Excerpt:
When Zerqa Abid founded My Project USA about a year ago, her goal was to protect and empower impoverished Muslim-American children in the Hilltop against the drug dealers, gangs and human traffickers who might prey on their vulnerability.
But she didn't stop there.
Last month, at a My Project USA conference focused on public service, she invited four speakers to present a segment on identifying and stopping violent extremism. The event, at Columbus State Community College, opened eyes to the extensive social-media recruiting efforts of groups such as Islamic State and encouraged youths to be wary.