[INDEX |
NATIONAL
|
WORLD
|
PERSPECTIVE
|
COLUMNS
|
MONEY
|
ENTERTAINMENT
|
HEALTH
|
TECH
|
LETTERS
|
SUBSCRIBE]
FinalCall.com News
Perspectives
M.U.I. Launches N.O.I. Jr. Staff Development Program
By Kathleen X and
Kareem Abdullah
Updated Aug 4, 2008 - 2:38:00 PM
Throughout the United States, inner-city youth face many difficult challenges. Idleness, coupled with peers who are involved in immoral activities, have driven many young adults to drugs, premarital sex, and gang activity. In Chicago, for instance, the homicide rate among youth, particularly Black, is exceedingly high. At Muhammad University of Islam (M.U.I.), Chicago, we are working to establish programs that will aid all of our people, especially the youth, in escaping these types of evils and vices.
Several M.U.I. Students were given the opportunity to participate in the City of Chicago’s Personal Development and Skills Enhancement Training program. The students; Ameerah Muhammad, Jamila Murden, Cherqura Wilson, Safiyyah Muhammad, Taibat Lawal, and Racheal Abdullah, were the first, Insha’Allah, of many Muslim youth who will receive the career-based training. Sister Lisa Muhammad (L.M.), who is both a former M.U.I. student and a Youth Development Professional, gave us a little insight into the process that went into the establishment of the program.
M.U.I.: What interested you in working with M.U.I. youth?
L.M.: I’ve always been interested. The Honorable Minister Farrakhan teaches us to lead by example. Working in the community as a Youth Development Professional, as a Muslim woman under the Teachings of the Honorable Elijah Muhammad, I recognize and accept that we are responsible for the nurturing and rearing of our children.
M.U.I.: What is the Nation of Islam (N.O.I.) Junior Staff Training Program?
L.M.: The Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan recently reminded us about preparing our youth to accept the challenge and responsibilities of building a Nation. The N.O.I. Junior Staff Program has, as its primary goal, the facilitation of information and knowledge exchanges, between the active adult N.O.I. membership and the youth.
This is something that I personally desired to do for many years. More recently, during the 2007-2008 school year, we began focusing on career education during the M.U.I. Academic Enrichment classes. Our goal for the summer was to develop structured training and hands-on career-based activities; with a particular emphasis on Muslim morals and character development.
M.U.I.: How was this program developed?
L.M.: It was actually an answered prayer that I’ve had for quite some time. We thank Allah so much for the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan’s vision, guidance and most of all the trust that he placed in Dr. Larry Muhammad, M.U.I. Director, and the M.U.I. staff. At the beginning of the 2007 school year at M.U.I.-Chicago, the 9th grade girls Academic Enrichment curricula included numerous exercises and projects aimed at increasing the students’ knowledge and skills in the areas of character development, personal responsibility, deliberative dialogue, as well as service to self and community. One of the primary goals of each exercise was for the students to become equipped to use what they learned in a practical way, outside of the classroom setting-that would include learning to always be themselves in all their efforts to do for self. The student National M.G.T. Captain, Sister A’ishah Muhammad, reminded me once that the Minister did not want us to substitute Islam for something else, when teaching and training our children. He instructed us to teach Islam and show the love and joy we have for Islam, and for living the life of a Muslim. That has been the driving force behind my desire to engage our youth as active participants in our Nation.
M.U.I.: Why was it important for you to facilitate this internship?
L.M.: The intent was always to try and continue this type of training with the students over the summer. We are constantly looking for ways to make it more exciting as well as career-focused. Also, being able to offer them a monetary stipend is a great incentive. The opportunity to participate in the Summer Internship program was introduced to me by Brother Leonard Farrakhan Muhammad, of the Nation of Islam’s office of the Chief of Staff. He had been made aware of the city’s desire to place youth throughout Chicago in programs that would provide meaningful work experience. As soon as he mentioned it, I felt we could do it. Initially, we were not sure where our youth would be working. That presented a problem, because we needed to know that they would be safe and secure. However, through Brother Leonard’s dialogue with City of Chicago representatives, we were not only given the opportunity to receive slots for student participants, but we were also given the opportunity to have Nation of Islam entities, particularly Muhammad University of Islam, selected as worksites for interns. It was necessary for there to be a point person who would coordinate the overall day to day operations, throughout the six weeks. I volunteered to be that person, on behalf of the N.O.I. It was so important to me personally, because it was an opportunity for M.U.I. students to benefit from a positive community-wide program, demonstrate what they’ve learned at M.U.I.; and they would definitely be given the chance to shine and represent what Islam has done for them.
M.U.I.: What are your expectations for the interns?
L.M.: The summer internship program began on June 27th and runs through August 8th. The participants work/train four hours per day, five days per week. Each Friday, they attend a required life-skills and job-readiness class, at Chicago’s Kennedy-King College. They complete exercises in resume writing, mock interviews, work ethics, and other relative topics. In addition to the above, they receive additional [spiritual] training from the Nation of Islam.
At the end of the six weeks, I expect that the students will have had a well-rounded, meaningful and practical learning experience, as they are expected to rotate to various entities and departments of the Nation of Islam, particularly Muhammad University of Islam. During the internship, the youth will be involved in office management, administrative support, marketing and sales and fund raising.
M.U.I.: How would you like to see the program grow and develop in the future?
L.M.: I pray that this initiative will grow and develop into a formal Junior Staff Training Division of the Nation, offered to M.U.I. youth, ages 13-20. I recently asked the Honorable Minister Louis Farrakhan how we, as instructors at M.U.I., could inspire a greater since of service to humanity in our youth. He said to be examples of what we desire from our youth-to show them how it is done. I want my daughter and other children to have real examples to follow as they matriculate through school. I pray that this internship will prove to be a way that this is done.
