Speaker Spotlight
Mansour Ansari with Grandson, Salahuddin
The ISB has more than 25 trained, certified volunteer speakers who represent various professional, ethnic, and linguistic backgrounds. This month we are interviewing Mr. Mansour Ansari, one of the ISB's founding members.
Mr. Ansari is the grandson of Lebanese immigrants who settled in Massachusetts in 1890. Born and raised in Worcester, Mr. Ansari attended Syracuse University, where he studied journalism and English literature. After graduating, he toured the East Coast and Europe with his jazz band, and traveled to the Middle East with his wife, Ms. Kafi Niambi Ansari.
Mr. and Mrs. Ansari will be celebrating their 40th wedding anniversary this year. They have two daughters and two grandchildren. Mr. Ansari enjoys traveling, speaking, and attending to his wholesale Persian rug business. Although a resident of Atlanta for thirty years, Mr. Ansari remains an avid Red Sox fan.
Speaker Spotlight: It's a pleasure to sit down with you. How did you first hear about the ISB?
Mansour: I'm an officer of the AHAD Foundation, a local nonprofit organization which sponsors the ISB. We help provide a platform for the Muslim community to nurture different activities. We also gather together intellectual and educational resources, the foremost of which is the ISB.
Speaker Spotlight: You have an extensive background in grassroots activism and public speaking. Tell us why you joined the ISB.
Mansour: I wanted to join an outreach organization that would promote a positive image of Islam to the society, and the ISB fulfills that purpose. Because of the extraordinary efforts of our volunteers, we have carved out a niche in the spiritual, academic, and social landscape of Atlanta.
Speaker Spotlight: You've lived in Atlanta for three decades and have extensive contacts both within and without the Muslim community. Tell us how this has contributed to your speaking.
Mansour: Every part of the community needs to hear a unified message but adjusted to their needs, without compromising the core points. Islam is a core part of American society. Our mission is to portray an accurate, balanced view of Islam. We demonstrate the compability of Islamic and American values.
Speaker Spotlight: You've done countless presentations over the years. Which one stands out?
Mansour: The eight weeks we spent at Peachtree Presbyterian Church was a milestone in the ISB's career. We developed a good relationship with an audience that was highly concerned and very aware. One of my best memories was when the participants, all seniors, came up to me and told me that I had represented my faith in a very enlightening and beautiful way. This, to me, was worth the price of admission!
Speaker Spotlight: Our theme for this month is community service. You have a strong service ethic. What message do you have for our readers?
Mansour: Whether it's feeding the hungry in front of a mosque in downtown Atlanta or helping someone out in their hour of need, service is a part of Islam. The summertime is ideal for social networking and exploring opportunities for community service, whether it's in your own community or in the larger society. I want people to know that Muslims are here and that we are concerned and involved.
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ISB in the News
The Islamic Networks Group (ING) has featured ISB Atlanta in their Spring-Summer 2008 issue. Please visit ING Newsletter for more details
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From the Director's Desk
As the month of May winds down and you make your plans for the summer, consider investing in a community service project. The Islamic Speakers Bureau (ISB) is dedicated to serving the metro Atlanta community, and people across the southeast, with our volunteer speakers and educational presentations. ISB members are also involved in summer outreach, such as the school lunch program in Fayetteville. Our next issue will feature more about this story.
The long days of summer provide all of us with a chance to get out and make a difference, whether it's volunteering with Habitat for Humanity, investigating the many opportunities at Hands on Atlanta, or even beautifying the grounds of our mosques, synagogues, temples, and churches.
We
look forward to hearing your stories of service! As always, thank you for your continued support, encouragement and contributions. And please let us know if you have any suggestions on how we can
further our efforts.
