ROSEMONT, Ill. — The nation’s largest convention for the American Muslim community takes off in Rosemont this weekend.

The annual ISNA (Islamic Society of North America) Convention has served over 25,000 Muslims and is back in the Chicagoland area for its 60th year.

The theme for this year is “60 Years of Service: Navigating the Way Forward,” reflecting on the past of the convention’s contributions to American Muslims and preparing for a brighter future.

“Every community need a space, a space with numbers where they can come together to be energized,” one of the keynote speakers of the event, Imam Zaid Shakir said.

Imam Zaid Shakir is the co-founder of American Islamic university, Zaytuna College in Berkeley, California, also known for the memorial service he gave at the funeral of late boxer Muhammad Ali.

“It’s like a family reunion, I see people that I have known since they were little babies and now they are contributing to society,” Imam Shakir said.

The weekend is filled with educational discussions from tackling climate change to addressing mental health challenges.

Keynote speakers and scholars also talked about global issues ranging from the Rohingya crisis to the Palestinian conflict.

“We don’t have a chance to look at the forest because we are so caught up in the trees, we don’t get the opportunity to look at the big picture,” Imam Shakir said.

The convention takes place at the Donald E. Stephens Center in Rosemont from Sept. 1 to Sept. 4.

For more information, visit: Convention Information – Islamic Society of North America (isna.net)