Inaugural Cohort of the IMAN Leadership Academy Engage in Two Day Training

The IMAN Leadership Academy (IMAN LA) is meant to serve as a resource for Muslim Hoosiers to hone their leadership skills, connect with others, and ultimately learn how to be civic leaders in their communities. 

The inaugural cohort, consisting of 30 Muslim Hoosiers from across the state, attended the two-day Leadership Academy training program at COHatch Carmel from September 19th - 20th. The IMAN Leadership Academy is unique because it is specifically tailored to the experiences and needs of Muslim Hoosiers. Throughout the program, cohort members learned from experts across a variety of civic and leadership fields. Sessions were led by prominent Muslim Hoosier leaders, including Judge David Shaheed and Ahmad Young, who provided an overview of key local and national stakeholders and explored Indiana's political and civic ecosystem. Participants also learned about the fundamentals of local government from Commissioner Mark Heirbrandt and the power of storytelling as a leadership tool from Senator Andrea Hunley. In addition to these presentations, cohort members participated in interactive group discussions and hands-on exercises that challenged them to identify their goals and develop actionable strategies for achieving them. These experiences are fundamental to equipping Muslim Hoosiers with the knowledge, skills, and confidence needed to become effective civic and community leaders.

Combining local excellence and expertise, while framing the content through an Islamic lens, proved to be a meaningful framework for all Cohort members. As the Muslim population in Indiana continues to grow and thrive, IMAN aims to ensure their voices in the civic landscape grows as well. The growing alumni class of the IMAN LA will continue to be a trusted voice for Muslim Hoosiers.