Supporting Muslim Creatives

Nasir announced to the girls that they would be able to submit their poems to the Young Muslimah Poets Prize. Sponsored by NbA Muslims, the winner will be awarded a cash prize, and the winning poem will be submitted for publication in an anthology of Muslim writers.

Nasir shared the girls’ reactions.

“We discussed the prize and that it takes a village,” Nasir told About Islam.

I told them that the village wants to hear their voices and that without them expressing their thoughts, struggles and needs, it will be difficult for their village to help.

The girls all expressed that the contest made them feel like someone cared about them. Before this discussion, they said that they felt at times that because of their age…no one really cares about what they think, so to know that NbA Muslims wants to support them sharing their thoughts through poetry was empowering.”

Organizational Collaboration

The partnership between J.E.S.S.I.C.A Cares and NbA Muslims show without a shadow of a doubt that collaboration just heightens whatever good is being done,” said Nasir.

Me doing a writing workshop would not have had the impact that it had as much as knowing I’m not the only one who cares about their thoughts.

It heightened the girls’ creativity. One girl wants to do a video and play the guitar while reciting.

This partnership helps the entire community and shows how working together ensures mutual success. It’s all about collaboration, not competition.

I personally am so thankful for NbA Muslims’ support because so often you become like the parent that your mentees hear all the time. Sometimes what you say, although true, falls on deaf ears.

I am eternally grateful to have a Muslim organization rally behind J.E.S.S.I.C.A Cares’ empowerment work.”