Solutions and innovations arise from a combination of external influences, internal motivations, or both. In his response to the atrocities escalating in Gaza and the public’s confusion due to misleading and insufficient media representation, Palestinian American Jalal Sulaiman felt compelled to change the narrative.
“Everytime it happens, we can’t expect a different outcome with the same strategies,” Sulaiman said. “It’s not the last time the Israeli government will bomb Gaza or the West Bank, they will do it over and over. We have to be ready for that, to make sure we are able to articulate and defend the Palestinian cause.”
Jalal Sulaiman, founder and executive director of Al-Quds Youth Leadership Academy
Sulaiman earned advanced degrees in electrical and computer engineering, and an MBA from the University of Chicago Booth School of Business. He began his career at General Electric Healthcare where he was selected for a prestigious leadership development program, intent to create future business leaders through intensive training in critical thinking, strategic problem solving and communication.
By investing in young professionals, GE Healthcare provided its workforce with the confidence to effectively communicate with peers and stakeholders, filling the pipeline with potential leaders.
Sulaiman recognized there was a need for structured programs to close the gap in civic leadership. He knew how to leverage his expertise and passion for public service to make a lasting change. This is why he conceived a youth leadership academy calling it Al-Quds, the Arabic word for Jerusalem, to honor Palestine: Al-Quds Youth Leadership Academy (AYLA)
In the process, participants would be led through multiple objectives, learning to maneuver all forms of communication, and then be prepared to navigate all forms of misrepresentation perpetuated by societal bias.
It started with soccer
A lifelong soccer enthusiast and licensed coach, Sulaiman formed FC Al-Quds (football club) to kick off team building and leadership activities. His strategy was to engage youth in soccer first, then introduce the leadership academy.
“It’s not specific to our community, but typically adults undermine what young people are capable of, and that’s the problem. If we had proposed, ‘let’s develop leaders’ they might have said, ‘they are still young, it’s too early to start thinking about this.’
“We started with a soccer academy, recruiting and selecting 20 players. I worked with them intensively using team sports as a vehicle, as a tool. To create physical and mental endurance, to be the ‘resilience’ we talk about.”
The pivot to Al-Quds Youth Leadership Academy (AYLA)
In 2024, Sulaiman envisioned AYLA, dedicating himself as a volunteer executive director to build a proper curriculum. He recognized that the skills used in competitive soccer overlapped with the guiding principles in his professional work. Within a few weeks, these soccer players, committed to becoming emerging youth leaders, presented their first Capstone speech before a panel of judges.
Omar ElBarbarawi, a fifth grader at Cedar Hills Elementary School, had no previous experience with soccer or public speaking. “Public speaking wasn’t the whole thing in the program, but the reason I chose to do public speaking is because most jobs, no matter what it is, you’re going to have to speak. That’s an essential key in life. You might as well speak in a proper, more professional tone,” he said.
ElBarbarawi’s mother, Aya Alanani, witnessed her son’s transformation during the weeks ahead of the AYLA speech contest.
Ten year old Omar ElBarbarawi had no previous experience in soccer or public speaking. He joined Al-Quds Youth Leadership Academy because he was already familiar with coach Sulaiman’s style of teaching.
After intense preparation, the young leaders presented topics that were deeply meaningful to them, including bullying, the power of boycotts, open-mindedness, overcoming obstacles, self-belief and resilience.
Alanani described how the strategies her son learned would help him at school and at home.
“A few minutes ago he was trying to tell me how he’s going to convince his dad about doing something, and he is like, business 1-0-1. And then he gave me his strategies,” Alanani said smiling. “Even using the tone of the voice, knowing when to engage people with his voice, and when to be quieter.
“Coach Jalal is so great at setting the bar high. I saw Omar’s self confidence build, the difference between the first session and the last. I want him to be alongside friends with the same values, so they would teach and encourage each other.
“It is nice to find a professional who can advocate for the community, especially us, as Palestinians, we have a lot of challenges. To bring that out of those kids, because they wouldn’t have known. It’s a great program, and the parents are benefitting from anything that focuses on discipline, commitment, hard work, good ethics. Teaching them these things now, it is going to be their ‘norm.’”
Hiba Abusamhadana enrolled her son Layth into FC Al-Quds and then into the AYLA leadership initiative. She became a volunteer as well. “The coaching style is definitely hard, but in a good way, because coach Jalal wants them to excel,” said Abusamhadana. “Knowing that he had that personality and then going into this initiative, I was okay – he’s going to push them, which is good. It was a lot of work on the boys and it was impressive how they rose to the challenge.”
Eleven year old Layth Abusamhadana welcomed the opportunity to learn more about public speaking. “I really like public speaking and I could do it, but I never memorized my speeches. I would always read off of something,” he said. “This program really helped me to start memorizing and getting better at doing speeches.”
His career goal is to become an engineer, possibly in robotics. His experience with AYLA showed him that with the right training, anyone can become a strong leader.
Roa Qato, M.D., (left) is a volunteer for the leadership academy. She listens intently as one of the emerging leaders practices his speaking techniques to an audience of teammates.
The right person
After his tenure at GE Healthcare, Sulaiman founded PROMISS Diagnostics, Inc. Alongside his work, he taught business strategy in schools and companies, developing curriculum frameworks. The more he taught, the more his passion for education grew.
“If I teach business strategies, how business works for profit, why can’t I do this for a more noble cause?” Sulaiman said. “If that is something I am passionate about doing in the industry, can’t I be passionate for something even more important?
“I am not someone who wants to do something just to check the box. This is a volunteering job that I take just as seriously as a paying job, because of the cause.
“Taking time from my day and my family, I need to create the best return. Maybe we won’t see the return immediately – you see improvement down the line. When these emerging young leaders go to college, they will be able to debate, communicate, articulate and educate others.”
What’s next
The idea is to show the community what their kids are capable of, to support this academy and build the pipeline. “There’s a probability that not everyone will start talking for Palestine from this, but the higher the number, the greater the chance you’ll find people who will become involved related to Palestine,” Sulaiman said. “When they go to college and then work, they will be successful, maybe leaders who can influence policies and move the world towards what is just.
“Look at our community, we don’t have enough representation at the local, state, or federal level. Why? There are people supporting and helping Palestinians, but we should do it ourselves. We can do that. That is what we need to change.”
A post game picnic at Alcott Park in Greenfield for the FC Al-Quds team and their families enjoying Palestinian makluba and other traditional dishes.
A leadership curriculum for girls
Plans are also underway to develop an AYLA curriculum for girls. As the father of a young daughter, Sulaiman emphasized, “I think if we don’t do that, we will marginalize half of our youth that will go to college in a few years. They can be powerful. They can contribute to the discussion and debate in colleges and be future leaders.”
Connecting with AYLA
Last week AYLA launched its official website, Facebook and Instagram pages. Parents of boys born between 2013 -2018 can submit an application for the upcoming soccer season. Stay connected to find out when additional programs for various age groups will be introduced by Al-Quds Youth Leadership Academy or ways to support the organization’s mission.
Attend a future game and cheer them on to success!
2024-25 FC Al-Quds soccer team and also Al-Quds Youth Leadership Program participants with coach Jalal Sulaiman (back row, left to right) and assistant coach, Wajdi Felfoul.
