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The Latest FBI Hate Crimes Report Shows the Urgency of ING’s Mission
In response to increasing hate crimes as reported by the FBI in its 2017 Hate Crime Statistics report, ING released an action plan that calls for increased law enforcement training on recognizing and reporting hate crimes, as well as increased prevention of hate through intercultural engagement, education and partnerships across diverse groups.
…ING CEO Maha Elgenaidi, an adviser to the California’s Police Officer Standards and Training (POST) agency, insists, “The surge in hate crimes and the failure of many jurisdictions to recognize and respond to them show unmistakably the need for law enforcement training on recognizing and reporting hate crimes…” In the current situation of surging bigotry, our mission is more crucial than ever. As our Content Manager Ameena Jandali says, “The surge in hate crimes and bigotry calls for a yet greater surge in our efforts to educate.” We pledge to double down on our mission of promoting intercultural and interreligious understanding, and we invite you to join us in supporting our work.
Read the full statement here.
ING Endorsed by 15 South Bay Cities for its
25 years of Serving the Community
ING Community & Civic Engagement Manager Raania Mohsen stands with Cities Association Executive Director Andi Jordan andPresident of the Cities Association Vice Mayor Rod Sinks of Cupertino.
ING Community & Civic Engagement Manager Raania Mohsen presented to the Cities Association of Santa Clara County, which is a collaboration of mayors of 15 South Bay cities. Raania shared ING’s history of service in the Bay Area and the variety of programs available to local agencies and public officials, including diversity training and online resources. The mayors unanimously endorsed ING for its 25 years of service.
Upcoming Featured ING Events
Join us for an Interfaith Panel on the Abrahamic Faiths in the Workplace:
November 27 in San Francisco
Three religions—Judaism, Christianity, and Islam—are considered “Abrahamic,” because they all consider themselves to be derived from the figure of Abraham, described in both the Bible and the Qur’an as the founder of monotheism. This Interfaith Speakers Bureau (IFSB) panel will discuss the similarities and differences between these three faiths and and the ways in which their religious practices impact their workday and the workplace. This presentation will take place at Square Inc. in San Francisco. To book an interfaith panel, visit our site.
Join us for an Interfaith Panel on Christian-Muslim Dialogue:
December 6th in Berkeley
This panel will feature ING Content Managers Henry Millstein (Christian) and Ameena Jandali (Muslim) who will engage the audience in discussion about their religions and answer questions of students of the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology in Berkeley who are studying Christian-Muslim Dialogue. To book an interfaith panel, visit our site.
Join us for an Interfaith Panel on Living the Faith:
December 6 in Santa Cruz
How do adherents of different religions live out their beliefs, practices, and values in the busy lives they lead in the contemporary world? Representatives of major world religions in this panel discussion will begin with a brief introduction of their beliefs and practices and go on to answer the question of how they live out their faith, especially in the workplace. The Interfaith Speakers Bureau (IFSB) will address these questions and more for an upcoming panel at University of California Santa Cruz. To book an interfaith panel, visit our site.
Past ING Events
250 Community Members Attend Interfaith Thanksgiving Celebration
ING Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi spoke at this year’s South Bay Interfaith Thanksgiving at The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in San Jose on the theme Gratitude in Action. She was joined by Buddhist, Jewish and Christian clergy in delivering prayers and reflections on gratitude in Islam.
Students Plied Speakers with Questions about American Muslims
Supplementing world history curriculum, ING Deputy Director Ishaq Pathan and Content Manager Ameena Jandali presented one of our core presentations, “Getting to Know American Muslims and Their Faith” at a school in Hayward. Students were curious to learn about why various Muslim practices while appearing to be foreign are actually rooted in traditional Christianity and Judaism, such as modesty in dress. To schedule a presentation about American Muslims, visit our site.
