From Community Service to Congress | Junaid Ahmed's Journey | The Muslim Nonprofit Show - Episode 34
What does it really mean to be civically engaged as an American Muslim?
In this powerful conversation, Tayyab Yunus sits down with Junaid Ahmed, entrepreneur, community organizer, and congressional candidate from Illinois, to unpack how everyday people can move from community service to systemic change.
Junaid shares the personal experiences that pushed him to run for U.S. Congress, from student debt and healthcare costs to grassroots organizing and voter turnout. This episode breaks down why voting, especially in primaries, matters, how civic participation goes far beyond running for office, and why American Muslims already have the skills needed to lead. If you have ever wondered how to make a real difference without burning out, this conversation is for you.
🎧Don't forget to 🔔 subscribe for future episodes with nonprofit founders, Islamic scholars, and sector experts.
📌Connect and Follow Dr. Tayyab Yunus:
Instagram – https://www.instagram.com/tayyabyunus/
Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/tayyabyunus
YouTube – https://www.youtube.com/@tayyabyunus
📌Connect and Follow Junaid Ahmed
Website: https://junaidforus.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/junaidforus/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JunaidForUs/
00:00 Introduction and welcome
01:45 Junaid Ahmed's background and community roots
04:10 What sparked the decision to run for Congress
07:20 Student debt and healthcare as wake up calls
10:30 From relief work to civic engagement
13:40 Why volunteering alone is not enough
16:10 The importance of grassroots involvement
18:45 Why voting, especially primaries, matters
21:30 Barriers to Muslim voter participation
24:10 Advice for getting civically engaged without burnout
26:20 Final reflections and call to action
📣 If this conversation resonated with you, share it with your community, register to vote, and commit at least one hour a week to civic engagement. Change does not happen overnight, but it starts when we show up.
#CivicEngagement #AmericanMuslims #MuslimsInPolitics #VoteLocal #PrimaryElections #CommunityLeadership #FaithAndService #PoliticalAwareness #JunaidAhmed
Popular Podcasts
Betrayal Weekly
Betrayal Weekly is back for a new season. Every Thursday, Betrayal Weekly shares first-hand accounts of broken trust, shocking deceptions, and the trail of destruction they leave behind. Hosted by Andrea Gunning, this weekly ongoing series digs into real-life stories of betrayal and the aftermath. From stories of double lives to dark discoveries, these are cautionary tales and accounts of resilience against all odds. From the producers of the critically acclaimed Betrayal series, Betrayal Weekly drops new episodes every Thursday. If you would like to share your story, you can reach out to the Betrayal Team by emailing them at betrayalpod@gmail.com and follow us on Instagram at @betrayalpod and @glasspodcasts. Please join our Substack for additional exclusive content, curated book recommendations, and community discussions. Sign up FREE by clicking this link Beyond Betrayal Substack. Join our community dedicated to truth, resilience, and healing. Your voice matters! Be a part of our Betrayal journey on Substack.
Stuff You Should Know
If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com