Lenses of Belonging: Muslim America in Focus
Muslim American youth are telling their own stories — and the images are worth seeing.
This winter, CME-US launched Lenses of Belonging 2025, our inaugural national student photo competition, inviting Muslim American students to share not headlines or stereotypes, but the ordinary, everyday moments that shape who they are. Submissions poured in from November through December, offering a thoughtful and often striking window into how young Muslim Americans see themselves and their place in this country.
A panel of judges selected four finalists whose work stood out for its intentionality, depth, and artistic strength. Their photographs were announced at our Fighting for Freedom PBS screening in January 2026 — a fitting moment, as the evening moved between generations: from Muslim Americans who fought for belonging, to young people now framing it through their own eyes.
Lenses of Belonging is more than a competition. It is a platform — one where Muslim American youth exercise their voice and take ownership of how their stories are told. We look forward to welcoming a new cohort of student storytellers next winter.
Stillness Between Prayers - Muhammad D.
"Two Muslim women pause for prayer along the water’s edge, turning an ordinary outdoor moment into an act of faith. In the quiet of the American Southwest, devotion blends naturally into everyday life—unannounced, unperformative, and deeply personal."