The Council would like to thank all those who participated in the organization, execution, and attendance of the 2nd Annual Chicagoland Muslim Youth Expo held at North Park University’s Hamming Hall on October 8th, 2016.
This year’s Youth Expo featured over 30 booths from different institutions, organizations, businesses, and artists. In addition to the number of Muslim Student Associations and other non-academic youth organizations who helped plan and promote the event, there were law firms and tax offices looking for young talent, art vendors and craftsmen selling a variety of different artworks and handcrafted items, and many national, regional, and local non-profit organizations represented to inform youth about their activities and opportunities in the community.
The Expo was headlined by a number of talented speakers and individuals from the community, including Ustaz Ubaydallah Evans, Executive Director of the ALIM Institute, and Abu Noor Ryan, the Muslim Chaplain at DePaul University. There were artists as well as scholars – Nevien Shaabneh, author of Secrets Under the Olive Tree, was signing books and offering advice to young writers and former local hip-hop icon GON aka Zeid Khater gave a seminar on the lack of community support for the arts. The Expo concluded with an art competition by several local artists as well as a slam poetry contest, in which Yara Dawud took first prize.
CIOGC would also like to express its appreciation for North Park University, whose hospitality and interfaith cooperation made the Expo possible, as well as our sponsors: Zakat Chicago, Islamic Relief, IFANCA, and Zakat Foundation. Without their support, this event would not have been possible.
Finally, a special shout-out to all of the Muslim youth who were able to attend and make this event a success! We look forward to seeing you at our next events and hope that you stay involved in the community!