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Youth Leadership

Certificate Program Cohort 7

Fall 2025 - Spring 2026! 

We train young minds each year to become future leaders in their Muslim community. Here, they will gain exposure to greater Metro Nashville, understanding how the city works, and insight into things that can be improved in our communities.

 

Students will also develop skills related to professional development, project management, communication, networking, and civic engagement; all while emphasizing ways to incorporate and maintain their faith and religious practices within academic and professional settings.

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About The Program

This program is held throughout the MNPS school year, from September 2025 to May 2026. Students will meet once a month for nine months at Casa Azafran from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. The scheduled program days fall on school days, weekends, or MNPS holidays.

 

Each program day is different and covers various topics, from Professionalism to Criminal Justice to Volunteering. Several days will be filled with field trips around Nashville to gain in-person experience on how some systems operate. Students will also have the opportunity to apply their organizing skills in a capstone project that reflects what they’ve learned.

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Upon completion of the program, students will receive a certificate, the right to note this program in their resumes / CVs, recommendation letters, and graduation stoles. 

Program Requirements

  1. Eligible students must be enrolled in high school in Middle Tennessee, grades 10th - 12th (sophomore - senior year). 

  2. Candidates must complete and submit the application form by September 1st, 2025, and attend Opening Day (September 6th) for an entrance interview. 

  3. Students will receive emails upon acceptance into the 2025 Cohort 7.

  4. Upon acceptance, students will need to submit permission slips from their parents and school to participate in the program since some meetings will fall on school days. 

  5. School and life are still priorities; we recognize it may be difficult to attend every month. Students are allowed two program days' absences throughout the school year. Absences of more than two months and a lack of communication may result in disqualification from the program. 

  6. All students are required to participate in group projects, including hosting the annual Fast-a-Thon in Ramadan and the end-of-year Community Capstone projects. 

​*** Disclaimers***

Students are expected to contribute 80% effort on all projects; lack of participation and communication will result in disqualification from the program. We are willing to work with students who need special accommodations for school or personal reasons upon request.

Tentative Meeting Dates

Fall 2025

Opening Day - Saturday, September 6th
Meeting 1 - Wednesday, September 24th
Meeting 2 - Wednesday, October 22nd
Meeting 3 - Tuesday, November 11th (Veterans Day)
Meeting 4 - Saturday, December 6th

Spring 2026

Meeting 5 - Wednesday, January 14th
Meeting 6 - Monday, February 16th (President’s Day)
Meeting 7 - Friday, March 6th
Meeting 8 - Tuesday, March 10th
Meeting 9 - April (TBA)
Meeting 10 - Saturday, April 11th
Meeting 11 - Saturday, May 2nd

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