What is Turning Point’s Youth Program About?
Our Youth Group offers Muslim girls and young women (ages 13-20 years) a supportive peer network and safe space to address social, peer and familial pressures, learn about their rights as Muslim girls/women and as Americans as they navigate their way through daily challenges unique to Muslims living in post 9/11 New York. The peer network offers them opportunities to develop self-esteem, confidence, and leadership skills.
A huge barrier facing young Muslim girls born in the U.S. is that many of their immigrant parents are fearful and intimidated by the hostile post-9/11 climate, and hesitate to seek help from mainstream agencies, even when they recognize a problem in the family. The youth group allows them an opportunity and a safe space to discuss issues and seek solutions collectively.
The youth group also helps teenagers understand the value of education, staying focused, and taking charge of their own lives. The group has made an incredible impact on many girls who have gained self-confidence, developed leadership skills, and found their strength thus feeling empowered, to talk about critical issues that affect their daily lives such as peer, familial, and societal pressures as well as gender, ethnic, and religious discrimination. At Turning Point, girls feel a sense of peace, belongingness, wellness, support, and empowerment.
The group meets once a week and functions like a peer support group. In a group setting, the girls have often brainstormed to find answers/solutions to difficult issues and problems.
Mecca to Manhattan: Muslim Women Moving Mountains®
(M2M) is our popular, flagship leadership training series for Muslim girls and young women ages 13-20 years. M2M connects the young participants with younger female leaders in the Muslim community. Since 2009, M2M has been held every Spring (except 2015 & 2016 when our Youth Program was inactive). The facilitators, all Muslim females, serve as role models as they engage the participants in interactive workshops and inspire them by discussing their own professions, educational paths, and experiences as Muslim women working in NYC in their fields. Participants are given the tools and platform to express their creativity, develop leadership, communication and public speaking skills, and explore their own educational/career paths. Many facilitators also continue to mentor the young participants.
ARISE NY! Anti-Bullying and Hate Crime Campaign
Our ARISE NY! Anti-Bullying and Hate Crime campaign was envisioned and created in 2010 by our youth members in response to the bullying, stereotyping and Islamophobia that they faced in their daily lives. This campaign has since morphed into a much broader project. We now conduct regular ARISE NY! workshops at schools, libraries and in partnership with other organizations to address the ongoing issues of bullying, stereotyping, and hate crimes faced by youth. We also address other issues including peer pressure, “ fitting in”, identity, feelings of isolation or being outcast etc. that impact the lives of NYC youth. The highlight of this project is an annual citywide ARISE NY! Interfaith Anti-bullying Summit open to all youth (Muslim and non-Muslim youth ages 13-20) If you would like to schedule a free workshop in your school, library, or organization, please email info@tpny.org or call 718.262.8722 or 718-262-8744.