MAJIC 2025-2026 Application

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MAJIC: Muslims and Jews Inspiring Change is the High School Leadership Council of NewGround: A Muslim-Jewish Partnership for Change. This leadership training program offers a select group of Muslim and Jewish high school students the opportunity to build communication skills and conflict literacy, create lasting relationships across faith boundaries and have an impact on the climate of community relations in Los Angeles and beyond. With discourse on university campuses more polarized than ever, these skills are crucial for students to become effective leaders among their peers.

A diverse cohort of 20-24 Muslim and Jewish teenagers will be selected to participate in an intensive academic year experience including several Sunday retreats and several half-day Sunday sessions. Students will learn from a variety of communal leaders and from one another about the Jewish and Muslim worlds as well as issues impacting both communities. Upon completion of the program, MAJICians will receive a certificate from the City of Los Angeles in appreciation of their willingness to learn together, engage in difficult conversations and contribute to improving inter-group relations in LA.

We are interested in applicants with demonstrated leadership skills who will also grow through our program. We accept applications from and nominations for students entering 10th-12th grades for the 2025-26 school year. Students of high school age who have started Community College are also encouraged to apply.

Tuition is $2,250 per student. The cost for the program is $3500 per student and is partially underwritten by grants and donations. Tuition can be paid in monthly installments at a level comfortable for you.

Thank you for your interest in our program!

DEADLINES:

Extended Deadline: September 7, 2025
Interviews will begin on July 17th on a rolling basis.

IF YOU ARE PLANNING ON APPLYING BUT NEED AN EXTENSION PLEASE EMAIL TASNEEM@MUSLIMJEWISHNEWGROUND.ORG

***DATES FOR MAJIC 2025-2026 are as follows***
MAJICians can miss no more than 8 hours of programming to graduate.

Orientation Meeting -- Thursday Oct 9: 7:00 PM - 9:00 PM (w/ Parents + students)

Friday thru Sunday (WEEKEND RETREAT) -- Oct 24th @ 4:00 pm thru Oct 26th @ 2:00pm

Sunday, November 23 @ 1:30 PM -- 5:30 PM

Sunday, December 7 @ 1:30 PM -- 5:30 PM

Sunday, January 11 @ 9:30am -- 5:00pm

Zoom session on Tuesday, January 20 @ 7:00 to 8:30pm

Sunday, January 25 @ 9:30am to 5:00pm

Sunday, February 8 @ 9:30am to 5:00pm

Sunday, March 29 @ 1:30 to 5:30pm

Tuesday, April 21 @ 7:00pm to 9:00pm (Graduation celebration w/ family)

Email *

First Name *

Last Name *

Your Gender Identity *

Female

Male

Genderqueer, Gender Non-conforming, or Nonbinary Gender

Other:

Required

Your Pronouns

e.g. she/her, he/him, they/them, any etc.

Your Birthdate *

YYYY

Cell phone number: *

Primary email address: *

Secondary email address (please make sure we have a permanent non-school email address for you!)

Street Address (street, city, zip code): *

Best way to reach you: *

Text

Parent or Guardian #1 Name *

Parent or Guardian #1 email address *

Parent or Guardian #1 primary telephone number *

Parent or Guardian #2 Name

Parent or Guardian #2 email address

Parent or Guardian #2 primary telephone number

Religious Affiliation *

Muslim

Jewish

Other

I identify as a... *

Reconstructionist Jew

Reform Jew

Conservative Jew

Orthodox Jew

Cultural Jew

Secular Jew

Sunni Muslim

Shia Muslim

Cultural or Ethnic Muslim

Other

If "other" please elaborate

What is your ethnicity or background? *

Year of High School Graduation *

2028

2027

2026

Other:

School name for the 2025-2026 Academic year *

Please describe your extra curricular activities. *

Please describe your other interests or hobbies. *

Have you been affiliated with a synagogue, mosque, organization, camp or other religious organization? If yes, please list them below and how you have been involved with them. *

Please answer only ONE of the follow essay questions (250-500 words): 1. Why are you interested in joining MAJIC? What do you hope the impact of this experience will be on you and your community? OR 2. Describe a defining moment or experience in which you engaged with someone who was an "other" to you (not necessarily Muslim or Jewish) and how that has influenced you. *

Is there anything else you would like us to know about you? *

MAJIC Session Schedule: If you are unable to make any of the sessions (listed above), please indicate your conflicts below. Because the core of our work together is relationship building, students selected to be a part of the council may miss no more than 8 hours of programming during the year. If more than 8 hours are missed, you may be removed from the council. We request you mark these dates on your calendar in advance. Sessions will take place Sundays 1:30-5:30 with several exceptions listed above. *

I am available to make it to all of these dates. (PLEASE DO NOT SAY "YES" to this unless and until you are sure it is true!)

I cannot make it on... (please list dates below)

Other:

Committing to MAJIC: If selected as a MAJIC 2025-2026 participant **you may only miss up to eight hours during the year.** If you miss more than eight hours, you may be removed from the program.

Please confirm if you agree or not with the following statement: "I understand that MAJIC participants are expected to make the program a top priority and I am willing to commit to NewGround."

I agree.

I cannot make that commitment

I need to check with my family and with teachers of other clubs in which I am involved to insure that I can make the scheduled dates my top priority.

I am aware that my application is not complete without a completed recommendation from a teacher, adviser, coach or other adult who will be able to speak to my leadership qualities. (Please send the link below to your recommender). NewGround will notify you when we have received the recommendation form. *

Yes.

MAJIC 2025-2026 Recommendation/Nomination Form

Link to schedule MAJIC Interview

Please schedule some time for an interview with our MAJIC facilitators Tasneem Noor and Ben Ginsburg.

Getting to know you is an important part of the application process, and we look forward to speaking with you!

I am aware that my application is not complete without scheduling an interview with MAJIC Facilitators.

(Please use link below to set up your interview)

Yes

Clear selection

FOR PARENTS: In the past, the MAJIC Leadership Council has been completely underwritten by grants and donations. Over the last several years, we have expanded our robust and award-winning leadership program. As such, tuition is now $2,250 per student. The cost for the program is $3500 per student and is partially underwritten by grants and donations.

At least one parent will be able to attend the orientation session on (October 9)

During the fall our family will connect with at least one other family from a different faith to share a meal.

I/We agree to pay the tuition

I support my child's attendance at each session. I understand that my child is committing to a relationship building program and, if admitted, is taking a spot that might otherwise have gone to another student. I will help my child prioritize this commitment, and ensure that all dates are written on our family's calendar.

I would like to make an additional contribution to support the participation of another MAJICian.

A copy of your responses will be emailed to the address you provided.

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