ILIA hosted its Community Hygiene Drive, serving 2 beneficiaries with essential personal care and hygiene products. The initiative helped community members access everyday necessities while promoting health, dignity, and overall well-being through compassionate community support. Read more…

ILIA’s weekly Food Drive at the Youth Center served 10 beneficiaries, providing essential groceries and support. Youth volunteers played a central role in packing and distributing food, reinforcing ILIA’s mission of service, dignity, and community solidarity. Read more…

Three ILIA volunteers completed the Quick Introduction to Correctional Facilities training, a five-course program covering juvenile justice, correctional facilities, religious accommodations, and serving incarcerated Muslims. The training strengthened ILIA's capacity to deliver effective faith-based support and mentorship to youth and adults in correctional settings. Read more…

ILIA celebrated the first graduating cohort of its statewide I Can Lead reentry program at the Baltimore City Juvenile Justice Center. Fifteen young leaders from eight DJS facilities were recognized for completing the program and presenting community-focused projects. The ceremony culminated 12 months of programming that reached 542 unique youth through 965 enrollments and 1,956 attendance hours. State leaders, DJS officials and community partners joined the celebration as participants received certificates and $3,500 in awards. Read more…

ILIA urgently needs to raise $12,000 within 48 hours to cover a temporary deficit created while delivering vital youth and community services. This appeal calls on supporters to stand with ILIA in ensuring that programs for justice‑impacted families, youth empowerment, and community stabilization continue without interruption. Read more…

Across Virginia and the nation, children of incarcerated parents often face barriers that make higher education feel out of reach. Through ILIA’s outreach and advocacy, families are now being connected to scholarships that provide not only financial support but also hope and dignity. Programs such as the Pitzer Family Education Foundation, Pullan & Young, Venus Morris Griffin, Children Impacted by Crime, and ScholarCHIPS are helping young people turn resilience into opportunity. Read more…

ILIA supported the Back to School Backpack Giveaway & Community Resource Fair at Bethany Baptist Church and shared its Healing the Block program with 40 beneficiaries. Through Healing the Block Referrals, survivors of gun violence, families affected by homicide loss, and community members can be connected to services including grief support, victim assistance, housing and food resources, legal aid, employment and education programs, healthcare, and financial assistance. Read more…

In a world often driven by statistics and outcomes, ILIA reminds us that behind every number is a story, a life deserving of dignity, compassion, and connection. Through heartfelt dialogue and community engagement, More Than Numbers explores how inclusion and empathy can transform systems and hearts alike. This conversation goes beyond data to celebrate the humanity that binds us all, reaffirming that true progress begins with understanding and respect. Read more…

ILIA’s weekly Food Drive at the Youth Center served 12 beneficiaries, providing essential groceries and support. Youth volunteers played a central role in packing and distributing food, reinforcing ILIA’s mission of service, dignity, and community solidarity. Read more…

ILIA hosted an Information Table on its Juvenile Empowerment Program at Dar us-Salaam (DUS), engaging 6 community members in discussions about youth development, mentorship, and leadership opportunities. The event increased awareness of ILIA's programs and connected families with resources designed to support positive youth outcomes. Read more…

ILIA participated in a community meeting at McElderry Park on back-to-school initiatives and shared its Healing the Block program with 2 beneficiaries. Through Healing the Block Referrals, survivors of gun violence, families affected by homicide loss, and community members can be connected to services including grief support, victim assistance, housing and food resources, legal aid, employment and education programs, healthcare, and financial assistance. Read more…

ILIA hosted its Community Hygiene Drive, serving 7 beneficiaries with essential personal care and hygiene products. The initiative helped individuals and families access everyday necessities while promoting health, dignity, and overall well-being throughout the Baltimore community. Read more…

ILIA participated in the Back to School event at Whitelock Community Farm and shared its Healing the Block program with 25 beneficiaries. Through Healing the Block Referrals, survivors of gun violence, families affected by homicide loss, and community members can be connected to services including grief support, victim assistance, housing and food resources, legal aid, employment and education programs, healthcare, and financial assistance. Read more…

ILIA hosted its Community Clothes Drive, serving 5 beneficiaries with free clothing, shoes, jackets, and other essential apparel. Made possible through community donations and volunteer support, the event helped families access necessary items while promoting dignity, compassion, and community engagement. Read more…

