Sign up for the ING newsletter to receive news and announcements.
Table of Contents:
- One Year Later, We Remember #OurThreeWinners
- Black History Month: Celebrating African-American Muslims
- Lent Begins: Fond Wishes to Our Christian Friends
- ING Workshop: Answering Difficult Questions about Islam and Muslims in the Current Political Environment
- ING Educator and Parent Webinar Recordings Now Available
- INGYouth Workshop with Colorado Affiliate
- INGYouth Workshop and Adult Interfaith Training with Michigan Affiliate
- ING’s Interfaith Allies – #HateEndsWithMe Events
One Year Later, We Remember #OurThreeWinners:
Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu-Salha, and Razan Abu-Salha
One year ago, Deah Barakat, Yusor Abu-Salha, and Razan Abu-Salha were taken from us forever. Today, we remember #OurThreeWinners and hope that this month will not be used to mourn their deaths but rather to keep their legacy alive and celebrate the good work others have been inspired to do in the last year. Read through the #OurThreeWinners and #KeepingTheirLegacyAlive hashtags and visit the Our Three Winners website to learn more about their volunteerism and selflessness and to find opportunities for service.
Black History Month: Celebrating African-American Muslims
February is Black History Month, when we recognize and celebrate the history and achievements of African-Americans. At the same time, we look particularly at African-American Muslims who have enriched our society in diverse fields. Unknown to many Americans are more than 400 years of Muslim history in this country – the first major group of Muslims to arrive in America were enslaved West Africans in the 16th century.
During Black History Month, we are reminded that Muslims were not strangers to early America and have, in fact, been an important part of our collective history. Many more stories of enslaved African Muslims and their contemporaries can be heard in our Islamic Speakers Bureau presentation “A History of Muslims in America,” which you can schedule for your school, faith community, or civic group or download through our online curriculum.
Lent Begins: Fond Wishes to Our Christian Friends
Today is Ash Wednesday, the first day of Lent and the start of a period of prayer, penitence, and fasting for Christians around the world. In observing the 40 days of Lent, Christians remember the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, who withdrew into the wilderness and fasted for 40 days. Some Christians fast for the entirety of Lent, while others fast only on particular days. In the modern era, many have chosen to give up a particular vice or pleasure, such as their favorite food, alcohol, or smoking. In this contemplative time, we wish our Christian friends, especially those in our Interfaith Speakers Bureau, a prayerful and rewarding Lent.
ING Workshop: Answering Difficult Questions about Islam and Muslims in the Current Political Environment
Saturday, February 27th, 10:30 AM – 3:30 PM
Trainers: Ameena Jandali, ING Content Director and Sean Rose, ING Deputy Director
For Muslims participating or wishing to participate in interfaith work or speaking to the public about Islam, this workshop was designed for you. Non-Muslim interfaith allies welcome.
The current moment is one of the most challenging times to be an American Muslim. Islamophobia is at an all-time high, fueled in part by recent tragic national and international events. Muslims often find themselves called upon to answer difficult questions about their faith and loyalty. To help chart a path through, we’ve organized this day-long workshop focused on guidelines, methodology, and knowledge for understanding and responding to frequently asked questions about Islam and Muslims. The workshop is suitable for ages high school and above. Attendees will receive a certificate of attendance and a printed kit with answers to common FAQs.
Registration fee: $10 which covers materials and a light lunch. For questions, contact Content Manager Henry Millstein at [email protected]
ING Parent and Educator Webinar Recordings Available
In January, expert guests from some of the nation’s leading educational, civil rights, and religious pluralism organizations joined ING staff for a webinar series. The webinars explored ways that parents can support Muslim students and best practices for teaching about Islam and World Religions in public schools.
We are delighted to announce that the recordings of the Parent Webinar and Educator Webinar are now available on our website and YouTube channel. Please share these valuable resources with others in your networks and community!
Upcoming INGYouth Workshop
with Colorado ING Affiliate
February 20th, 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM
Later this month, ING staff will travel to Colorado for an INGYouth Workshop with the Colorado Muslim Speakers Bureau, an ING Affiliate.
Upcoming Adult Interfaith Training and INGYouth Workshop with Michigan ING Affiliate
March 5th and 6th, 2016
ING staff will travel to Michigan for events with the Islamic Education & Resources Network (ILearn), an ING Affiliate. On Saturday, March 5th, the Muslim Unity Center (MUC) will host an adult-focused event on Effective Interfaith Training for Muslims: Thriving in Difficult Times. On Sunday, March 6th, the MUC will also host an INGYouth Workshop for students aged 10-18 and their parents.
Featured Events from ING’s Interfaith Allies Program: #HateEndsWithMe
Interfaith Allies – #HateEndsWithMe is ING’s national grassroots campaign to respond to growing anti-Muslim and anti-minority sentiment, bigotry, and hatred by encouraging and facilitating face-to-face engagement, relationship-building, fellowship, and action between people of different religious traditions, beliefs, and cultures. Over the coming year, with the unique opportunities and needs that an election cycle brings, congregations and places of worship will be at the forefront of efforts to build face-to-face, person-to-person relationships of trust and mutual respect with those from different religious traditions and backgrounds. Here are some upcoming Interfaith Allies events that you can attend:
Combating the Cancer of Extremism
Thursday, February 18th, 6:30 PM in Sunnyvale
ING Chief Executive Officer Maha Elgenaidi, Programs Manager Henry Millstein, and Interfaith Speakers Bureau member Eli Taub will deliver a presentation at this program on “Combating the Cancer of Extremism”. The event is free but RSVP is required.
Islamophobia and American Muslims
Sunday, February 28th, 10:30 AM in Berkeley
ING Content Director Ameena Jandali will deliver a presentation on the interplay of Islamophobia and American Muslims at this event for the United Methodist Church of Berkeley.
50th Anniversary of Nostra Aetate: Jewish Reflection
Wednesday, March 16th, 7:00 PM in San Jose
ING Speaker Harry Cornbleet will offer one of a series of reflections by members of different faiths on the Vatican II document Nostra Aetate that opened up the Catholic Church to interfaith dialogue.
Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory – Muslim, Jewish, and Christian Poetry from the Convivencia
Thursday, March 31st, 7:00 PM in Los Gatos
The art project “Birds of Longing: Exile and Memory” interweaves Muslim, Jewish, and Christian poetry and spiritual texts from the period of the Convivencia in Spain. ING Chief Executive Officer Maha Elgenaidi will participate on an interfaith panel reflecting on the artwork and texts.
What a Muslim Wishes Christians Knew About Islam
Sunday, April 3rd, 5:00 PM in Piedmont
ING Content Director Ameena Jandali will present her reflections on “What A Muslim Wishes Christians Knew About Islam” at Piedmont Community Church.
20th Annual Multicultural Freedom Seder
Wednesday, April 20th, 6:00 PM in San Francisco
The theme for this year’s Multicultural Passover Freedom Seder is modeled on recognizing the many communities that call San Francisco home. ING is a co-sponsor of the Freedom Seder and we urge you to attend and celebrate together. You can join ING’s table by writing to ING Deputy Director-Programs, Sean Rose at [email protected]