Leadership Development Programme – Los Angeles, California 
 

Updated 19 January 2009
 

On the weekend of January 2nd to 4th, 2009, SIIJLA (Shia Ithna-Asheri Islamic Jamaat of Los Angeles) hosted an enlightening Leadership Development Programme (LDP) at their centre in Pico Rivera. The program was co-sponsored by World Federation and NASIMCO.  The LDP was designed to help participants grow mentally, emotionally, and spiritually through a three-day intensive educational experience.

 
The workshop attracted 16 participants from the ages of 24 to 70, with seven of the participants from SIIJLA Jamaat: Pyarali Hasanali, Minhal Kalyan, Sadik Alloo, Fatima Alloo, Nazneen Nathani-Mirza, Kashif Mirza, and Mazaher Sivjee.  Among those who were not from SIIJLA, the speaker for Muharram, Dr. Hasnain Walji, was one of the participants, as was the President of UMMA, Dr. Asad Sadiq.  Dr. Sadiq, who traveled all the way from the East Coast, also brought fellow UMMA Board member Mohammed Ali Naquvi, as well as Zaki Sadiq.  From the Bay Area, Abbas Moloo and Azhar Zeeshan attended.  CAIR sent two representatives, Fawad Yacoub, the Regional President, and Arefa Simjee.  The LDP also attracted one international participant, Fatemah Dewji, from Vancouver, Canada.  Additionally, on the final day, Hasnain Khaku joined the group as an observer.  
 
The program was led by two facilitators from England, Dr. Akber Mohamedali and Br. Yasin Rahim, as well as one facilitator-in-training, Tahera Rashid.  The facilitators encouraged the attendees to look deep inside themselves, and accept not only their own "Fitra" (a gift from Allah (swt), but also appreciate the "Fitra" of others.  The LDP challenged its participants to not only obtain a deeper understanding of themselves, but also the people around them.  The lessons learned in the LDP are valuable for success and growth in many different spheres:  family, community, workplace, and even government.  
 
One exciting, almost tangible result of the program was the energy it generated in all of the participants, some of whom were emboldened to undertake important projects in the community.  Nazneen Nathani-Mirza, Mazaher Sivjee and Minhal Kalyan agreed upon the importance of organizing charitable volunteer activities for the LA Jamaat.  Other participants had more personal moments of enlightenment, ranging from a confirmation of faith and spirituality, a drive to stop procrastinating, and an urge to balance both head and heart.  Whatever the discovery, as Dr. Akber and Br. Yasin frequently reminded the group, “When the student is ready, the teacher will appear.”
 
The LDP is truly a very innovative program. It is unheard of to have the type of content, presented in such a style, in such an intensive structure, be available outside of the workplace or classroom setting, and SIIJLA is proud to have hosted this event. 

President of SIIJLA, Br. Sadik Alloo said “ I firmly believe that if a critical mass of community members--especially the current leaders and the young professionals-- have an opportunity to learn from the LDP and each other, our community will leave a legacy of having trained a cadre of effective leaders who will make our tomorrow better than today.  As we learned from Dr. Walji’s lectures during the first ten days of Muharram, the responsibility to train future leaders and pass the torch on to the next generation weighs heavy on us all, and a program such as the LDP is a step in the right direction.  
 
We are grateful to the World Federation and NASIMCO for giving us the opportunity to host and benefit from this innovative program. Dr. Akber Mohamedali and Br. Yasin Rahim invested their valuable time and effort in making us better for no reward except to please Allah (swt).  We pray that Allah (swt) reward their generous spirit.  With your continued support and interest, we look forward to hosting another session of the LDP in Los Angeles in the future.”