Inclusion and creative expression in school settings with Kalyan Ali Balaven

#3 The Secret to Raising Muslim Innovators with Dr. Rania Awaad

What is the secret behind the success of the great Muslim scholars before us? Abu Zayd Al-Balkhi to Abu Ali Ibn Sina are just two demonstrations of innovation in the Muslim world. Their upbringing and education in Islam made them encyclopedic scholars from whom we still learn today. What was the nature of the kind of education these scholars received? How can we provide the tarbiyah that our children need to become innovators and achieve great things? Dr. Rania Awaad, a nationally-recognized leader in Muslim mental health and award-winning researcher in both Islamic and medical sciences, recently shared the secrets behind the success of the great Muslim scholars of our past. She also discussed the most pressing Muslim health issues found in the Muslim American community.

#2 How to nurture creativity in children with Justin Mashouf

In a society where life is all about careers and earning a living, creativity is often put on a back burner, if it receives any attention at all. However, nurturing creativity in your kids is crucial. What exact role should creativity play in our kids’ lives, and what practical ways can we direct these efforts for the better? Justin Mashouf, an award winning Muslim director and producer based in Los Angeles, shares his journey with creativity, his career in film, and practical ways parents can nurture creativity in their children’s everyday lives

Raising Confident Muslims in America with Dr. Hanan Hashem

How do Muslim Americans see their identity? In the melting pot of the Western world, no one person can truly say they have just one identity. Each and every individual attributes more than one identity to their own, be it religious, ethnic, cultural, or even chosen attributions based on interests and aspirations. The link between understanding who we are and our mental health lies in two key factors- identity centrality and belonging. So how do Muslim Americans experience their identity in the West, and just how confident are they as Muslims? Dr. Hanan Hashem, researcher and community educator at the Family Youth Institue and Teaching Fellow at William James College, recently shared her groundbreaking research titled “Identity, Discrimination, and Belonging: The Arab American Muslim Experience.” She also explored the impact of such experiences on mental health outcomes and overall wellness.

Inclusion and creative expression in school settings with Kalyan Ali Balaven

It’s back-to-school, season, once again! It's natural for parents to have fears about their children “belonging” and fitting in. But can our children feel comfortable about being in school if we as parents don’t feel the same? We are joined by Kalyan Ali Balaven, Head of the Dunn School in Los Olivos, California, who shares his story as a convert and the reasons he chose to embrace the role of an educator. Through his experience raising Muslim kids and students, you will learn how you can overcome your fears in sending your kids to school and better help your kids fit in, feel like they belong, and find the courage to express themselves and their cultural beliefs.

Zeyad Ramadan on how pornography impacts marriage

Many people assume that pornography is not a serious concern among the Muslim community. In reality, youth and adults alike are faced with the struggle to overcome porn addiction. The Muslim community's inattention and refusal to talk about pornography addiction, alongside the lack of relevant Islamic resources to understand and tackle the problem, inspired Br Zeyad Ramadan to create Purify your Gaze. Purify Your Gaze is a global e-therapy platform that helped hundreds of thousands of Muslims around the world overcome pornography addiction.  In today's episode, he shares his insights into the negative impacts of porn consumption and addiction on a marriage, and how Purify Your Gaze can help.