On May 31, 2026, leaders from 25 masjids and Islamic organizations across North Texas — 35 representatives in all — gathered at the ITKAN Innovation Hub in Plano for a luncheon hosted alongside the North Texas Islamic Council (NTIC). It was a gathering of the community ITKAN was built to serve, under the banner the organization carries everywhere: reviving the Islamic obligation to excel in STEM.
Mujeeb Kazi, President of the North Texas Islamic Council, delivered the address that made the day possible — his coordination with masjids and Islamic organizations across the region brought the room together. “It brings me goosebumps that the golden time of Islam is reviving through ITKAN,” he told the gathering.
Br. Azhar Azeez — CEO of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) and its former President — urged the leaders in attendance to get involved: “ITKAN is bringing a great service for our community and our youth. I would urge that all local masjids should partner with [ITKAN].” Imam Nadim Bashir, the longest-serving Imam in the history of East Plano Islamic Center (EPIC), called ITKAN “a powerhouse that is bringing children, allowing them to dig deeper into their skillset — and doing it on the world stage.”
Br. Rasheed Mohamed, one of the earliest leaders to embrace ITKAN through the Sachse Muslim Society, spoke to the program's reach: “ITKAN has brought 60 students to our FLL program, with 15 of them excelling to the world stage. Join ITKAN — and if you need any more references, I am here!” ITKAN alum Ezyan Bhayani, now studying Computer Science at Carnegie Mellon University, returned to address the leaders as living proof of the pipeline.
Organizations represented included the North Texas Islamic Council, Masjid Sahaba, Islamic Association of Mid Cities (Colleyville), Keller Islamic Center, Islamic Center of Quad Cities, Islamic Center of Irving, Islamic Association of Collin County, Context Corner, Islamic Center of Frisco, Dallas Masjid Al Islam, Islamic Association of Colony, Islamic Association of North Texas, Islamic Association of Carrollton, Islamic Association of Allen, Islamic Association of Tarrant County, Pure Hands, the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA), Brighter Horizons Academy, Al-Akhyia Institute (Grand Prairie), MAS DFW, East Plano Islamic Center, Sachse Muslim Society, WAZU Investments, and Masjid Hassan Al Basri — with more masajid looking to join the movement.