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Bay Area Muslims Take on Hunger in Ramadan
Ramadan begins next week on Wednesday, May 16th and runs through Thursday, June 14th. For those observing the month, we hope it is a time of focus and renewal as well as outreach to the wider community. It’s often a time for activism, too, when we’ll officially launch the new campaign “Bay Area Muslims Take on Hunger in Ramadan,” which features Bay Area Muslim communities along with People Acting in Community Together (PACT) and other interfaith allies addressing hunger during Ramadan. Stay tuned for more details including how you can participate!
Below, we list some of our most popular Ramadan resources. They can be used by Muslim communities or interfaith activists to educate the public during iftar dinners and throughout the month.
Ramadan Resources for Adult and Teen Use
Here are two of our public presentations that can help educate a variety of audiences about the observance of Ramadan and what American Muslims believe:
“An Overview of Ramadan and Fasting” depicts Ramadan observances around the world, explores the purpose and goals of fasting, and looks at a day in the life of a fasting person. It also addresses some of the challenges involved in accommodating fasting employees and students and ways to meet them. We also have a special version of this presentation for teen American Muslims in the INGYouth program.
“Getting to Know American Muslims and Their Faith” offers a broad overview of Muslims and their faith, history, and contributions to the world and to the United States. This is an abbreviated version of one of ING’s most popular core presentations.
If you’re presenting on these topics, we highly recommend supplementing your knowledge with our Answers to Frequently Asked Questions about Islam and Muslims, also available on our site. If you are interested in taking the next step and becoming one of our certified volunteer speakers, join us here, or write to one of our affiliates if you live in its area.
It’s Teacher Appreciation Week! Tell Your
Children’s Teachers about ING Resources
May 7th-11th is Teacher Appreciation Week, when we praise the dedication of educators in building the leaders of tomorrow. Tuesday, May 8th was Teacher Appreciation Day, and we sent a special netnote to the teachers in our network thanking them for their commitment to their students — and for making our work possible! Please tell your children’s teachers about ING’s many educational resources.
Upcoming ING Events
Ramadan Presentation for Hospital Chaplains:
May 15th in San Francisco
Fasting during Ramadan presents unique challenges in hospital environments, where food, water, and medication are controlled on tight timelines. ING Content Manager Ameena Jandali will deliver a special presentation about Ramadan for chaplains at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital to help them understand these religious observances and how to work with Muslim patients to provide a safe, inclusive healthcare experience.
Muslim Women Beyond the Stereotypes:
May 17th in San Francisco
ING Content Manager Ameena Jandali will deliver one of ING’s core presentations, “Muslim Women Beyond the Stereotypes,” for a group of docents at the Legion of Honor, part of the Fine Arts Museums of San Francisco. The presentation covers the role of Muslim women and Islam’s view of women — some of the most widely misunderstood and misrepresented aspects of the religion.
Special Presentation on Ramadan:
May 19th in Santa Cruz
ING Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi will deliver a special presentation on Ramadan observances for the Resource Center for Nonviolence. She will discuss the purpose and goals of fasting and a look at a day in the life of a fasting person. Following her presentation, ING speaker Ismael Nass-Duce will demonstrate the adhan, or Muslim call to prayer, and provide an explanation of how Muslims read their holy book, the Qur’an.
The History and Work of ING:
May 21st in San Jose
ING Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi will deliver a special presentation on the history and work of ING over the past 25 years for the Kiwanis Club of San Jose.
Ramadan Dinner at Calvary Presbyterian Church:
May 23rd in San Francisco
ING Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi will deliver our special presentation “An Overview of Ramadan and Fasting” for the San Francisco Ramadan Dinner hosted by Calvary Presbyterian Church.
Islamic Cultural Center Ramadan Open House:
May 26th in Oakland
ING Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi will be the guest speaker for the Islamic Cultural Center of Northern California’s annual Ramadan Interfaith Open House. The open house features an iftar (fast-breaking) celebration where Maha will offer her reflection on spiritual and physical hunger during Ramadan.
Past Event Highlights
Getting to Know American Muslims…by Webinar!
ING Deputy Executive Director Ishaq Pathan delivered one of our core presentations, “Getting to Know American Muslims and Their Faith,” for the Theosophical Society of Milwaukee. Many of our presentations can be delivered via webinar around the country and, indeed, the world. Check them out here.
Muslim and Jewish Women Bond Over Tea,
Family Histories at Know Your Neighbor Event
Last weekend, Congregation Shir Hadash in Los Gatos hosted a Muslim-Jewish Ladies Afternoon Tea event inspired by our Know Your Neighbor: Multifaith Encounters program. Muslim and Jewish women gathered together to get to know one another better over tea and dessert. The women talked about their cultural and familial ties to tea and food, sharing stories of cooking and celebrating with others.
What Does Mary (the Mother of Jesus)
Mean to Muslims Today?
Traditionally, Muslims have had great reverence for Mary (or Maryam), the mother of Jesus. She even features prominently in the Qur’an, which tells the story of Jesus’ birth and early miracles. ING Content Manager Ameena Jandali spoke about those Islamic views of Mary for a class on Marian Art at the Jesuit School of Theology in Berkeley last week. One participant said, “I appreciated the opportunity to do a close reading of the chapter on Mary from the Holy Qur’an. As a mother of two, I’m always struck by the beauty of the birth scene (and I, too, enjoyed dates during labor).” We’re happy to work with you on custom presentations like Ameena’s — request one today!
Job Opening at ING
Development Associate Position Available
Come join the team! We’re searching for a Development Associate to support management in planning and implementation of fundraising- and development-related activities for ING. Learn more about the position and its qualifications at our employment page.
ING Needs You!
Paid Internships Available
ING’s internship program offers a variety of opportunities to learn about the different functions involved in managing and operating a non-profit organization. Interns gain knowledge related to increasing religious literacy and cultural awareness in our communities through ING’s educational programs and presentations. Interns also receive practical training in project management, community outreach, research, writing, and other administrative assignments while working with our professional staff. If you’re a student looking for real-world experience, please consider interning with us!
