Light Up the Cathedral 2026

Brother Yusef Miller will deliver the 2026 Light Up the Cathedral keynote address. A dedicated participant in the event for the past five years, he has also offered the closing blessing for each of the last three years. Born into a Muslim family in Chester, Pennsylvania, Yusef joined the U.S. Navy after high school and retired after 24 years of active-duty service as a Chief Hospital Corpsman at Camp Pendleton. He currently serves on the board of the Islamic Society of North County, where he advocates for social justice through interfaith collaboration and works to address disparities related to race, religion, gender, and immigration status. Yusef is a lifelong advocate for equity and justice. He is the co-founder of the North County Equity and Justice Coalition and its “Saving Lives in Custody” campaign, working with local law enforcement leaders to advance transparency, accountability, and de-escalation reforms. He also founded Pink Crescent, a breast health awareness organization that partners with community groups to increase screening, prevention, and clinical trial participation among women of color. In addition, Yusef founded Mosques Against Trafficking (M.A.T.), an initiative combating human trafficking in San Diego County. A passionate environmental justice advocate, he works to advance clean air, clean water, and clean soil initiatives while addressing the disproportionate environmental impacts faced by communities of color. His leadership includes service with the NAACP Environmental Climate Justice Committee, Clean Earth for Kids, Clergy for the Coastline, and Interfaith for Climate and Earth Justice.