Thank you,
Soumaya Khalifa
Executive Director
Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta
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Special Presentation to Food and Drug Administration
On Monday, May 12, Executive Director of the ISB, Soumaya Khalifa, led a cultural competency training at the Atlanta offices of the FDA. The event was sponsored by the Diversity and Quality of Work Life Committee
whose mission is to "foster an environment of acceptance, inclusion,
and cooperation among all FDA employees by promoting workforce
diversity initiatives, principles of diversity, and quality of work
life educational programs."
Ms. Khalifa presented to approximately 40 laboratory analysts,
investigators, and administrative personnel.
The
cultural competency workshop includes an overview of Islam and Muslims,
breaks down common stereotypes about the faith, and explores issues of
religious accommodation in the workplace.
The presentation was well received. At its conclusion, Ms. Khalifa was awarded with a plaque from the FDA.
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ISB Visits Peachtree Presbyterian Church
On Sunday, May 11, Ms. Jelena Naim visited the campus of Peachtree Presbyterian Church in Buckhead. At the invitation of the Unity class, which is part of the adult Sunday school, Ms. Naim presented Women in Islam and took audience questions. As part of an ongoing series of educational programs, the church will invite the ISB back in the fall. The ISB thanks the organizers of the Unity class for this opportunity.
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Overview of Islam at Dunwoody United Methodist Church
On Sunday, May 11, Ms. Soumaya Khalifa, accompanied by speaker-in-training Dr. Mona Megahed, visited Dunwoody United Methodist Church. Approximately 25 audience members were introduced to Islam via the popular Orientation on Islam and Muslims presentation. The program featured a lively discussion in which participants asked a variety of questions about women in Islam, current events, and Muslim culture. The ISB thanks the warm and welcoming congregation of Dunwoody United Methodist.
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ISB Atlanta & Kids4Peace
ISB speakers, Ms. Huma Faruqi and Mr. Ehab Jaleel, presented Orientation on Islam and Muslims to a Kids4Peace meeting on Sunday, May 4. The venue was St. Anne's Episcopal Church. Audience members included children, parents, and church volunteers. The youngsters are slated to attend a 10-day summer camp with Muslim,
Jewish, and Christian children from Jerusalem. Kids4Peace sponsors cross-cultural youth-oriented peace programs on an annual basis.
ISB director, Ms. Soumaya Khalifa, sits on the organization's board. To find out more, please visit Kids4Peace through our Useful Links section.
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Continuing Education at Lutheran Church of the Redeemer
On Sunday, May 4, Ms. Jelena Naim and Mr. Amjad Taufique visited Lutheran Church of the Redeemer in midtown Atlanta. The presentation focused on current issues and included a combination of Orientation on Islam and Muslims and Women in Islam. Speaker-in-training, Mr. Saif Altalib, joined the group of approximately 12 men and women. Audience members expressed their appreciation for the presentation and the need to have continuing dialogue on both a local and national level. The ISB is grateful to Lutheran Church of the Redeemer for its hospitality.
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ISB Leads Workshop at Atlanta Presbyterian Women's Retreat
Ms. Soumaya Khalifa spent Saturday, April 26 at Callaway Gardens conducting a workshop for the Presbyterian Women's Retreat. This annual event brings together women from different Presbyterian churches in the metro area. The presentation featured Women in Islam, a brief look at the film "Beauty Academy of Kabul," and a question-and-answer session. The outcome of the day's event was a shared appreciation for the necessity of interfaith dialogue and cross-cultural understanding. The ISB looks forward to future partnerships with the Presbyterian Women's Retreat.
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ISB Presents at Wesleyan School
On Tuesday, April 15, Ms. Soumaya Khalifa presented Orientation on Islam and Muslims to two world religions classes at Wesleyan, a private Christian academy. Both classes were very engaged and asked a variety of questions about Muslim beliefs and practices. The teacher was pleased with the presentation and expressed interest in inviting the ISB back next year.
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About ISB Atlanta
The ISB
is a non-profit, apolitical educational organization that provides
certified Muslim speakers to promote awareness about Islam and Muslims.
The ISB is a local affiliate of the Islamic Networks Group (ING).
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