Honoring our Shared Humanity
Through Education and Engagement

ING Efforts Against Student Bullying is Cited in Congressional Hearing; 4/6/11

04/06/11 – In testimony about rising anti-Muslim hate at the first congressional hearing on the Civil Rights of American Muslims on Tuesday, March 29th, Muslim Advocates’ Farhana Khera cited a letter that ING had sent to Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in September at the beginning of the school year.  The letter emphasized the importance of recognizing and addressing increasing Islamophobia and harassment of Muslim students in the current environment. This letter follows nearly two years of ING efforts and engagement with the Department of Education, including hosting a meeting between the Dept of Education & White House representatives and Muslim, Arab and Sikh parents and children at the ING office last year; release of federal guidelines by the Department of Education that are specific to religion-based harassment in schools, the publicizing of the new DoE website, Bullyinginfo.org and participating in the recent White House conference on bullying in March which ING attended. Read More

Bay Area Muslims Organize "Help Japan Day" 3/18/11

Muslim organizations declare Friday, March 18 a day of “donations and prayer” to help Japanese disaster victims 03/18/11 – In response to the recent earthquake, tsunami and nuclear emergency in Japan, Muslim mosques and organizations in the San Francisco Bay Area are asking their members and supporters to make Friday, March 18 a special day of prayers and charitable donations to support Japanese relief efforts. Read More

King’s Hearing Illustrates Importance of Education and Outreach; 3/11/11

03/11/11 – Congressman King’s hearings on radicalization in the American Muslim community, which commenced yesterday have been the subject of much discussion and anxiety for the past month as those both for and against the hearings debate their focus and purpose. Many view this as merely another page in the playbook of the persistent demonization of American Muslims that has peaked in the past few months. Despite the focus on radicalization, on the first day of a series of planned hearings, one of the themes voiced by many of the congress people and officials testifying was an acknowledgement of American Muslims’ contributions to the United States and their place as an integral part of our community as our neighbors, teachers, members of the armed services, and educated professionals. Read More