Muslim Congressman Speaks at Symposium

April 7, 2008

Author: Michael Drakulich

Source: Southtown Star

http://www.southtownstar.com/news/881002,040708ellison.article

The first Muslim elected to U.S. Congress shared some of his experiences as an elected official with those who hope to follow in his footsteps one day.

Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) was keynote speaker at the Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium, hosted by the Chicago office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

The symposium was held at the Mosque Foundation Community Center, 7260 W. 93rd St., in Bridgeview.

The two-day event brought together Muslim high school students from the area to inspire them to use their faith values toward constructive citizenship, benefiting their communities and country.

Ellison told the 100 or so students in the audience being in a position of leadership means not only recognizing problems, but finding the solutions to them. And he said it would be up to them to build cultural understanding.