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Greetings!
April is a month of renewal. It is also a time when our brothers and sisters in the Christian and Jewish faiths observe Easter and Passover, two deeply meaningful holidays on their religious calendars. Easter with its message of redemption and Passover with its message of salvation, both symbolize a chance for a new beginning.
With April ending and May approaching, another important holiday is upon us -- Mother's Day. It is a time when we honor the important women in our lives. In memory of my late mother who empowered and inspired me, I share my story of our journey together for redemption (see story on right column).
As readers will see in this month's issue, ISB has been honored to be involved with a number of inspirational individuals and events. From a movie screening, to a milestone celebration, to a number of panel discussions, ISB is proud to highlight individuals who empower and inspire us to live a life with meaning.
As always, ISB's work is only possible through the generous support and contribution of its members and supporters. You can make a secure online donation through our website or mail a check to ISB Atlanta, P.O. Box 2608, Peachtree City, GA 30269. All donations are tax deductible. Thank you,
Soumaya Khalifa
Executive Director
ISB Atlanta
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U.S. Attorney Meets With Community Members
| The ISB partnered with the United States Attorney's Office to organize a roundtable discussion on issues of concern to the Arab American and American Muslim communities. The Honorable Ms. Sally Quillian Yates, U.S. Attorney - Northern District of Georgia and her staff members met with representatives from both communities on April 23.
This was part of an ongoing effort by the US Attorney to avail her office to the various communities in her district. The meeting was held at Georgia Tech University and was attended by a broad spectrum of leaders from the Arab American and American Muslim communities. Several of Ms. Yates staff members were in attendance to answer questions and interact with the community members.
In addition to a frank exchange of ideas, the meeting also served as a forum during which a diverse range of topics and community concerns were aired. Among the topics discussed were hate speech in the media, charitable donations by the Muslim community, Department of Motor Vehicles photograph guidelines, to name a few. The US Attorney encouraged the various leaders to liaise with her office and her staff in order to bring to her attention the concerns that may not be evident to her.
The meeting was concluded with a mutual wish to continue with future roundtable discussions to foster a true working relationship between the Arab American and American Muslim communities and their U.S. Attorney. The ISB's instrumental role was lauded by the US Attorney and various community members for its dexterity in facilitating such an enriching program.
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10th Anniversary Azizah Magazine Gala
|  ISB Executive Director Soumaya Khalifa addressed gala guests celebrating Azizah Magazine's 10th anniversary. Azizah Magazine, a leading publication for American Muslim women, featured a distinguished lineup of speakers who embody the spirit of the "Azizah Woman," someone who "is inspired and inspirational." Founded in 2000, the mission of Azizah magazine is to "counter the many negative portrayals, the one-dimensional stereotypes and misconceptions about Muslim women commonly held, both within the Muslim community and beyond."
The magazine's 10th anniversary gala, "An Evening of Empowered Voices," was held on April 9 in Atlanta. Joining Khalifa on the stage were Founder of Women In Islam, Inc. Aisha al-Adawiya, Executive Director of the American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA) Daisy Khan, first Muslim woman Judge and Master in Chancery currently serving in the Circuit Court for Baltimore City Zakia Mahasa, and Assistant Professor of Law at the University of Wisconsin Asifa Quraishi.
Khalifa, as a result of her association with ISB and the organization's efforts to breakdown the many misconceptions about Islam and Muslims in the U.S., was cited as an "Azizah Woman."
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"Cousins of Faith" Screening
|  Ehab Jaleel, an ISB speaker, is the subject of a documentary along with Kivi Bernhard, a motivational speaker.
The lives of the two religiously-devout men, one Muslim and one Jew, are depicted in a documentary, "Cousins of Faith," that debuted on April 14.
Their story, told through the prism of religion, serves to humanize both faiths, citing the many similarities and shared belief systems found in both Abrahamic traditions.
