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Table of Contents:
New Year Greetings
As we look back at 2015 and look forward to the year ahead, we at ING offer our thanks to you, our donors and friends, whose steadfast support keeps us working at the task of building interreligious and intercultural understanding and harmony, a task that this past year has proved to be more vital than ever!
Read our New Year message here and see our Principal Goals for 2016 here.
Excellent News! U.S. Department of
Education Responds to ING’s Request
We are very pleased to report that in response to our urging, the Department of Education this week notified us that this “Dear Colleagues” letter will be sent to school districts, colleges, and universities nationwide.
The letter reminds schools of their obligations under federal civil rights laws to prohibit discrimination based on actual or perceived race, religion, or national origin, and includes suggestions and resources to help schools uphold and maintain safe learning communities. It also encourages schools to take proactive steps to foster welcoming and inclusive environments for students of different backgrounds and beliefs.
Please forward this important and powerful note to the educators and parents in your community.
Parent Webinar: Supporting Your Muslim Student
This Saturday, January 9th, 8:00 AM-9:45 AM PST
These are difficult times for American Muslims and many other minority communities. This recent article about the impact of anti-Muslim prejudice on young people, is a sobering example.
In response, in addition to our popular online resources, ING is convening a series of webinars this month. The first webinar, Parent Webinar: Supporting Your Muslim Student, is free and open to parents and others working towards the full participation and safety of young people of all faiths and cultures, and will address some of the pressing issues facing American Muslim students in the wake of the San Bernardino and Paris attacks, and rising anti-Muslim sentiment.
Join us as we explore what to do if your child is being bullied or harassed in school, what you can offer your children’s teachers in teaching about Islam and Muslims, and what you can offer your children to help them respond to questions about Islam.
ING Content Director Ameena Jandali, and Affiliate Director Marcia Beauchamp will present. We are thrilled to announce that guest speakers include:
- Dr. Ken Bedell, Senior Advisor, Faith-Based and Neighborhood Partnership Center at the United States Department of Education
- Roula Allouch, National Board Chair, Council on American-Islamic Relations
- Mark Fowler, Managing Director of Programs, Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding
- Sandy Goldberg, Education Director, WNET [PBS Affiliate]
[Register for the January 9th webinar here.]
INGYouth Workshop (registration closed)
This Sunday, January 10th in Saratoga
Adults are challenged to respond to the never-ending bad news and stereotypes of Muslims – but what about young people who are struggling to understand and maintain their identity?
Supportive parents and 6th through 12th grade students, attend an upcoming INGYouth Workshop to build confidence and pride in your Islamic identity while taking constructive action in schools and college campuses to create a safer learning environment for all students. Parallel workshops will be held for students age 10 through 18 and for parents. Among the instructors will be Ameena Jandali, ING Content Director, and Rehmat Kharal, ING Board Member and former Development Manager.
Contact us to learn more about the INGYouth Program and to schedule a workshop for your community.
Educator Webinar: Supporting Your Diverse Classroom and Resources for Teaching About Islam – Wednesday January 27th, 3:30-4:30pm PST
Join us for the second webinar in our series, Educator Webinar: Supporting Your Diverse Classroom and Resources for Teaching About Islam. Tailored for teachers and others involved in education, expert guests will explore what the First Amendment says around teaching about religion in public schools, reputable resources for teachers and educators to use in educating about Islam and World Religions, and best practices for upholding a safe and inclusive learning environment for all students.
ING Deputy Director-Programs Sean Rose, Content Director Ameena Jandali, and Affiliate Director Marcia Beauchamp will present. Special guests include:
- Dr. Charles Haynes, Vice President of the Newseum Institute and Executive Director of the Religious Freedom Center
- Sandy Goldberg, Education Director, WNET [PBS Affiliate]
- Kim Keiserman, Education Program Associate, Tanenbaum Center for Interreligious Understanding
- Roula Allouch, National Board Chair, Council on American-Islamic Relations
- Arjun Singh, Director of Law and Policy, Sikh Coalition