Students Learned How Islamophobia is Related to
Other Forms of Bigotry, all Having a Long History
Supplementing world history curriculum, ING Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi and other ING speakers presented over several at a Bay Area high school on the topic of Islamophobia, factors in society and history that enable it, and ways to counter it through education about and engagement with Americans Muslims and other peoples who are objects of hate. The students plied the speakers with questions and were able to understand how Islamophobia intersects with other forms of bigotry such as Anti-Semitism, Anti-Blackness, anti-immigrant, anti-Latino and anti-Asian sentiments. To schedule a similar presentation about Islamophobia and American Muslims, visit our site.
Students Learned About Famous American Muslims in History and Today
Supplementing world history curriculum, ING Deputy Director Ishaq Pathan spoke to students at a middle school about Muslims in history and in today’s society. Students particularly enjoyed learning about famous Muslims who serve our country today including congress people-Ilhan Omar, Rashida Tlaib, and Andre Carson in the U.S. House of Representatives. To schedule a presentation about American Muslims, visit our site.
Stereotypes About Muslim Women Uncovered
Supplementing Islamic Studies, ING Content Manager Ameena Jandali presented one of our core presentations, “Muslim Women Beyond the Stereotypes” to students at the Notre Dame De Namur University. Her talk explored the history and contemporary lives of Muslim women around the world and corrected common misconceptions about the role of religion and religious perspective on a variety of subjects. To book an ING speaker on topics relating to Islam and Muslims, visit our site.
State Department Delegation from Pakistan Visited ING
ING welcomed a US State Department delegation from Pakistan who were participants of a project on promoting peace and tolerance in their country. As with all State Department delegations, they plied us with questions about how we overcome Islamophobia in the United States through education and interfaith engagement through partnerships with Jewish, Christian, Buddhist and Hindu communities. We also addressed the sometimes sticky subject of intra-faith relations which has grown among Sunni and Shia Muslims in the United States.
Students Learned About Muslim Practices
ING Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi presented on Islamophobia and American Muslims to a high school’s social justice clubs. To schedule a presentation about Islamophobia and American Muslims, visit our site.
New Report Shared on Anti-Bullying Webinar
ING Deputy Director Ishaq Pathan joined representatives from American Muslim Health Professionals (AMHP), the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), and Sikh Kid 2 Kid on a Facebook Live webinar on best practices for countering religious-based bullying. Over the course of the webinar, speakers shared a new report from the first National Interfaith Anti-Bullying Summit held in Washington, DC last December, as well as resources from various programs including the INGYouth program. The report provides insights and recommendations that can be used by educators, policy-makers and mental health practitioners who seek to prevent and mitigate the impacts of bullying. View the recording of the webinar here.ING Joined CAIR for Training of Muslim Sunday School Students
ING Deputy Director Ishaq Pathan and representatives from CAIR – San Francisco Bay Area spoke to the middle and high school students from the MCC East Bay Sunday School about their school environments and bullying. Ishaq presented tips and resources on using education to counter religious based bullying and misinformation about Muslims.
ING Participates in the International Day for Tolerance
ING Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi joined Living Room Conversations and National Conversation Project for a global SPEAK! campaign around the International Day for Tolerance. In view of the recent deeply polarizing election in the United States, the theme of the conversation was, “What’s Next U.S.?” Republicans, Democrats, Independents and others were encouraged to come together across America to address our nation’s challenges.To learn more about these conversations, visit this site.
Catholic Students Learn About Muslim Rescuers During the Holocaust
ING Content Manager Ameena Jandali spoke about commonalities between Muslims and Jews and the long history they share for a special program titled “Muslim Rescuers of Jews During the Holocaust” commemorating the 80th anniversary of Kristallnacht at a Catholic high School last week. She described Jews’ and Muslims’ common descent from Abraham, respect for Moses, and adherence to similar diet and cleanliness rituals as well as their shared history in Spain and later in the Ottoman Empire. She concluded with mention of the recent fund-raising efforts by American Muslims following the recent Pittsburgh synagogue attack.
