DEARBORN — On Thursday, May 23, at 6:30 p.m., Discover Islam will be hosting a dinner at Byblos Hall, themed “Islamic Youth Awareness,” during which they hope to target local youth and their parents. 

Discover Islam is a student organization, based out of Dearborn High School, made up of approximately 45 members who participate in charity work and community service. The group has been closely affiliated with Zaman International, a non-profit charity organization, located on Schafer Road, which works to help families in poverty.  

The keynote speaker at the event will be Zaman International Founding Director Najah Bazzi.  Discover Islam President Latifah Dabaja, a senior at Dearborn High School, says she hopes that parents will come out to show their support for the organization as it continues to gain momentum. 

“We are hosting this banquet for the youth, but we are also aiming to get the parents involved. We want them to see what is going on behind the scenes at school, and how their kids aren’t only focused on school work, but in this organization as well, which is Islamic and culturally oriented,” Dabaja said.

A few sponsors are already lined up to participate in the event, including HYPE Athletics, the Islamic Center of America, the Islamic Institute of Knowledge, and some local businesses, such as Shatila Bakery and Greenland Supermarket. 

Discover Islam has been active at Dearborn High School for the past ten years.  Although a student group, membership is open to anyone outside of the high school as well. Dabaja says that they hope to use this year’s event as a platform to host an annual, signature event for the organization. They also hope to establish a scholarship program for the youth in the future. The current supervisor of Discover Islam is Dearborn High School teacher Rima Hassan.

Dinner tickets are $25 each. All proceeds from the event will go towards the organization’s future projects. For more information on the organization, or to purchase tickets, call Dabaja at 313-687-8034, or email hassanr1@dearnorn.k12.mi.us.