In fulfillment of ING’s mission of promoting peace among all by fostering a deeper, more nuanced understanding of Muslims and other faith-based, racial/ethnic, and cultural communities, through teaching, learning, and engaging across differences, here are highlights of prominent events during this month.

Intercultural Speakers Bureau (ICSB) Events

4/24: Creating Inclusive and Equitable Communities – A Call to Action

ING Content Manager Ameena Jandali, ING Program Manager Rahimeh Ramezany, and ING Bay Area Director Ishaq Pathan delivering a workshop in San Mateo via webinar.

When Islamic Networks Group first visited the Friday CAFÉ in January, no one would have imagined we would reconvene in our follow up workshop under the circumstances we find ourselves in today. During this workshop, ING Content Manager Ameena Jandali, ING Program Manager Rahimeh Ramezany, and ING Bay Area Director Ishaq Pathan discussed the inequitable impact COVID-19 has had on different communities, using the spike in discrimination and violence directed at Asian Americans and the disproportionate health impacts on the African American community as case studies for the conversation.

4/15: Systemic Racism and Inequalities Revealed by COVID-19

From left to right, top to bottom, Ishaq Pathan (Bay Area Director, Islamic Networks Group), Melanie Aron (Rabbi, Congregation Shir Hadash), Maha Elgenaidi (Executive Director, Islamic Networks Group), Dr. Hien Do (Professor, San Jose State University), Jeff Moore (President, Silicon Valley/San Jose NAACP), Cynthia Choi (Co-Executive Director, Chinese for Affirmative Action), and Kaloma Smith (Pastor, University AME Zion Church) speaking to audiences over Facebook Live.

When examining discrimination and inequalities in our society, including a spike in anti-Asian hate incidents, and the disproportionate impact of COVID-19 on communities of color, especially African Americans, we often wonder: How did we get here? Do the stories we see reflect only a recent surge in fear of “the other” and in societal inequalities, or are they rooted in something that goes much deeper in our history? In this panel, diverse community leaders break down the common roots and interconnections of the various forms and targets of bigotry and systemic racism in US history and will present calls to action to counter it. To view the panel, visit this page.

4/8: The Asian American Community is Hurting: How You Can Take Action

From left to right, top to bottom, Ishaq Pathan (Bay Area Director, Islamic Networks Group), Kaloma Smith (Pastor, University AME Zion Church), Maha Elgenaidi (Executive Director, Islamic Networks Group), Dr. Hien Do (Professor, San Jose State University), Melanie Aron (Rabbi, Congregation Shir Hadash), and Cynthia Choi (Co-Executive Director, Chinese for Affirmative Action) speaking to audiences over Facebook Live.

We have all seen media reports documenting the spike in violence and discrimination against our fellow Americans of Asian descent, and the FBI has warned that we have not seen the worst of it. It is time for Americans to ask ourselves: will we sit by as rampant bigotry is unleashed upon these communities? In this panel, we hear from Asian American and faith leaders about the urgent issues facing the Asian American community in the wake of COVID-19, and how audiences can take steps in your sphere of influence to combat them. To view the panel, visit this page.

To book an Intercultural Speakers Bureau panel, visit this page.

Interfaith Speakers Bureau (IFSB) Events

4/30: Muslim-Jewish East Bay Virtual Iftar: Building Community in a Time of Holiness: How Muslims and Jews Adapt Their Rituals

A few participants from the April 30th iftar.

ING, along with the Jewish Community Relations Council (JCRC), Pacifica Institute, Sisterhood of Salaam Shalom, and Urban Adamah hosted an interfaith virtual iftar on the theme “Building Community in a Time of Holiness: How Muslims and Jews Adapt Their Rituals” which consisted of an evening of prayers, presentations, and small group discussions between Muslim and Jewish neighbors to learn and discuss the changes in rituals we are making during this time. The engaging event ended with a Muslim call to prayer (athan), iftar and closing prayers by speakers.

4/29: Annual Ramadan Interfaith Gathering & Interfaith Prayer for Humanity

From left to right, top to bottom, Fatih Ferdi Ates (Pacifica Institute), Michael Pappas (San Francisco Interfaith Council), Rabbi Jacqueline Mates-Muchin (Temple Sinai), Maha Elgenaidi (ING), Rev. Ronald Kobata (Buddhist Church Of San Francisco), Kaushik Roy (Shanti Project), Dr. Mary Wardell-Ghirarduzzi (University Of San Francisco), and Mayor London Breed (City of San Francisco) speaking to audiences over Facebook Live.

Held by the Pacifica Institute, ING Founder and Executive Director Maha Elgenaidi took part in a virtual Interfaith Ramadan Gathering on Wednesday, April 29 along with other faith and government leaders, including San Francisco Mayor London Breed and San Francisco Interfaith Council Director Michael Pappas. She talked about the Islamic perspective on pandemics and the benefits they bring as well as some of the goals of Ramadan that align with our present situation. To view the panel, visit here. Maha speaks at 51:00 minutes on the recording.

To book an Interfaith Speakers Bureau panel, visit this page.

Islamic Speakers Bureau (ISB) Events

4/23: Ramadan, the Workplace, and COVID-19

From left to right, top to bottom, Ishaq Pathan (Bay Area Director, ING), Raania Mohsen (Deputy Chief of Staff for the Office of Vice Mayor Chappie Jones, City of San Jose), Eahab Ibrahim (Software Engineer, Google), Maha Elgenaidi (Executive Director, ING), Lyla Rayyan (Public Relations Professional, Salesforce), and Shaarik Zafar (Public Policy Manager,Facebook) speaking to audiences over Facebook Live.

Ramadan is often a challenge for corporate employees as they juggle work while fasting. Moderated by Shaarik Zafar (@Facebook), this Facebook live-streamed conversation features experts on Ramadan (Maha Elgenaidi @ING) and corporate and government Muslim employees (Raania [email protected] of San Jose, Lyla Rayyan @Salesforce and Eahab Ibrahim @Google) discussing the unique challenges and opportunities of this Ramadan during the coronavirus pandemic. To view the panel, visit this page.

4/3: Getting to Know American Muslims and Their Faith in Oakland

ING Bay Area Director Ishaq Pathan speaks to students at Holy Names University in Oakland via webinar.

ING Bay Area Director presented an introduction to Muslims and Islam and then answered student questions on his experiences as a Muslim in the United States.

To book an Islamic Speakers Bureau presentation, visit this page.