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Greetings!
The month of May ushered in the season of graduation ceremonies. On behalf of the ISB, I would like to extend my congratulations to the graduting class of 2011.
The end of May also marked Memorial Day and we salute the men and women who are serving our country. Whether in a career of public service or a community volunteer, each of us can serve in our own way by building bridges of understanding and reaching out to others in our communities.
As our country continues to grow more racially, ethnically and religiously diverse, it is our responsibility to strengthen the bonds of our national community. We should take it upon ourselves to reach out to others to learn, understand and break down any stereotypes and prejudices that may exist.
The ISB team has worked endlessly towards achieving this goal. From the many presentations our speakers conducted throughout the month to community projects they are spearheading, the common theme has been promoting uderstanding and harmony.
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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Muslim Heroes Recognizes Khalifa
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 ISB Executive Director Soumaya Khalifa was recently recognized by Muslim Heroes for her work at the ISB.
Muslim Heroes: Muslims Making a Difference is a website that was created in order to highlight the positive contributions that many Muslims have made to their communities, and societies, and note the impact they've had on the world through their work and efforts.
"The main purpose of this site is to highlight the great work that every individual is doing in their own respective communities regardless of profession, educational background, ethnicity, culture or nationality."
Khalifa was cited for her work with ISB, particularly for her role in promoting religious understanding and emphasizing local outreach as an effective method to understanding Islam.
Muslim Heroes specifically features Muslim leaders in order to provide role models for the Muslim community. "We have great leaders in our past-be they Prophets, scholars, scientists, etc. but Muslims must look to today at our community for leaders and role models for the Muslim community in order to work towards a better future for Muslims and the world."
A number of Muslim leaders were recognized in the website representing different categories including education, charity, social network, health, business entrepreneurship, art, literature, and the media.
To view Khalifa's entry, click here. |
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Khalifa Honors Emory Chair
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ISB Executive Director Soumaya Khalifa helped toast Emory's chair of the Religion Department at an interfaith event and book signing.
The "Toast to Our Teacher- Laurie Patton" was held on May 10 to honor Dr. Patton as she leaves her post as chair of the Religion Department at Emory University and assumes a new position as Dean of Arts and Sciences at Duke University. A book signing segment at the event was dedicated to Dr. Patton's new book "Angel's Task: Poems in Biblical Times."
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Photo courtesy of Judy Marx
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"Laurie Patton has made enormous contributions to Atlanta and specifically to the interfaith community. I was honored to toast her and recognize the impact that she has had on me personally as well."
The interfaith tribute and book signing was hosted by Beit Aharon: The Rabbi Arnold and Rae Goodman Learning Institute (The Goodman Institute) at the Ahavath Achim Synagogue in Atlanta. Donations were collected for The Goodman Institute and the Jewish-Muslim Fund for Orphans in Pune, India. Other speakers who also toasted Dr. Patton were Dr. Ravi Sama, leader of the Hindu Temple of Atlanta, Reverend Dr. Joanna Adams, retired pastor in the Presbyterian Church, Judy Finkel, Ahavath Achim congregant and Goodman Institute student, and Geshe Lobsang Negi, director of the Emory-Tibet Partnership at Emory University. Opening and closing remarks were delivered respectively by Rabbi Laurence Rosenthal and Rabbi Neil Sandler, both of the Ahavath Achim Synagogue. |
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Upcoming Events
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The Summer Lunch Program
This is the sixth year that the ISB will team up with the Islamic Community Center of Atlanta (ICCA) to participate in the annual Summer Lunch Program. The ISB and the ICCA will join local churches to provide free lunches during the summer months to school-aged children in Fayette County who normally receive free lunch during the school year. ISB's Amani El Ghoroury will once again spearhead this effort on behalf of the ISB by recruiting volunteers and collecting donations. The program will commence on June 3 and continue to August 5. In addition to donations, drivers are also needed to deliver the lunches on Fridays. Please mail donations payable to the ISB to P.O. Box 2608 Peachtree City, GA 30269.
ISB Promotes Religious Understanding in Tifton, GA
ISB's Soumaya Khalifa was invited to speak to The Foundery Fellowship, an unofficial group of United Methodist clergy and laypersons on June 7 in Tifton, GA.
Meaningful Conversations Training in Florida
ISB's Amin Tomeh will present ISB-pioneered "Meaningful Conversations" at a speakers training workshop held on June 24 - 26 in Gainesville, Florida.
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Presentations
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ISB speakers Huma Faruqi and Rania Atef spoke to a group of 40 students and four teachers at Mill Spring Academy on May 10. The students also heard from speakers of the Christian and Jewish faiths at previous sessions. This was part of an ongoing effort to teach about religious tolerance.
Atef also participated in the Human Library Project at the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library on May 19.
The "human books" are individuals representing different subjects, in this case Atef is the "Muslim book", and are approached for questions by patrons of the Library. The "human books" represent different backgrounds, and for various reasons they are often subjected to stereotyping or prejudices. The goal is to break down barriers and promote understanding and harmony.
ISB's Mohamed and Soumaya Khalifa spoke to the Interfaith Fellowship of Serenbe on May 22.
Members of this interfaith goup are residents of a 900-acre community in Palmeto, GA built on the principles of sustainability. The Fellowship learned about the ISB through newspaper coverage and wanted to learn how to reach out to the Muslim community.
On May 24, Soumaya Khalifa presented "Working with Muslim Patients" to the Pastoral Care Department at the Henry Medical Center in Henry County. The group was made of 15
volnteer chaplains associated with the hospital. By reaching out to ISB, the hospital hopes o better serve its Muslim patients in the area.
The Barnesville Rotary Club hosted ISB's Abdullah Kapic on May 31. Following a presentation, Kapic answered questions from the 50 club members regarding topics related to stereotypical media portrayals of Muslims.
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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). |
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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