By Scott Taylor,Staff Writer

LEWISTON – The future of American Muslims depends on its youth, and that’s quite a turnaround for immigrant families.

“Usually, we look to the elders for leadership,” Abdul Hussein told a group of about 60 young New England Muslims Friday in Lewiston’s Bates Mill.

Elders can be at disadvantage in American society, from having to learn an unfamiliar language to dealing with new technology. It’s as true in Boston’s eastern African immigrant community as it is among the growing Somali populations in Lewiston and Portland.

“We almost always forget about the youth,” Hussein said. “Well, we are a long way from Somalia and it is very important for us to encourage the younger generation to be involved.”

That’s the goal of Hussein’s Boston-based organization, African Community Economic Development of New England. He started the organization four years ago to help make the eastern African immigrant community more self sufficient.

Now the group has opened a Maine branch led by Lewiston Somali Abdirizak Mahboub. Local Somali youth have been attending meetings this summer out of the Bates Mill designed to tighten their bonds to their community while giving them marketable skills and preparing them for college.

The program also teaches youth to resist Islamic extremists.

“This, too is our country,” Mahboub said. Muslim youth can be at risk from religious extremists who tout anti-Western and anti-American philosophies.

Their arguments are anti-Muslim, as well, he said.

“Hate-mongering is un-Islamic, and suicide bombers and terrorists have nothing to do with the Koran,” Mahboub said. “So we teach our kids that, show them what is right and teach them that hate is not the right way to go.”

Friday, Hussein and Mahboub brought Boston and Maine youth together to introduce help them get to know each other. It’s part of the group’s preparations for an open house scheduled from 3 to 5 p.m. Thursday at the Bates Mill. Mahboub said he expects city officials from Lewiston, Portland and Boston to attend.