Aimed at empowering budding leaders and professionals and imparting to them the tenets of civic leadership, the program included opportunities to hear from prominent leaders, both within and outside the Ismaili community, about their paths to leadership and to learn how to best articulate our faith in external spaces.
Mission Capital, an organization that has over two decades of experience in advising nonprofits, led the discussion on how to join a nonprofit board and the common roles and responsibilities associated with such an endeavor. Before the retreat, the organization provided cohort members with an emotional intelligence test to analyze their emotional makeup, using the first half of the weekend to discuss the interplay of self-awareness, social awareness, self-regulation, and motivation in effective leadership.
Later in the afternoon, in his remarks, U.S. Congressman Lloyd Doggett shared his thoughts about the future of civic leadership, the roles and responsibilities of Congress members, and the pathway to pursuing such a role. “You don’t begin by running for Congress; you begin by making a difference in your community,” he said.
Texas State Representative Dr. Suleman Lalani then encouraged the audience to let their unique interests pave their paths to civic engagement. For example, he shared the impact of his membership in the Ismaili community and its influence on his actions and discourse in the Texas House of Representatives.
Building upon this message on the next day, Dr. Zahra Jamal, a Senior Consultant for Interfaith America, walked the cohort through the tenets of the Shia Ismaili Muslim faith that underlie civic leadership. Quoting Mawlana Hazar Imam’s concept of “enlightened self-fulfillment,” she emphasized the impact civic service has on us and society. As an exercise, the participants were segmented into groups and provided situations in which they were required to explain their faith to the identified audience.
The retreat culminated in the office of Texas State Representative Salman Bhojani at the Texas State Capitol, who spoke at length about his humbling journey to public office. Beginning as a cashier, he pursued a law degree at the Southern Methodist University before becoming a successful lawyer/businessman. During his speech, he vividly recounted key moments in his life that stoked his desire to serve others and catapulted him from one success to another.
Repeatedly, Rep. Bhojani underscored the importance of having the Ismaili community and other diverse communities seek a seat at the table, rather than be “on the menu.” “No one can voice yourself as you can,” he emphasized, serving as a powerful reminder of the potential for impact that each individual innately possesses. Recalling his journey to civic leadership, he encouraged cohort members to occupy positions such as his own, if not higher, in the United States. All that was required, he reiterated, was to start and let the passion for service and dedication lead the way.
Reflecting on the retreat, Nadia Sharif, Pharmacy Technician at Thirty Madison, said, “Our cohort’s Austin retreat was extremely insightful and fun. We had many opportunities to exchange ideas and feedback and to have discussions during each of our designated sessions. It was truly an amazing experience to be around like-minded individuals to collaborate and learn from.”
Echoing the group’s widely-held desire to serve the community, Moiz Mohammed, Director at Walmart, commented: “The Austin retreat with the Ismaili Civic Leadership Program was an unforgettable experience. Exploring the Capitol with our Ismaili Texas State Representatives made us proud, knowing that we have a voice in the state we call home. The weekend was a powerful reminder of the strength of our community and our shared commitment to making a positive impact.”
The Ismaili Civic Leadership Program, organized by the Ismaili Council for the Southwestern USA, is a collaborative initiative, partnering with Mission Capital, Rice University, United Way, and the City of Houston throughout the nine-month program. It seeks to provide its participants with an operational understanding of serving on nonprofit boards, awareness of the paths to civic leadership, and, importantly, knowledge to articulate their values as Shia Ismaili Muslims.
In the upcoming months, cohort members will attend additional sessions similarly geared towards internalizing and further developing effective leadership skills, while learning how to serve as prideful representatives of the Ismaili Muslim community on their future platforms. Partnerships with organizations such as Rice University and United Way will afford more opportunities and resources for these members as they continue to pursue the noble endeavor of civic service.
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