ILIA Attended Back to School Community Event at Carver Vocational Technical High School and shared its Healing the Block program with 60 beneficiaries. Through Healing the Block Referrals, survivors of gun violence, families affected by homicide loss, and community members can be connected to services including grief support, victim assistance, housing and food resources. Read more…

ILIA participated in a Back to School Community Event at 2601 E. Madison and shared its Healing the Block program with 40 beneficiaries. Through Healing the Block Referrals, survivors of gun violence, families affected by homicide loss, and community members can be connected to services including grief support, victim assistance, housing and food resources, legal aid, employment and education programs, healthcare, and financial assistance. Read more…

ILIA attended National Night Out at McElderry Park and shared its Healing the Block program with 60 beneficiaries. Through Healing the Block Referrals, survivors of gun violence, families affected by homicide loss, and community members can be connected to services including grief support, victim assistance, housing and food resources, legal aid, employment and education programs, healthcare, and financial assistance. Read more…

ILIA participated in National Night Out at Howell Celebration Hall and shared its Healing the Block program with 25 beneficiaries. Through Healing the Block Referrals, survivors of gun violence, families affected by homicide loss. Read more…

ILIA delivered its weekly Friday Khutbah at the Howard County Detention Center (HCDC), engaging 9 students and inmates in spiritual reflection and faith-centered learning. The khutbah emphasized perseverance, hope, and personal growth, reinforcing ILIA's commitment to supporting justice-involved individuals through mentorship and guidance. Read more…

ILIA hosted a free Community Health Drive, serving 4 beneficiaries through preventative health screenings. Participants received blood pressure checks, blood sugar testing, and BMI assessments while learning more about the importance of early health awareness and wellness. The event reflected ILIA's commitment to building healthier and more informed communities. Read more…

ILIA continued its Security+ Certification Preparation Program, supporting 24 students pursuing careers in cybersecurity. Through focused technical training, hands-on learning, and career readiness support, participants strengthened their preparation for the CompTIA Security+ certification exam and future opportunities in the technology workforce. Read more…

ILIA’s weekly Food Drive at the Youth Center served 20 beneficiaries, providing essential groceries and support. Youth volunteers played a central role in packing and distributing food, reinforcing ILIA’s mission of service, dignity, and community solidarity. Read more…

ILIA delivered its weekly Friday Khutbah at the Howard County Detention Center (HCDC), engaging 9 students and inmates in spiritual reflection and faith-centered learning. The khutbah emphasized perseverance, hope, and personal growth, reinforcing ILIA's commitment to supporting justice-involved individuals through mentorship and guidance. Read more…

ILIA continued its Security+ Certification Preparation Program, supporting 24 students pursuing careers in cybersecurity. Through focused technical training, hands-on learning, and career readiness support, participants strengthened their preparation for the CompTIA Security+ certification exam and future opportunities in the technology workforce. Read more…

ILIA hosted an Information Table on its Youth Empowerment Program at the Baltimore Mayor's Office of Employment Development (MOED), engaging 12 students in discussions about leadership development, workforce readiness, and career advancement opportunities. The event helped connect young people with resources designed to support long-term success and personal growth. Read more…

ILIA’s weekly Food Drive at the Youth Center served 30 beneficiaries, providing essential groceries and support. Youth volunteers played a central role in packing and distributing food, reinforcing ILIA’s mission of service, dignity, and community solidarity. Read more…

ILIA delivered its weekly Friday Khutbah at the Howard County Detention Center (HCDC), engaging 23 inmates and students in reflection, spiritual growth, and community connection. The khutbah emphasized hope, accountability, and personal transformation while reinforcing ILIA's commitment to faith-based empowerment and support for justice-involved individuals. Read more…

ILIA hosted a 4-Day Young Adult Entrepreneurship & Business Planning Bootcamp, engaging 12 Baltimore City youth in hands-on training focused on entrepreneurship, project management, and business development. Participants transformed business ideas into actionable plans while gaining valuable skills to support future career and business success. Read more…

ILIA’s weekly Food Drive at the Youth Center served 10 beneficiaries, providing essential groceries and support. Youth volunteers played a central role in packing and distributing food, reinforcing ILIA’s mission of service, dignity, and community solidarity. Read more…

ILIA launched a new quarter of its EmpowerOne Muslim Program across 8 juvenile facilities, reaching 110 students. Weekly sessions offered faith guidance and mentorship, empowering incarcerated youth to rediscover purpose and resilience. Read more…

