It's Our Money

Name of Your Organization:

Majlis Ash-Shura: Islamic Leadership Council of New York 

Overview of the Project - Please provide a brief description of the project.

We believe that youth development requires guidance, support, and adequate resources. Therefore, our project proposal will involve a 4-part workshop series for 20 selected applicants which will address different areas of youth & leadership development. The workshops will be designed in a way where youth are active participants who are shaping the workshops as part of their leadership development journey, and our organization will simply provide them the tools for their success. In addition to developing leadership and professional skills, applicants will also receive $300 program stipends, metro cards, and food costs (depending on COVID restrictions). Moreover, this project will tackle neighborhoods in East Flatbush, Jamaica, and Bed-Stuy through our partner member organizations who have an active presence in these areas. These workshops will include areas in:

1- Reflections & Self-Actualization in Youth Potential (Having youth reflect on their values and desires for society and develop a plan for themselves)

2- Understanding & Navigating Local Government (Ins-outs of local government, what to know, trip to State Assembly, youth actively networking with public officials)

3- How to Mobilize Community & Resources (Grassroots Activism 101, what to know, youth meet with community leaders, and learn to develop how to tackle issues that they are passionate about)

4- Professional Career Development. (Connecting youth to internships, career workshops, matching youth interests to actual opportunities)

Each workshop will include different interactive components to help youth develop and understand their goals, be properly educated on political systems and community organizing, which will eventually culminate in a professional development workshop to assist youth find internships of their interest. 

Which of the following issues does your project address?

• Issue 1 - Addressing Mental Health
• Issue 2 - Preparation for College and/or Career
• Issue 3 - Youth Advocacy Promotion

2 & 3

Youth Engagement - Please explain how you will engage youth in the planning and implementation of the project.

This project will require a simple application process that will target youth in underrepresented and marginalized neighborhoods. Each workshop series will address different areas to help youth develop their goals and interests to better serve their communities. 

Workshop 1: Reflections & Self-Actualization (End of February)

An intimate bonding activity to listen to students and help them share and express themselves. Reflections will be through writing and open discussion. This group activity will help students open up, feel listened to, and understand their potential to make a difference.

1. What are their most important moral and social values? 
2. What ideals do they want to see in society?
3. Where does society need to improve?
4. What are the dangers of feeling hopeless and complacent?  

Workshop 2: Understanding the Political System (Mid-March)

An educational presentation for students followed (possibly) by a trip to the State Assembly/or a trip that allows students to meet with local public officials to witness the ins-and-outs of state legislation. The trip will depend on the COVID restrictions.

1. How does the current political system work? Intro to civics, different branches of local government
2. How is legislation made? What is the process?
3. Why is there so much conflict in passing legislation? Competing groups and interests
4. How does policy become influenced by different interest groups?
5. Examples of grassroots success. 

Workshop 3: Grassroots Activism- Mobilizing Community and Resources (Early April)

Educational presentation followed by a presentation from a local grassroots community group/activist on the ins-and-outs of community organizing.

1. Feeling moved by an issue and wanting to make a change
2. Gathering partners, building community, and raising awareness/shifting perspectives
3. Creating action items and bringing it to the attention of more powerful stakeholders
4. Bringing it to the attention of law-makers

Workshop 4: Professional Development (Early-Mid May)

In this last phase, we will directly assist students to actualize their potential through professional development. In this phase, students will be asked to identify their interests, research internships or volunteer opportunities of interest, or ask us to help them to connect to internship opportunities. This last phase can be done in conjunction with partner organizations/MusCare.

1. Connecting students to internship opportunities of interest
2. Helping students develop their resumes, cover letters, and job interview skills
3. OR assist students with their college applications

Budget - Your total project budget must equal $20,000 to be placed on the ballot for a youth vote. Please provide a brief description of what the funds would be used for to successfully implement your project. You will also need to download, fill in, and attach a full budget using this template (External link).

- $6,000 for 20 students to be a part of this workshop series

- $1,000 for food during workshops (if in person)

- $220 for metro cards

- $200-$300 for school bus (if trip takes place)

- Remaining $12-13k will be for employee salaries

Timeline- Please describe the timeline for the implementation and completion of the project. All work for this project must be completed by June 30, 2021, which is the end of the city’s fiscal year and the deadline for the funds to be spent.

End of February - Mid May, with one workshop a month

Application process: Mid-late February

Workshop 1: Early March

Workshop 2: End of March

Workshop 3: Early April

Workshop 4: Early-mid April

Project Activity Alignment - How does your project align with at least one of the following topics:

• Leadership skills development: organizing & advocacy trainings
• Stewardship of public spaces: public parks, transportation, etc.
• Youth and student engagement
• Civic education and advocacy
• Community outreach involving residents that have been historically underrepresented in or underserved by city government and its processes
•  

Our project is a mixture of leadership skills development, youth/student engagement, civic education & advocacy, in addition to community outreach by having community grassroots organizations involved. The ultimate goal of our workshop series is to expose youth to local government, understand how to mobilize community through grassroots activism, and develop their professional and leadership skills.  

What is your organization's area of focus?

• Children and youth related
• Advocacy and organizing
• Arts and culture
• Civic engagement
• Education and literacy
• Emergency management and disaster response
• Employment and workforce development
• Environment and sustainability
• Faith-based
• Food access
• Health and medicine
• Homelessness and/or affordable housing
• Human rights
• Human services
• Immigrants and/or refugees
• Justice related
• Legal services
• People with disabilities
• Senior services
• Women's issues

Children/Youth/Organizing/Education Literacy

Affirmations - Type "YES" below each statement to affirm that you are eligible to appear on the ballot for this process.

Project Activity Alignment to CEC’s Mission: Please select which activity the project aligns with most closely.

YES

I confirm that may organization will be registered in the NYC Payee Information Portal and in PassPort, NYC’s online procurement system, in order to receive funding from the City of New York.

YES

I confirm that my organization is able to front the costs of implementing this project. Organizations will be paid based on deliverables. 

YES

Completion of Deliverables: I understand all deliverables must be completed by June 30th, 2020.

YES

I understand a condition of funding includes submission of a final report upon project completion, and participating in a debrief session with the CEC.

YES