The Islamic Education Center of Potomac, Maryland has been in existence for over 20 years. From the moment the center first opened its doors, young adults who have been driven by energy channeled through their religious beliefs and their constant adherence to the thaqalay, have been an integral part of the center, from organizing massive programs with large audiences and prestigious speakers, to actually having a hand in the establishment of the center itself. Over the years, different generations of youth have come and gone, each contributing their valuable ideas to the community through their positive activities at the center. While past generations played an outstanding role in building the fundamental groundwork and foundations for the center, it is the current generation that has managed to set itself apart from all others. In addition to the fact that as the new generation we are native to the United States, we have also had the privilege to have grown up within the very walls of our center; some even learning how to walk there, making it our home away from home. With this added factor, the Islamic growth and prosperity of the center is engraved in the hearts of many of the youth here. As a result, motivation for constant improvement is at an all time high and steps are constantly being made to surpass expectations and continue to make further progress at the center, both on a more personal level as well as trying to impact both the Muslim and non Muslim communities in the area. Over the past year, the youth have been extremely active; each presentation surpassing the next in style and quality as well as number of attendees. In early 2006, weekly Saturday night English lectures were established, with prominent English speakers being invited from all around the country. In the summer of that year, the youth organized and executed a one-day seminar that had attendees from all around the Northeastern United States. The youth have also been involved in planning and hosting programs marking various important events on the Islamic calendar such as Mab’ath- the birth of the Prophet, as well as the 13th of Rajab; each of those programs having up to 700 attendees from the community. Among one of the most notable programs to date is that in which the youth hosted the former president of the Islamic Republic of Iran--Seyed Muhammad Khatami as a keynote speaker to mark the anniversary and celebration of the 15 th of Sha'ban. The attendance for the program was well over 1,000 people, with the youth leading all the presentations of the program. With Allah ’s help, the youth hope to continue to develop the positive activities that have been done recently. Expanding the scope of our community to affect more than just those that surround us and enlarging our projects to include the younger generations are all goals which we hope, with the help of Allah Almighty, to achieve |