ILIA's Work Personality Assessment (WPA) program helped 7 students gain greater self-awareness and insight into their workplace strengths and development areas. Through detailed assessment reports and personalized coaching sessions, participants explored strategies to improve performance, strengthen leadership skills, and prepare for future educational and career success. Read more…

ILIA began a new quarter of its I Can Lead Program, teaching project management to 130 incarcerated youth. Weekly sessions built confidence, teamwork, and leadership skills, equipping participants with tools for success. Read more…

Inside Baltimore’s correctional facilities, three teenage girls made a life‑changing decision: to embrace faith, discipline, and leadership. Through ILIA’s I Can Lead program, they found strength in submitting to their Creator, reshaping their futures with purpose and dignity. Their journey is a testament to resilience, showing that even in confinement, hope and transformation can flourish. Read more…

On Thursday, June 18, 2026, families and residents gathered at Serenity Park at the corner of Belle and Marmon Avenues for a Family-Friendly Outdoor Movie Night hosted by Howard Park Civic Association (HPCA). The event reflected the growing momentum of HPCA's renewed community engagement efforts, bringing neighbors together for an evening of entertainment, fellowship, and resource sharing. Read more…

Mohamad French earned his CompTIA Security+ certification in April and his master's degree in computer science a month later. Now he’s standing in front of seven students, compressing months of study material into four days, building the slides as he goes, and wrapping up by 3 PM because, as he puts it, any longer feels like it's pushing human limits. Read more…

Seven young adults sat down to learn cybersecurity and change the trajectory of their careers. ILIA's CompTIA Security+ boot camp, launched on May 9 as part of Baltimore's Promise CareerBound Stackable Credentials program, is a four-day, two-weekend intensive built for IT-certified students ready to level up. Read more…

We've been taught that strength means holding it together. But what if the most courageous thing you can do is admit that you're not? For millions of people, especially in underserved communities, mental health becomes a luxury. This Mental Health Awareness Month, we're sitting with the feelings we've been trained to skip past. Read more...

In Denver, ILIA partnered with local leaders to reimagine urban spaces through the lens of youth empowerment. The initiative introduced a city design model shaped by young voices, ensuring that parks, streets, and community hubs reflect their needs and aspirations. By centering youth in the planning process, ILIA continues to prove that sustainable cities are built not just for the next generation, but with them. Read More…

ILIA Baltimore hosted another youth-led food drive, distributing essential grocery packages including chicken, eggs, canned goods, and bread to families facing food insecurity across the community. The two-hour event, held in honor of Global Youth Service Day and Youth Service Month and funded through the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation grant, was organized and run entirely by young volunteers who managed distribution stations, tracked inventory, and guided families through the process with care and intention. Read More…

Islamic Leadership Institute of America (ILIA) brought its fourth Safe Haven cybersecurity workshop to 1510 W. Lafayette Ave., arming Baltimore residents with the digital tools to protect themselves against a rising tide of online hate crimes and cyber threats. Read more…

Eight young people stood at the edge of the Chesapeake Bay in 2025 and chose not to look away. Armed with gloves and a future worth fighting for, ILIA youth stepped into the long and living story of one of America's most storied waterways! This Earth Day, their story is the answer to a question the world keeps asking: Who will save this planet? Read more…

On April 12, 2026, ILIA hosted a free clothes drive in Baltimore where families received gently used and new clothing, shoes, blankets, and more. If you missed it, this is only the beginning. Read more...

ILIA’s recent community event at BCYF's Summer of Opportunities Fair proved to be a strong success, creating meaningful connections with local families while showcasing its programs to a diverse audience. The experience highlighted the importance of being present in spaces where authentic conversations and trust-building naturally occur. Read more...

Mohamad French traveled to Hagerstown to deliver a cybersecurity workshop for community members at ISWMD, equipping attendees with essential knowledge to better protect themselves against growing digital threats. The session sparked strong engagement, with participants asking thoughtful questions and actively contributing to the discussion. Read More…

ILIA hosted a successful Safe Haven cybersecurity workshop on April 10 at Living Classrooms in Baltimore. As part of the state-funded Safe Haven initiative addressing rising hate crimes and online threats, the session highlighted practical strategies for cybersecurity awareness. Read more…

Discover how a student at Backbone Mountain Youth Center overcame literacy barriers to express his faith and leadership through art in ILIA's "I Can Lead" competition. Read more…

