Telling Our Story
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Telling Our Story: Countering Prejudice, Discrimination and Bullying Marriott Saturday, May 5, 2012 Santa Clara, CA 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm ING’s Mission To counter prejudice and discrimination against American Muslims by teaching about their traditions and contributions in the context of America’s history and cultural diversity, while building relations between American Muslims and other groups. “People naturally reject what they do not understand, and teaching people about Islam encourages acceptance in a time when America is not as friendly towards Muslims as it could be.” ~ Student, Mountain View Tonight’s Program Book Signing with Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf Moving the Mountain, Beyond Ground Zero to a New Vision of Islam in America ~ Dinner Service ~ Opening Prayer Qari Omar Balla ~ Welcome Ahmed Bedier Emcee Sabahat Rafiq ING Board Member ~ ING Video Presentation ~ President’s Address Maha Elgenaidi ING President & Executive Director ~ Sunset Prayer ~ ING Update Omar Tawakol ING Board Member ~ Fund-for-Growth Campaign ~ The Importance of ING’s Work: Educating about Muslims and Islam in America Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf Former Imam, Park51, the so-called “Ground Zero Mosque” ~ Entertainment Raef Singer/songwriter and artist in the Poetic Vision Tour ~ Closing Remarks Guest Speakers and Performers Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf is the former Imam of Park51, the so-called “Ground Zero Mosque,” which was the center of Islamophobic protests during the last mid-term election cycle. Time Magazine named Imam Feisal one of the “100 Most Influential People in the World” in 2011. He is the Chairman of the Cordoba Initiative, an independent, multi-national project that works to re- connect the Muslim World and the West. In 1997, Imam Feisal founded the American Society for Muslim Advancement (ASMA), the first Muslim organization committed to bringing American Muslims and non-Muslims together through programs in academia, policy, current affairs, and culture. For the past 25 years, he has been Imam of Masjid al-Farah, a New York City mosque. Currently, he sits on the board of Trustees of the Islamic Center of New York. He has won awards from The Alliance for International Conflict Prevention and Resolution and the Interfaith Center in New York. Frequently asked to comment on issues pertaining to Islam and the Muslim world, Imam Feisal appeared regularly at the Council on Foreign Relations and the World Economic Forum (Davos), and in national and international media such as CNN, BBC, The New York Times, Washington Post, Frontline and Foreign Policy. Raef is a singer-songwriter, educator, and musician. He has performed across the United States and is known for his unique lyricism and acoustic sound. Blending American folk-rock musicality with Eastern melodic patterns, Raef’s music moves seamlessly between commercially accessible rock tunes, and introspective folk songs. Over the years Raef has shared his music with faith-based communities across the world. With the heart of a teacher, the sensitivity of a poet, the perspective of a traveler, and the spirit of a rock 'n roller, Raef’s music expands the narrow category of “religious songs” (nasheed) with songs that transcend one- dimensional spiritual themes— reflecting instead on the greater human search for inspiration and purpose. Letter from the President & Executive Director Letter from the President & Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi Thank you for attending ING’s South Bay event at the Santa Clara Marriott. ING has been serving and continues to serve Muslims all across the country; today, in 22 regions in 18 states. Since our founding in 1993, we estimate that our speakers in the San Francisco Bay Area alone have delivered over 12,000 presentations and interfaith panels to nearly a million students and adults. ING’s work helps increase understanding, challenges stereotypes and prevents bias and discrimination against Muslims who live in the region. In response to our efforts, the American Muslim community represented by mosques and major Islamic institutions has expressed its support for ING through statements included in this program from the following major mosques in the area: • South Bay Islamic Association (SBIA) • Shia Association of the Bay Area (SABA) • West Valley Muslim Association (WVMA) • Muslim Community Center East Bay (MCC-East Bay) • San Ramon Valley Islamic Center (SRVIC) • Islamic Center of Livermore • Islamic Society of East Bay (ISEB) We also enjoy support from: • Zaytuna College, whose founders have provided invaluable support for ING since its inception by participating in forums and trainings organized by ING, and by providing us with the scholarly foundation that is critical to our work. ING