tfont-weight:bold; \ttext-decoration:underline; \ttext-underline:single;} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink \t{color:blue; \ttext-decoration:underline; \ttext-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed \t{color:purple; \ttext-decoration:underline; \ttext-underline:single;} @page Section1 \t{size:8.5in 11.0in; \tmargin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; \tmso-header-margin:.5in; \tmso-footer-margin:.5in; \tmso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 \t{page:Section1;}  \/* List Definitions *\/ @list l0 \t{mso-list-id:1314991195; \tmso-list-type:hybrid; \tmso-list-template-ids:-1216871326 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l0:level1 \t{mso-level-number-format:bullet; \tmso-level-text:\u00ef\u201a\u00b7; \tmso-level-tab-stop:.5in; \tmso-level-number-position:left; \ttext-indent:-.25in; \tfont-family:Symbol;} ol \t{margin-bottom:0in;} ul \t{margin-bottom:0in;} --> <\/style>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">Last week I had an opportunity to participate in the Muslim Public Affairs Council\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s (MPAC) <a href=\"http:\/\/www.mpac.org\/summit\/\">National Muslim American Young Leaders Summit<\/a>. Along with 24 other Muslim American delegates, I finished up a three-day program of faith-based civic engagement in Washington DC. We talked with some of America\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s most prominent policymakers inside the Beltway, including civil society activists, federal bureaucrats, and members of Congress. It was a great opportunity for me to deepen my understanding of being an American Muslim and what kind of positive impact that can have on my society.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->\u00c2\u00a0<!--[endif]--><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">The first day was an evening orientation and dinner with the other interns at the Beacon Hotel. The time we spent was used to get to know one another and have a briefing by the MPAC staff on the next two days of activities.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->\u00c2\u00a0<!--[endif]--><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">The next day was the first day of actual visiting and talking to policymakers. We started at the Gallup Organization DC headquarters. At Gallup, we heard presentations by Stephen Grand, Director of the Brookings Institute\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s <em>US-Islamic World Forum<\/em>, and Dalia Mogahed, Executive Director of Gallup <em>Center for Muslim Studies<\/em>. Grand\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s presentation talked about the impact the forum has had at both the ministerial and grassroots civil society levels. Meanwhile, Mogahed provided us with crucial, <a href=\"http:\/\/blog.minaret.org\/\/?p=585\">myth-busting statistics<\/a> from Gallup about Muslims\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 opinions on East-West relations, including foreign policy, economic well-being, democracy and terrorism.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->\u00c2\u00a0<!--[endif]--><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">We then shuffled over to the Department of Justice (DoJ) to speak to government officials on Muslim Americans\u00e2\u20ac\u2122 civil rights and civil liberties. The first speakers were Eric Treene, special counsel to the DoJ on religious discrimination, and Grace Becker, Assistant Attorney General in the Civil Rights Division of the DoJ. Mr. Treene discussed the work the DoJ has done to fight religious discrimination against Muslims, including hate crimes and violations prohibiting or inhibiting legal religious use of land. Ms. Becker responded to questions from the participants, including myself, about concerns over alleged sanction of racial profiling in future DoJ guidelines to open terrorism cases. Officials from the Department of Homeland Security and Treasury were also present, discussing efforts to partner with Muslim community leaders for better financial and charity practices, as well as more Muslim participation in government work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->\u00c2\u00a0<!--[endif]--><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">The last visit took place at the Interfaith Alliance where we met with Rev. Welton Gaddy and Rabbi Steven Jacobs. The discussion focused on how one\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s faith can be used as a motivating tool to fight for social justice. There were also discussions about the importance of bridge-building with members of other faiths to prevent and counter religious discrimination.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->\u00c2\u00a0<!--[endif]--><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">That day ended with dinner and a discussion about people\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s reflections on the organizations visited.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->\u00c2\u00a0<!--[endif]--><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">The next morning I met up with the other delegates at Congressman Frank Wolf\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s (R-VA) office where we had a 30-minute discussion on issues relating to global warming, international religious freedom, US-China relations, national security and civil liberties. At one point the discussion became so heated that Rep. Wolf charged we were part of the \u00e2\u20ac\u0153blame America first crowd\u00e2\u20ac\u009d despite what we felt was an emphasis on good international leadership. Similar questions were posed in a following session to Rep. Adam Schiff (D-CA), but with less confrontation.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->\u00c2\u00a0<!--[endif]--><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">After our meeting with the Congressmen, our group hustled over to the State Department where we met with Richard Boucher, Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of South and Central Asian Affairs. Assistant Secretary Boucher described his work at South and Central Asia desk. Afterwards, he accepted questions from delegates regarding narco-trafficking in Afghanistan, relations with Pakistan\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s new government, economic and political development in Afghanistan and counterinsurgency strategy against Al-Qaeda and the Taliban.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->\u00c2\u00a0<!--[endif]--><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">Our last visit was to the Senate office of Dianne Feinstein (D-CA). Initially we talked with her top staffers on intelligence, judiciary and foreign affairs issues, but the Senator came in later to our meeting. After some initial introductions we finally asked about her path to becoming a Senator as well as questions of policy concerning immigration, Guantanamo, her \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Yea\u00e2\u20ac\u009d vote on the recent FISA bill and Middle East politics. Before leaving the Hart Senate building, I had an opportunity to also meet with Sen. Robert Menendez\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s (D-NJ) staffer on Homeland Security and Civil Liberties issues. It was there that I had an opportunity to express my gratitude to his office for voting favor civil liberties and real security reforms, in addition to presenting her with a copy of MFI\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s paper on <a href=\"http:\/\/www.minaret.org\/MPAC%20Backgrounder.pdf\">combating homegrown terrorism<\/a> (PDF).<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->\u00c2\u00a0<!--[endif]--><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">The night ended with a commemorating banquet where Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), the first Muslim elected to Congress, spoke about the need to have Muslims increase their political activism and engagement in the United States. <\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->\u00c2\u00a0<!--[endif]--><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">The next day was our last time together as a group where the staff talked to us about giving back to our communities through presentations and op-ed training. We also heard reflective speeches from Executive Director Salam Al-Marayati and Gallup Senior Analyst Ahmed Younis.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\"><!--[if !supportEmptyParas]-->\u00c2\u00a0<!--[endif]--><\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\"><span style=\"font-family: Arial\">Looking back on the program, I had a great time. The opportunities to question, challenge and praise the different speakers were taken full advantage of. I came out of the program with both strong convictions and a reaffirmation of my self-identity. It strengthened my resolve to continue my interests in counterterrorism strategies (and how they can reconciled with a conscious respect for civil liberties). It also inspired me to reach out to my communities in New Jersey and get other Muslim youth productively involved in political activism.<\/span><\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Alejandro Beutel<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Program Assistant<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">Minaret of Freedom Institute<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">www.minaret.org<\/p>\n<p class=\"MsoNormal\">\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Last week I had an opportunity to participate in the Muslim Public Affairs Council\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s (MPAC) National Muslim American Young Leaders Summit. Along with 24 other Muslim American delegates, I finished up a three-day program of faith-based civic engagement in Washington DC. We talked with some of America\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s most prominent policymakers inside the Beltway, including civil [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-714","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-news-and-analysis"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.minaret.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/714","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.minaret.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.minaret.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.minaret.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/7"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.minaret.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=714"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/blog.minaret.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/714\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blog.minaret.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=714"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.minaret.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=714"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blog.minaret.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=714"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}