Voices of Muslims Momentum Gala 2026 Recap

Sunday, April 12, 2026   ·   Canton House Event Hall   ·   Duluth, Georgia

The Voices of Muslims Momentum Gala was unlike anything we had done before — and that was exactly the point. On Sunday, April 12, 2026, the Canton House Event Hall in Duluth, Georgia, became the gathering ground for something truly extraordinary: a celebration of civic momentum, interfaith solidarity, and the collective power of a community refusing to be silent.

From the moment guests arrived for the Meet & Greet Happy Hour reception, it was clear this gala would defy expectations. There were no stiff programs, no distant podiums, no walls between guest and speaker. Instead, there was warmth. There was a conversation. There was the kind of genuine connection that happens when people are truly seen — and truly heard.

This was a different kind of gala by design — one where the experience of sharing a beautifully served halal meal together was woven into the fabric of the evening itself. Dinner was not a pause between program segments; it was the setting for connection. Guests were nourished in body and spirit alike, all while an extraordinary lineup of speakers, elected officials, and community leaders took the stage. It was community at its most intentional.

“Every voice matters in choosing the leaders who shape our communities. Tonight proved that Muslim Americans are not on the sidelines — we are at the table.”

The Program: Voices That Moved a Room

The evening was led with great pride by a VoM Actioneer — the name we give our extraordinary team of volunteers — and featured a program rich with prayer, music, elected leadership, and moral clarity.

From the opening Dua led by Humza Mansuri to the closing vision shared by Rahim Shah Akhunkhail, every segment carried purpose. Sophie Cyra’s rendition of the National Anthem reminded every person in the room that this nation’s song belongs to all of us. Imam Adam Fofana challenged us to ask not why we should get involved, but how we dare not. Pastor Avery Headd’s message on interfaith unity was a resonant reminder that the bridges we build between communities are the very infrastructure of democracy.

The video messages from Lt. Governor Dr. Ghazala Hashmi and Congressman Hank Johnson affirmed what VoM has long believed — that Muslim Americans are not a community asking for a seat at the table; we are building the table ourselves.

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MAHM Recognition Awards: Honoring Georgia’s Champions

MAHM stands for Muslim American Heritage Month — and the proclamations recognizing July as Muslim American Heritage Month for the State of Georgia did not happen without committed champions in office who believed this recognition mattered. The MAHM Recognition Awards honor the elected leaders and public servants across Georgia who were key supporters in securing those proclamations, demonstrating a consistent and meaningful commitment to equity, representation, and the full inclusion of Muslim Americans in our state’s civic life.

To each of these honorees: your work has not gone unnoticed. The Muslim community in Georgia sees you, stands with you, and is grateful for the doors you have opened and the walls you have refused to let stand. You are not just allies — you are co-builders of the Georgia we all deserve.

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Our Growing Chapters: The Momentum Is Statewide

The Momentum Gala celebrated the official recognition of three VoM Chapters whose leadership teams represent the depth and reach of our organization across the state of Georgia. These dedicated men and women are building the local infrastructure of Muslim civic engagement in their communities.

To every member of these chapter leadership teams: the fact that you answered the call — in Fayette, in Macon, in Columbus — tells us everything about where this movement is headed. Georgia is not a single city. It is a state full of communities hungry for exactly what Voices of Muslims offers. You are the proof of that.

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The Gala Committee: Architects of the Evening

An event of this scale and intention does not happen by accident. It is the result of countless hours of planning, coordination, and care. A special note of deep appreciation goes to Don Mahmood, our Executive Director, whose vision and leadership as chief organizer made this evening possible. Our heartfelt gratitude to the entire Gala Committee:

Don Mahmood  |  Rahim Shah Akhunkhail  |  Dr. Nausheen Naveed  |  Khalid Teli  |  Syed Hussain  |  M. Saeed Choudhury  |  Dr. Saeed Zafar  |  Mohammed Awaiz  |  Dr. Naushad Khan Ghilzai  |  Abdul Hadi Afridi

You turned a vision into a reality that everyone in that room will carry with them. The care evident in every detail of the evening is a direct reflection of your dedication to this community and this mission.

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Our VoM Actioneers: The Heartbeat of the Night

Nothing that happened at the Momentum Gala would have been possible without our VoM Actioneers — the volunteers who give their time, energy, and spirit to make Voices of Muslims what it is. These young men and women are not just helpers; they are the future of this movement, and it shows.

VoM Actioneers — Momentum Gala 2026

Sheefa   •   Sahel   •   Humza   •   Sabah   •   Mariam   •   Ambar    •   Hadiya   •   Asad   •   Harris   •   Zara   •   Vaneeza   •   Zahra      •    Safa   •   Annum   •   Aliye   •   Rakim   •   Zoha   •   Shafay

Each of you carried yourself with grace, professionalism, and genuine pride in what we are building together. The guests noticed. The speakers noticed. We noticed. Thank you — from the bottom of our hearts.

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What This Night Means for What Comes Next

The Voices of Muslims Momentum Gala was not a culmination. It was a launching pad. The conversations started at that Meet & Greet, the commitments made across the dinner tables, the recognition exchanged between community members and elected officials — all of it feeds forward. All of it becomes fuel.

We named this gala the Momentum Gala for a reason. Momentum is not something you achieve once and store on a shelf. It is something you sustain — through showing up, through building relationships, through staying engaged even when it is hard, especially when it is hard.

As Rahim Shah Akhunkhail reminded us in his closing remarks: there is more coming. More chapters. More partnerships. More opportunities for Muslim Americans across Georgia and beyond to step into their civic power. The table is growing, and every seat at it matters.

“This is what momentum looks like: not a single surge, but a sustained, collective, unstoppable forward movement.”

Proud Supporters & Host Committee

The Momentum Gala was made possible by the generosity, commitment, and community spirit of the following families and individuals who stood with us as Proud Supporters and Host Committee members. Their investment in this evening is an investment in the future of Muslim civic engagement in Georgia.

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Our Sponsors

We are deeply grateful to the organizations and businesses that sponsored the Voices of Muslims Momentum Gala. Your support makes this work possible and your partnership in this mission speaks volumes.

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A Final Word of Deep Gratitude

To every guest who attended: thank you for choosing to spend your Sunday evening with us. Your presence was not passive — it was an act of commitment to this community and its future.

To our speakers, elected officials, and award recipients: your willingness to share your voices, your platforms, and your presence with Voices of Muslims means more than you know. You are helping to write a new chapter in the story of Muslim civic life in America.

To our Gala Committee, our Actioneers, and every member of our chapter leadership teams: you are Voices of Muslims. Not in name alone, but in every action, every hour, every sacrifice you make in service of this mission.

And to the Muslim community of Georgia — in Duluth and Fayette, in Macon and Columbus, in every county and city and neighborhood where our people live and work and worship: we see you. We are with you. And together, we are just getting started.

Alhamdulillah.