ING Speaker Ismael Nass delivering a presentation

A new HuffPost/YouGov poll on attitudes towards Muslims and Islam released last week showed that while only 21% of Americans have a favorable view of Islam, and more than half (55%) have an unfavorable view of the religion, younger Americans (18-29) view Islam more favorably than older Americans. Additionally, larger percentages of younger Americans than of those over 45 are unsure of how they view Islam.

This poll illustrates the importance of reaching out to young Americans, who are generally more open to new ideas and different ways of thinking, and why ING’s programs in middle and high schools that supplement education about Muslims and their faith and about other religions are so important. Since our founding in 1993, ING has understood and recognized the role that the youth of today will play in the America of the future and has been working towards making that role one that is inclusive of all Americans.

Educators and parents, to request a speaker from the Islamic Speakers Bureau, visit this page:Schedule a presentation.

To request a panel of speakers from the Interfaith Speakers Bureau, visit this page: Schedule an interfaith panel.

May 9th South Bay Luncheon for
ING Supporters and Guests
11:30 am – 2:00 pm

We cordially invite ING supporters and their guests to a special luncheon on May 9th from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm. Attendees will receive an important brief on the impact of ING programs in the community, as well as an update on the new endowment campaign. Please register for the luncheon here.

Holocaust Remembrance Day in San Jose

As reports of rising anti-Semitism appear often in the news these days, the importance of remembering the Holocaust cannot be overstated. ING CEO Maha Elgenaidi joined a group of interfaith leaders from the Christian, Sikh, and Buddhist traditions who each gave an invocation at a Holocaust Remembrance event sponsored by the City of Santa Clara. The ceremony included local survivor testimonies, student presentations, music and a memorial candle lighting in the Supervisors’ Chambers. The theme this year was “Some Were Neighbors: Betrayers, Bystanders and Protectors.”

With anti-Semitism on the rise globally, we must re-commit ourselves to combating bigotry, no matter the origins, source, or target. The importance of continuing to remember and commemorate this horrific event can be summed up by the famous statement of George Santayana, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”

Affiliate News: Atlanta

The Atlanta Speakers Bureau will hold a training for new speakers on Saturday, April 25, 2015, from 9:00 AM – 1:30 PM at the Georgia Institute of Technology. For more information or to register for the event, click here.

 Upcoming Events

Saturday, April 18 – 9 AM
Muslim Contributions to Civilization
Social Justice Conference – San Jose

Muslims have made major contributions in many areas, not only in regions where they have been a majority, but also in Europe and beyond. This presentation describes how the Islamic world and other world civilizations have related to, influenced, and interacted with one another from the beginning.

Saturday, April 18 – 9 AM
Muslim Women Beyond the Stereotypes
Social Justice Conference – San Jose

The role of Muslim women and Islam’s view of women is one of the most widely misunderstood and misrepresented aspects of the religion and its practitioners. This presentation describes Qur’anic and prophetic teachings about the role and responsibilities of Muslim women, including the different roles that women play in Muslim life.

Saturday, April 18 – 7 PM
War and Children: An Interfaith Panel
Interfaith Chapel of the Presidio – San Francisco

ING Speaker Ismael Nass will be part of an interfaith panel addressing the effects of war on children. The panel will be offered in conjunction with two concerts by the San Francisco Girls Chorus who on April 17 and 19 will perform works based on texts dealing with that topic, including a new cantata by a Kurdish composer.

Monday, April 27 – 6 PM
Dialogue and Friendship Dinner
Tresidder Union – Stanford University

This event, endorsed by ING, aims to enhance intercultural understanding and dialogue within the Stanford community by bringing individuals from diverse backgrounds together, including students, faculty, staff, administrators, businessmen, and religious and community leaders. The keynote address will be delivered by Prof. John Esposito.

Wednesday, April 29 – 7 PM
Book signing and panel: “Granada: A Pomegranate in the Hand of God”
Interfaith Chapel of the Presidio – San Francisco

Author Steven Nightingale will read a brief selection from the book, focusing on the legendary convivencia—the “living together” of Moslem, Christian, and Jewish communities in Medieval Spain. It was a brilliant historical example of the power and intelligence of interfaith communities. An interfaith panel will discuss the ways in which just such work is carried out today, and how it might be deepened, extended, and enriched, so as to build a foundation of hope for a future of peace.

Wednesday, May 6 – 9 AM
Rituals of Death, Dying, and Mourning
Pacific School of Religion – Berkeley

ING Content Director Ameena Jandali will be the Muslim speaker on an interfaith panel discussing “Rituals of Death, Dying, and Mourning” for classes in field education and in weddings, baptisms, and funerals at the Pacific School of Religion. Other students and members of the wider community may also attend.

Saturday, May 9 – 9 AM
Notre Dame de Namur University Commencement
Notre Dame de Namur University – Belmont

ING CEO Maha Elgenaidi will deliver the invocation at commencement ceremonies for Notre Dame de Namur University.

Saturday, May 9 – 11:30 AM
ING South Bay Luncheon
Santa Clara Marriott – Santa Clara

ING supporters and their guests are invited to a special luncheon on May 9th from 11:30 am to 2:00 pm. Attendees will receive an important brief on the impact of ING programs in the community, as well as an update on the new endowment campaign.

Saturday, May 16 – 6 PM
Community Conversation with ING & CAIR: Chapel Hill Murders, Islamophobia, and Moving Forward
West Valley Muslim Association – Saratoga

The West Valley Muslim Association will hold a conversation with ING, CAIR-SFBA, and with a representative from the Muslim Mental Health Professionals Network about the current landscape of hate crimes and Islamophobia. With anti-Muslim advertisements running on buses in San Francisco and the tragic killings in Chapel Hill, understanding what is happening and what we can do to push back as individuals and a community is critical.