The Islamic Leadership Institute of America (ILIA) is closing the gap between traditional learning and real-world impact by integrating research into its curriculum design. From an experiential learning based framework to a full fledged Islamic Positive Youth Development Framework, ILIA’s Research Team develops structured models that connect authentic faith to daily life. This data-driven approach empowers educators with actionable strategies and provides students with a purposeful, cohesive, and modern learning journey. Read more…

NASA’s recent historic Artemis II mission, which launched astronauts around the Moon on April 2nd, is inspiring more than space exploration. It is inspiring the next generation. Almost a year ago, six Baltimore youth experienced a transformative ILIA visit to NASA’s Goddard Space Flight Center, getting a behind-the-scenes look at STEM in action. Read more…

ILIA Baltimore launched its first-ever Hygiene Drive in Baltimore, MD — providing essential products including toothpaste, mouthwash, feminine hygiene items, and razors to community members in need. Despite rainy weather and a modest turnout, the impact was clear in the gratitude of every family served. Read more...

ILIA has launched a new YouTube series hosted by Mohamad French, offering faith-informed strategies to stay safe online as cyber threats and Islamophobia rise. The series provides actionable tools to protect your data and respond to threats. Read more!

Shane Ford, ILIA’s Youth Project Manager, led a community food drive, ensuring families were supported and informed. Despite long wait times, he kept operations organized, engaged with attendees, and distributed available food early to ease the burden. Read more…

Khyri Sims, a Youth Coach of the I Can Lead Program talks about community service, especially in spaces that are often overlooked or under resourced.
Read more!

ILIA launched “Leading Oneself to Second Chances”, a statewide initiative bringing leadership development to incarcerated youth. By adapting its Positive Youth Development Framework (IPYD) into the Juvenile Active Learning Framework (JAL), ILIA created a model tailored to juvenile environments, empowering young people to reflect, learn, and grow despite challenging circumstances. Read more!

ILIA youth secured the Sodexo Stop Hunger Foundation Youth Grant, empowering them to expand monthly food drives and strengthen youth‑led hunger relief efforts in Baltimore. The grant supports logistics, volunteer training, and outreach, ensuring families receive consistent access to nutritious food. This milestone reflects ILIA’s commitment to building a generation of leaders dedicated to service, compassion, and community responsibility. Read more!

ILIA participated in multiple Career Open Houses across Baltimore in March 2026, connecting directly with job seekers and community members. These events provided opportunities to share ILIA’s workforce readiness programs, resulting in over 40 enrollments. By engaging diverse audiences, ILIA strengthened pathways to employment and expanded awareness of its youth empowerment initiatives. Read more!

The Islamic Leadership Institute of America (ILIA) collaborates with Makkah Learning Center, a technical partner, providing resources such as Muslim Connector Issue #3 and educational materials to encourage thoughtful dialogue about Ramadan, the Qur’an, and the foundations of faith. Read more!

ILIA expanded its service map to include Green Ridge and the Lower Eastern Shore, strengthening outreach and support for youth and families in these regions. By extending program access, ILIA ensures that more communities benefit from coaching, empowerment initiatives, and leadership development. This expansion reflects ILIA’s commitment to building inclusive networks of service across Maryland and beyond. Read more!

ILIA launched a Ramadan Guide tailored for juvenile residents, offering spiritual context, practical tips, and resources to help youth observe the blessed month meaningfully. The guide emphasizes reflection, worship, and community connection, ensuring that young participants can engage with Ramadan traditions in supportive environments. This initiative reflects ILIA’s commitment to empowering youth through faith, guidance, and leadership. Read more!

A sudden water heater malfunction caused flooding at ILIA’s Baltimore office, disrupting operations and damaging facilities. Staff and volunteers responded quickly to contain the impact and begin recovery efforts. The incident highlighted the importance of resilience and community support, as ILIA worked to restore its space and continue serving youth and families without interruption. Read more!

ILIA youth volunteers organized and delivered the Ramadan Food Drive, distributing essential supplies to families in need across Maryland. The initiative embodied the spirit of generosity and service during the blessed month, while empowering young leaders to take active roles in community support. Through teamwork and compassion, the food drive strengthened bonds of faith and solidarity. Read more!

Islamic Leadership Institute of America (ILIA) proudly announces the launch of @islamicleader.swva, dedicated to highlighting local projects, youth achievements, and community events across Southwest Virginia. This new platform strengthens connections with families, youth, and partners while expanding ILIA’s presence in the region. Read more!