is deeply appreciative of the contributions of Zaytuna founders, Sheikh Hamza Yusuf and Imam Zaid Shakir, for their hours of consultation and contributions to ING, as well as that of scholars affiliated with Zaytuna, including Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah, Dr. Sherman Jackson, and others. We have also received letters of support from national organizations which reflects our partnerships and good relations with these organizations as well as our reach across the country. These include: • Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) • Muslim American Society (MAS) • Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) • Council on Islamic Relations – California (CAIR) We have also received letters of support from local interfaith organizations for our service to the larger community of Americans of all faiths. These include: • Silicon Valley Interreligious Council (SVIC) • San Francisco Interfaith Council (SFIC) • Interfaith Council of Contra Costa County (ICCCC) Included in this program are copies of these letters of support. We wish to thank all our partner organizations for their continuing support of ING’s work. Letter from the President & Executive Director continues ING PROGRESS REPORT Mission ING’s mission is to counter prejudice and discrimination against American Muslims by teaching about their traditions and contributions in the context of America’s history and cultural diversity, while building relations between American Muslims and other groups. Founded in 1993, ING achieves its mission through education and community engagement. We work though regional volunteers and affiliated organizations across the country who provide thousands of presentations, training seminars and workshops, and panel discussions annually in schools, colleges and universities, law enforcement agencies, corporations, healthcare facilities, and community organizations as part of cultural diversity curricula and programs. Reaching hundreds of groups and tens of thousands of individuals a year at the grassroots level, ING is building bridges among Americans of all backgrounds. Programs Islamic Speakers Bureau The core of ING’s educational services, this program provides an invaluable service to schools, colleges and civic and community groups by supplementing cultural diversity programming or the study of Islam and world religions in the context of social sciences and world history curriculum. Interfaith Speakers Bureau This program expands the educational outreach work of ING by partnering with interfaith organizations and convening interfaith dialogues in the context of America’s religious diversity. Interfaith panels include a Muslim presenter with one or more speakers representing Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism or Hinduism. The student and adult audiences enjoy the interactive dialogue and especially the opportunity to ask the panelists candid questions. For many, it is the first time they have ever met a Buddhist, Hindu, Jew or Muslim. Diversity Seminars for Leaders This program offers professional development seminars with a focus on American Muslims to meet the needs for diversity education and cultural competency skills development. Seminars are especially designed for executives, administrators, managers and educators. Due to growing negative perceptions about Muslims as evidenced in a Gallup Poll that shows Americans are more than twice as likely to express prejudice against Muslims than they are against Jews, Buddhists or Christians, our diversity seminars address contemporary issues and the need for education to challenge harmful stereotypes. Bullying Prevention in Schools ING’s Bullying Prevention Program consists of workshops for Muslim students and parents on the following topics: • Awareness and promotion of the federally sponsored Stop Bullying Now Program, at stopbullying.gov. • Empowerment training for students and parents on their rights and responsibilities in schools in relation to teasing, harassment, and bullying issues. • Self-esteem and confidence building training on answering difficult questions about Muslims and their faith that are often asked by Americans of other faiths out of genuine interest or concern due to negative portrayals of Muslims in the media. Letter from the President & Executive Director continues Local Results Output Between 1993 and 2001, ING has delivered nearly 12,000 presentations to nearly a million students and adults in the San Francisco Bay Area, from Marin to Monterey. ING Presentations: Annual and Cumulative Totals ING Requesters by Year 1993-2004 2005-2011 Venues for ING Presentations These pie charts illustrate the different 5% venues where ING delivers 8% presentations. While in its early years 11% 47% the bulk of ING presentations were Higher Middle and Education High Schools delivered in middle and high schools, 81% in recent years ING has increasingly Middle