The initial screening was well received by an audience of more than 200 people, who also enjoyed a panel discussion following the film.
"It's beneficial for us all to get to know each other better, whatever our faith," said Jaleel.
In filming the daily lives of the two men, film creator David Micley captured how religion is a strong priority for both. The majority of the filming took place in the homes of Jaleel and Bernhad. The goal was to communicate that religion is not just just about each man's personal relationship with God, but also how it shapes their interactions with their fellow human beings. For Jaleel and Bernhard, religion is interwoven into their relationships with their respective families and their deep commitment to them.
Jaleel is the founder and executive director of Amana, a charter school in the Atlanta area, while Bernhard is the founder and CEO of Kivi International, wholesale diamond business, and a motivational speaker.
Held at Emory University, the event was organized by the Hillel chapter and sponsored by the ISB, the Interdisciplinary Studies (IDS) in Culture and Society Program of the Graduate Institute of Liberal Arts and the Office of Religious Life. Micley, a college senior, created the documentary as part of his senior project for his IDS major.
The follow-up panel discussion between Micley, Jaleel and Bernhard was moderated by Dr. Barbara Patterson of the Department of Religion.
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"I Speak For Myself"
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In a step towards ISB's main mission to educate and bridge the gap between Islam and America, ISB recently played an important role in bringing together four inspirational American Muslim women writers for a panel discussion. The panel, "Muslim American Women Speak: Our National and Religious Identities Are Not at Odds with One Another" was held on April 19 at Georgia State University (GSU). The panelists discussed "I speak for Myself, " a collection of 40 personal essays written by American Muslim women under the age of 40 who were born and raised in the U.S. According to the book's website, "a common theme linking these intimate self-portraits is the way each woman uniquely defies labeling, simply by defining for herself what it means to be American and Muslim and female." The panelists included Amira Choueiki, Ayah Ibrahim, Maria Ebrahimji, and Jameelah X Medina. Associate Professor at GSU's Women's Studies Institute Dr. Amira Jarmakani moderated the discussion. 
The event was sponsored by the ISB, GSU's Middle East Institute, Department of Religious Studies and Department of Women's Studies, Middle East Socio-Political Association. For more information on "I Speak for Myself", click here.
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Redemption Journey
| | In observance of Easter, the Atlanta Journal-Constitution printed a series of personal stories on the meaning of redemption. ISB Executive Director Soumaya Khalifa shared her personal story in the April 24 edition of the paper.
In her personal account, Khalifa honored the memory of her late mother, Dr. Aida Geumei, while recounting their Hajj, pilgrimage to Mecca, that they performed together in 2000. Khalifa explained that Hajj is an act of worship for redemption and that she was grateful to fulfill such an important religious duty with the woman who most influenced and inspired her. For the entire article, click here.
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| Presentations | Once again, ISB was invited by Marist School for more presentations on Islam. On April 15, ISB speaker Abdullah Kapic spoke to four separate classes of 11th grade students -- about 100 students altogether. As usual, there was time for questions and answers at the end of each presentation.
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About the ISB
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The Islamic Speakers Bureau of Atlanta is a 501(c)(3) 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). |
Your Support Is Needed
| Since 2001, the ISB has been at the forefront of interfaith partnership and dialogue between Atlanta Muslims and members of other faith communities. This work is critical. However, we cannot sustain our efforts without your support. Our work depends on the support of community members -- women and men like you, who value the importance of building bridges of understanding and dialogue.
Donations to the ISB are tax deductible and may be mailed to ISB Atlanta, P.O. Box 2608, Peachtree City, GA 30269. Alternatively, supporters may send their contributions through our secure website.
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Volunteer
| Volunteerism is one of the primary drivers of our continued growth and success. Most of our volunteers are students or full-time professionals who find the time to contribute to non-profit work. In return, they find great satisfaction and fulfillment by providing an important service to their community. For more information click here. For an ISB Volunteer Request Form, click here.
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