Muslim Leadership Lab

The Muslim Leadership Lab (MLL) at Dwight Hall was founded by Abdul-Rehman Malik in 2018 to grow civic leadership skills among Muslim students at Yale and to catalyze new directions for Muslim life on college campuses nationwide. 

Programming in spring 2025 centered on reading The Autobiography of Malcolm X and asking, “Why Malcolm, and why today?” This culminated in the MX100 conference, which featured Sister Aisha Al-Adawiya, the “Queen Mother of Harlem” and a long-time activist for Black and Muslim rights, along with other community leaders. 

Following the MX100 conference in early April 2025, the Muslim Leadership Lab also hosted its fourth annual Imam Hussain Lecture on Social Justice, an event dedicated to uplifting the voices of mainstream Shia Muslim activists, artists, and scholars. The event featured Marsin Alshamary, assistant professor of political science at Boston College, and focused on the case of the 1977 Safar uprising in Iraq. Other events included the annual pilgrimage to the gravesites of Malcolm X and a book talk by Ibram X. Kendi on his new book, Malcolm Lives! 

In spring 2025, the Muslim Leadership Lab kicked off its programming with a retreat for Muslim students to encourage interaction and promote service in the broader campus community. After the retreat, MLL organized multiple events, including a talk with Bilal Hassam presenting Seven Lessons for Leadership from the Hijra of the Prophet Muhammad, and a conversation with Zeyn Patel and Zaheer Razack focused on pursuing careers predicated on justice and service. The semester wrapped up with a screening of the film The Voice of Hind Rajab. 

Looking ahead toward spring 2026, events will be centered on the conclusion of the MX100 years and workshops dedicated to training students in organizing, leadership, storytelling, and communication. Events will include the annual Dr. Betty Shabazz and Malcolm X Lecture; a special Malcolm X Lecture with Dr. Martin Nguyen; MLL’s annual pilgrimage to the Ferncliff gravesite; and the Imam Hussain Lecture on Social Justice to round out the year.