Maha Elgenaidi Speaks
at 51st ISNA Convention

ING trustee Maha Elgenaidi played a leading role at this year’s ISNA national convention, held August 29-September 1 in Detroit. She spoke at three sessions. In a session on bullying prevention, she joined former ING speaker and current CAIR-Northern California Executive Director, Zahra Billoo and director of the Chicago ING Affiliate Tabassum Haleem in discussing the challenges Muslim children face at school and highlighting strategies to prevent bullying and empowering students to feel safe and secure by referencing the INGYouth program. She also hosted a panel consisting of leading Catholic constitutional scholar and ethicist Robert George of Princeton University, Imam Zaid Shakir, co-founder, and senior faculty member of Zaytuna College in Berkeley, and Jewish interfaith activist Brenda Rosenberg in a discussion entitled “Truth to Power,” dealing with the importance of courage to counter the dominant culture in bearing witness to the truth in the public sphere.

At the Interfaith Unity Banquet, Maha joined a distinguished group of panelists in addressing the topic “Broadening Interreligious Partnerships: Promoting Common Good.” The other speakers included Bob Roberts, Jr., senior pastor of NorthWood Church and founder of Glocal.net; Roopal Shah, co-founder of Indicorps; Kim Zeitman, Deputy Director of the Hebrew Free Loan Society; and moderator Zahra Huber, CBS reporter and producer in Detroit.

September 11th Day of Service

To commemorate the anniversary of September 11, this year we are hosting a Day of Service and Remembrance. We will be boxing food for needy families at the Second Harvest Food Bank at their South Bay location on 4001 North 1st Street, San Jose on Wednesday, September 10 from 6:00-8:00 pm. Prior to the service we invite you to share in dinner and an interfaith conversation about the value of intergroup understanding and trust. To participate, please RSVP by Friday, September 5th for additional instructions/details.

Peace Picnic: From Fear to Friendship

ING invites you to join the American Muslim Voice Foundation, Santa Clara County Supervisor Dave Cortese, and Friends of Human Relations of Santa Clara County at a community peace picnic on Thursday, September 11th to honor the victims of 9/11, their families, and the first responders and strive to transform this tragic day into one of peace and community building. This is a free event open to the public. Please come and enjoy a multifaith service, children’s performances, light dinner, peace dove release, and a candlelight vigil. For more information, see here.