Back-to-School Resources for Teachers and Administrators

Welcome Back to School!

Dear educators and administrators,
As we begin the new school year, we are excited to offer you a variety of valuable resources for creating a diverse and welcoming community and fostering safe and inclusive classrooms for all students. Some of our new and exciting offerings this semester include our newest program, the Intercultural Speakers Bureau, a diversity seminar addressing Muslim, Jewish, Black, Latinx, Asian, Hindu, Sikh, and Native American students, a revamped presentation on Islamophobia, and INGYouth workshops for Muslim students.
All of our other programs continue to be available free of charge, thanks to funding from local grants and family and community foundations, including the Mountain View Community for All Grant, the San Francisco Foundation, the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, the Rosenberg Foundation, and the Walter and Elise Haas Fund.
All presentations and panels listed below are delivered in person in the San Francisco Bay Area, or via our affiliates, or through live webinars outside the area.
As always, please let me know if you have any questions regarding ING’s suite of educational resources, which you can find listed below. You may contact me by email at [email protected] or by phone at 408-296-7312×130.
Sincerely,
Ishaq Pathan
Bay Area Director

Request an Intercultural Speakers Bureau Panel consisting of Speakers who are Muslim, Jewish, Black, Latinx, Asian, Hindu, Sikh, or Native American

Launching this fall, ING’s Intercultural Speakers Bureau (ICSB) examines the roots and interconnectedness of various forms of bigotry, including Islamophobia, Anti-Semitism, racism, and xenophobia, that are directed against Muslim, Jewish, Black, Latinx, Asian, Hindu, Sikh, and Native American populations. Panels will also include group discussions and conclude with calls to action to counter prejudice and hate while building an inclusive society based on mutual understanding and solidarity. The ICSB panel is available for educator, PTA, and student audiences.
To schedule an ICSB panel, visit our website.

Request a Seminar on Countering Islamophobia and Other Bigotries and their impact on Muslims, Jews, Blacks, Latinx, Asians, Hindus, Sikhs, and Native American students

Designed for K-12 district administrators and teachers as well as faculty in colleges and schools of education, department chairs, deans and pre-service teachers, this seminar titled, “Countering Islamophobia and Other Bigotries and their Impact on Marginalized Communities” examines the roots of Islamophobia and other bigotries faced by marginalized communities in the current environment as well as some of the sources of these bigotries. It also looks at the impact on the community generally and students from these communities specifically in the form of harassment and bullying. The seminar then suggests remedies in the form of school polices, personal awareness, reasonable accommodations, and educator resources.
To request an educator seminar, visit our site.

Request a Presentation on Islamophobia and Its Impact on Muslim Americans

Designed for educator and student audiences, this presentation begins by defining and examining both historic and contemporary sources which contribute to Islamophobia. It then looks at ways that Islamophobia is disseminated, including through the media, Hollywood, politicians, the internet and social media among others. It concludes with strategies for countering Islamophobia through education, allyship and interfaith engagement.
To schedule a presentation about Islamophobia, visit our site.

Request an INGYouth Workshop for Muslim Students

Designed to improve the resilience and confidence of Muslim teens, the INGYouth program trains and certifies Muslim teens with skills to counter bullying as well as to supplement education about Muslims and their faith in social studies and history classes in middle and high schools.
Workshops can include the following components:
  • Discussions on school experiences/ address their need for religious accommodations
  • Training on how to respond to religious-based bullying
  • Training on how to respond to common/difficult questions about Islam and Muslims
  • Training on how to present about Muslims and their faith in presentations to students and staff
To request an INGYouth Workshop, visit our site.

Request an Islamic Speakers Bureau Presentation

Supplementing social studies and world history curriculum, the Islamic Speakers Bureau (ISB) provides education about Muslims and their faith as a means of clarifying misconceptions and promoting mutual respect and understanding.
After an ISB presentation, the teacher remarked that it, “touched a chord in my students–many of whom were born in other countries or are from families of fairly recent immigrants. Rather than dwelling on the mistakes of the past, the presentation emphasized the need for the population to be educated and informed rather than controlled by fear.”
To request a presentation about Muslims and related topics, visit our site.

Request an Interfaith Speakers Bureau Panel

Supplementing world history curriculum, the Interfaith Speakers Bureau (IFSB) provides interfaith panels of representatives from the five major world religions introducing their faiths and discussing a variety of topics while modeling interfaith understanding and acceptance of diversity.
After an IFSB panel, a student remarked, “Not only were the speakers for the panel passionate and knowledgeable, but they were also incredibly funny! Although they were talking about deep, philosophical ideas, there was a constant thread of love and humor that connected every religion. As a person who does not identify as religious, I found this panel to be warm, welcoming, and informative. I left feeling like I understood each individual religion better, but also religion as a whole more deeply. It was an honor to hear from all of the wonderful speakers.”
To request and interfaith panel, visit our site.

Request a Cultural Diversity Seminar About Muslim Americans

Designed for K-12 district administrators and teachers as well as faculty in colleges and schools of education, this seminar titled, “Understanding Muslim Students: Fostering an Inclusive Environment” provides valuable information and resources for improving interaction with Muslim students and their families, while helping build an inclusive learning environment for all students.
To request an educator seminar, visit our site.

Lesson Plans, PowerPoints, and Media On A Variety of Important Topics

Designed for educators in middle and high schools, colleges, and universities, ING offers free online curriculum about American Muslims and other faith traditions. These lesson plans align with social studies content standards relating to units on Islam and other religions in the states of New York, Texas, and California. Educators can access the following curricula after registering online:
“Failure to understand even the basic symbols, practices, and concepts of the various religions makes much of history, literature, art, and contemporary life unintelligible.”
— A Teacher’s Guide to Religion in the Public Schools
Published by the First Amendment Center

Frequently Asked Questions on Islam and Muslims

Our answers to over 100 Frequently Asked Questions are a valuable resource for anyone seeking answers to questions about Islam and Muslims, Sharia, and other contemporary issues.
Islamic Networks Group (ING) is a peace-building organization providing face-to-face education and engagement opportunities that foster understanding of Muslims and other misunderstood groups to promote harmony among all people.

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