Changing the Perception of Islam | Moaaz Elbarbry | TEDxYouth@LincolnStreet

Around 60% of Americans say they have either rarely or have never talked to a Muslim before. That’s more than 190 million Americans -- and in his talk, Moaaz sheds some light on what Islam really is to these people, and how we can change the negative perceptions surrounding it. Moaaz Elbarbry is a senior at Liberty High School. He is very involved in his local Muslim community, and is the co-manager of a religious non-profit organization called Sons of Adam, which provides safe spaces for Muslim boys in Oregon to thrive physically, emotionally, socially, and spiritually. Moaaz is on the Hillsboro Youth Advisory Council, where he works with a group of youth leaders to mold Hillsboro into a better city for all of its citizens. In his free time, Moaaz loves to do anything related to soccer: watching, playing, analyzing, practicing and debating the sport are all enjoyable for him. His experiences at school and in his community have motivated him to be an advocate for Muslims, and he hopes to shed a positive light in a time of misconceptions and stereotypes surrounding Muslims. This talk was given at a TEDx event using the TED conference format but independently organized by a local community. Learn more at https://www.ted.com/tedx