Greetings! As March came to an end, two symbolically interrelated holidays were celebrated -- Passover and Easter. The ISB family sends its well wishes to our friends from the Jewish and Christian communities during these very holy times. March also marked Women's History Month, during which the ISB recognized the achievements of leading Atlanta-area American Muslim women (click here to view ISB Special Edition Newsletter on Women's History Month). It is not only important to highlight the achievements and accomplishments of American Muslim women, but it is also as important to dispel any misconceptions about them (see "Panel Discussion on Women In Islam" below). Also during this month, the ISB team worked tirelessly to promote cultural diversity by conducting a number of presentations (see "Presentations"). In addition to presentations, ISB volunteers joined others in the Atlanta metro area to help those in need (see stories below). Please remember, ISB's efforts are only possible through the generous support and contributions of its friends 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. |
Panel Discussion On Women In Islam
Dispels Misconceptions | |
ISB Speaker participated in a panel discussion dispelling misconceptions about women in Islam.
In commemoration of Women's History Month, Zaynab Ansari participated in "Women in Islam - A Cross-Culture Discussion" on March 27 at the University of North Georgia (UNG)- Gainesville Campus. The event was organized by the Students for a Progressive Society, Women's History Committee.
Joining Ansari were Dr. Chris Bell from UNG, Dr. Victoria Hightower from UNG, and Tanjina Islam from Georgia State University. The themes discussed include the role of Muslim women in social change movements, the scholarly contributions of women in Islam, and the diversity of Muslim women around the world.
The event was attended by both students and members of the general public.
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ISB Executive Director Receives
Recognition at AIB Allen Award
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ISB Executive Director Soumaya Khalifa was recognized for her service on the AIB Board of Directors on March 26.
Khalifa received the recognition from the Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters (AIB), an interfaith, spiritual and educational television and internet network, during the Allen Award ceremony.
Khalifa served as Secretary of the Board from 2007 - 2012.
The AIB Allen Award
recognizes and honors individuals and companies touching lives and making differences throughout the metro Atlanta community. For more information, please click here.
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ISB Partners With Georgia
Library to Introduce Books on Islam
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The ISB has partnered with the Dekalb County Public Library System, at the Clarkston branch location, to introduce books and digital media on Islam to library patrons.
The Dekalb County Public Library System along with the Atlanta-Fulton Public Library System, and the West Georgia Regional Library System were awarded the "Bridging Cultures Bookshelf on Muslim Journeys," a collection of books, films, and other resources on the people, places, histories, beliefs, practices, and cultures of Muslims in the United States and abroad.
ISB speakers will conduct presentations and showcase films on Islam at the Clarkston library location on April 6, April 13, April 20 and April 27.
The "Muslim Journeys Bookshelf" is a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH) and the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office. For more information on the "Muslim Journeys Bookshelf," please click here.
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ISB Participates In Annual Hunger Walk/Run
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The ISB organized the Muslim community in support of the annual Atlanta Community Food Bank (ACFB) Hunger Walk/Run.
The ISB along with several Muslim faith-based organizations and schools were among 15,000 people who participated in the annual Walk/Run on March 10.
 ISB Volunteer Amani Elghoroury, who spearheaded the effort, also organized a food drive within the Muslim community two months leading to the Walk/Run (to see story on "Being Your Neighbor's Keeper Food Drive," please click here and here). "My son and I couldn't have been more proud to be among the 15,000 participants; all gathered for a common good, raising awareness and funds to fight hunger," said ISB speaker Amin Tomeh.
For more information on the ACFB Hunger Walk/Run, please click here.
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ISB's Joint Effort Preparing Meals
For Parents of Hospitalized Children
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In a joint effort, ISB volunteers Amani Elghoroury and Huma Faruqi along with others from the Atlanta Muslim community put together meal bags for parents whose children are hospitalized.
 The Volunteers gathered at Emory Presbyterian Church (EPC) on March 20 to prepare over 300 meal bags for parents who cannot afford meals during their children's stay at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta (CHOA).
EPC hosted 35 members of the ISB, Istanbul Center, and the Turkish American Islamic Institute for dinner prior to making of the meal bags.
This is an annual effort organized by EPC as a special community outreach project during Lent season. This year, the EPC chose to partner with the Muslim community.
"[This is] bearing witness to the power of interfaith cooperation towards the greater good!" said EPC Associate Pastor Tom Buchanan.
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Save The Date
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2013 ISB Annual Building Bridges Awards Dinner
Internationally acclaimed
author and media critic
Dr. Jack Shaheen
Keynote Speaker
November 9
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"Meet Your Muslim Neighbor"
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"Meet Your Muslim Neighbor," the sixteen-part series on Islam, is still airing (for more information on show times, click here).
The ISB teamed up with the Atlanta Interfaith Broadcasters (AIB), an interfaith and educational television and internet network, to produce the show.
A wide range of topics have been selected to be addressed during each episode (for a full article, click here).
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Presentations
| Amjad Taufique and Alan Howard participated in an interfaith panel on February 27 sponsored by the Care and Counseling Center of Georgia. The audience were caregivers, nurses and chaplains from different healthcare institutions around metro Atlanta. The panelists, who represented the Catholic, Buddhist, Yoruba, Orthodox Jewish, and Muslim faith traditions, were each asked how their respective faiths addresses illness, death and grieving. "It was interesting how despite the variety of the different religions and beliefs, we all essentially said the same thing," noted Howard. "Sometimes just being compassionate and being present at the side of a family or an ill individual can be enough," he concluded.
Hounada Sinno and Bassem Fakhoury presented "Overview of American Muslims and their Faith" to an Islamic studies class at the Sandy Springs Christian Church on March 3rd. The approximately 50 adults in attendance were given the opportunity to ask questions after the presentation.
Iqbal Kalla presented "Overview of American Muslims and their Faith" to a group of 35 students attending a History of World Religions class at Life University in Marietta on March 4. Zaynab Ansari conducted a diversity training seminar for educators to about 50 students at the University of Georgia- Lawrenceville campus on March 9. The instructor, Dr. Sarah Ann Shope, regularly invites the ISB to present to her Teachers of English to Students of Other Languages (TESOL) classes. Ansari focussed on issues of relevance to teachers in middle and high school settings as well as those planning to teach abroad in Muslim-majority countries. Huma Faruqi presented to a group of 8th grade students touring the Islamic Community Center of Atlanta (ICCA) on March 13. The group of 15 students are taking a confirmation class at Christ Our Shepherd Lutheran Church. Faruqi also shared a brief history of the masjid with the students and their two group leaders. Christ Our Shepherd Church regularly brings youth groups for ISB presentations at ICCA. Ruwa Romman observed her mentor, Noor Abbady, present "Overview of American Muslims and their Faith" to a group of 16 students at Wesleyan School on March 20. Class instructor Andy Cook, who hosted ISB speakers previously in his class, expressed that he wanted his students to receive more information on key elements of Islam. Hounada Sinno, Ruwa Romman and Rania Atef conducted a workshop for the Muslim Girl Scouts at the Roswell Community Masjid on March 22. This was the final of a three-part workshop series. The first two were conducted in January and February (click here and here to read more). Sinno, Romman and Atef conducted a "Meaningful Conversation" workshop which provided the girls tools and proven techniques to empower them in engaging in meaningful interfaith dialogue. Amjad Taufique conducted a presentation that focussed on Islamic traditions related to death and bereavement to a group of 20 students at Georgia Perimeter College on March 25. |
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