As-salamu alaykum! Alhamdulillah we are proud to announce that the planning stages for The Muslim Protagonist 2020 Symposium are underway, but we need your help and input to make it the success that it can be, InshAllah!

The Muslim Protagonist is an annual literary and arts symposium hosted at Columbia University through the Columbia University Muslim Students Association (CU-MSA) to showcase the work of Muslim and minority artists, writers, and thinkers. It is open to participants of all backgrounds, ages, faiths, and cultures. Since its inception in 2012, the Muslim Protagonist has been committed to facilitating dialogue and exploring inspirational and practical tools for pursuing "literature and art as agents of social, intellectual, and spiritual change.” The event is not an event exclusively for Muslims, “minorities,” or Columbia students/faculty — everyone is welcome.

In the past our themes have included: Art as activism, rewriting home, writing our own stories, centering the margin, and authenticity, and the definition of home. This year, we hope to further explore related themes. We want to focus on Muslim representation in pop culture and who gets to shape the Muslim narrative.

Please fill out this interest form with your name and email as well as what times you are available to meet on either a weekly or bi-weekly basis if you would like to have a larger role in choosing the theme, speakers, and workshops we will be having as a part of the symposium.