Our Vision
MYNA envisions a world in which Muslim youth are grounded and confident in their Islamic belief & practice as engaged and productive members of society.
Our Mission
The mission of MYNA is to attain the pleasure of Allah (SWT) by...
Providing a platform for expression
Fostering an engaging North American Muslim Culture
Promoting Islamic principles grounded in the Qu’ran and Sunnah
Sparking youth involvement in community development and dialogue
Establishing a diverse & supportive network of youth and the greater community
Our Logo
The four expanding circles are topped by the Japanese symbol referred to as the "Seed of Life" showing the spiral of potential energy. Each circle, larger than the one right below it, represents the growth of MYNA as an organization as well as the growth of individuals through their years of involvement in MYNA.
Why MYNA?
Uploaded by MYNA Nation on 2024-9-17.
The reason behind this is simple - MYNA is dedicated for youth, and managed by youth. Unlike many other youth groups, our management structure is made up by its youth members who themselves develop and carry out initiatives, with adult advisors taking on a minimal role to mentor and guide them along the way. Over the past 30 years, MYNA has built an expansive network of empowered youth leaders and advisors across the United States and Canada - we not only bring one community together, but rather work to unify communities and regions together to form a larger community together. The friends you make at a MYNA retreat will be people you will always be able to rely on, talk to, and who will always support you, regardless of distance.
Through its various leadership camps and other offered programs, MYNA not only empowers Muslim youth to become engaged and active leaders in their spheres back home, whether its religious, social, or even political, but gives them the platform and skills they need to succeed. The MYNA Nation is ready to help establish local leadership retreats and seminars, civics education, outreach events, counseling services, and much more all fine tuned to the needs of the North American Muslim youth community. 30 years after our founding, our alumni will agree that MYNA has had a large positive influence in their lives. Whether the support they got from their Muslim brothers and sisters at MYNA helped them start wearing a hijab, overcome social pressures at school, become student body leaders, or even start praying regularly, MYNA has helped each individual grow to be both strong in their faith and beneficial to society.
Join the MYNA Nation today - Do the Deen.
Our History
As the youth organization of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), MYNA has touched the lives of many American and Canadian Muslim youth over the past 30 years offering the social support and national networks to mold "MYNA kids" into leaders in their local communities and the next generation of Muslim activists in America.
Today, MYNA is growing bigger and better, spanning across more regions than ever and building a massive nationwide network of dedicated Muslim youth thinkers and activists who are determined to become leading voices for sociopolitical development and change in their own communities and abroad. Being a "MYNA Kid" may start at a retreat, but it is under the MYNA philosophy of "For the Youth & By the Youth" that helps shape our youth into educated and skilled leaders with an attachment to their Deen. Since our first camps in 1985, our alumni are now successful doctors, lawyers, entrepreneurs, parents, students at elite universities, and more, but the legacy of MYNA in their lives continues on.
The spirit and history of our organization and their leaders continues to thrive, as we aim to reach more youth and families across North America. May Allah (SWT) continue to bless MYNA and its volunteers.
Featured Alumni
Native Deen
Native Deen is a Muslim hip-hop group based in the United States. The group was formed in the early 2000s at a MYNA camp! It consists of three members: Joshua Salaam, Naeem Muhammad, and Abdul-Malik Ahmad. Native Deen has become widely recognized not just within the Muslim community, but also in the broader music and cultural scene for their work in promoting a positive image of Islam.
Zaki Barzinji
A former MYNA president, Zaki served as the Sr. Associate Director of Public Engagement under President Obama’s Whitehouse. Today he serves as Senior Director for Aspen Digital, where he oversees a range of projects at the intersection of tech, policy, equity, and justice for underrepresented communities. Zaki’s writing and commentary have appeared in Politico, The Atlantic, BuzzFeed, The Washington Post, CNN, and a variety of other platforms.
Dalia Mogahed
A researcher and author who has focused on the perceptions of Islam and Muslim communities in Western societies. She was an advisor to President Obama and presented Muslim narratives on platforms such as The Daily Show, TED Talks, and global news agencies.
Dr. Rania Awaad
Rania Awaad, M.D. is a Clinical Professor of Psychiatry at the Stanford University School of Medicine where she is the Director of the Stanford Muslim Mental Health & Islamic Psychology Lab as well Stanford University's Affiliate Chaplain. She also serves as the Associate Division Chief for Public Mental Health and Population Sciences as well as the Section Co-Chief of Diversity and Cultural Mental Health. In addition, she is a faculty member of the Abbasi Program in Islamic Studies at Stanford University.