The Emerald Project, a non-profit aimed at combatting the misrepresentation of Islam, held its first-ever Muslim youth conference this week. It was held in the Union Ballroom on the campus of the University of Utah.

The conference is intended to help post 9/11 youth acknowledge their identity said Executive Director Satin Tashnizi. “They grew up seeing their identity demonized on television,” she said. “And they go back into their communities, their Muslim communities, which is limited here.”

Negative public perceptions can also lead Muslim youth to shut themselves out of their heritage and their faith, according to Tashnizi. The conference was supposed to take place last year but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. This year, the conference was held in the Union Ballroom at the U.

The Emerald Project itself was started five years ago as a reaction to former President Trump’s Muslim travel ban, according to Tashnizi.

Students in junior high all the way up to university students attended the conference.

Source: KSL News Radio