News and Views, August 2009

Verse: God Leads from Darkness to Light
Muslims Respond to President's Community Service Appeal
CAIR-OH: Muslims Provide School Supplies for Needy Students
CAIR-NY: Muslims Urged to Join Hudson River Clean-Up
CAIR-Tampa Hosts Health Fair
Register Your Service Project Here
CAIR-NY Action: Register to Vote for NYC Local Elections
CAIR-OK: Exhibit on Islamic Culture Set
CAIR-San Diego: Mosque Sermon to Focus on Domestic Violence
CAIR-Tampa 'Know Your Rights' Seminars August 14
CAIR-San Diego: War of Words Over Islam in San Diego
-----
VERSE OF THE DAY: GOD LEADS FROM DARKNESS TO LIGHT - TOP
“God is the Protecting Friend of those who believe, He brings them out of the depths of darkness and leads them into the light.”
The Holy Quran, 2:257
SEE: www.explorethequran.com
-----
CAIR-OH: CINCINNATI MUSLIMS PROVIDE SCHOOL SUPPLIES FOR NEEDY STUDENTS - TOP

(CINCINNATI, OH, 8/12/09) - On August 19, the Cincinnati office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations-Ohio (CAIR-OH), in conjunction with the Islamic Association of Cincinnati Clifton Mosque, will deliver school supplies to all the students at a local elementary school. The project is being funded by a donation from the Cincinnati Muslim community.

”School Supplies for Kids” will benefit some 450 students attending Hays-Porter Elementary School in Cincinnati’s Over the Rhine neighborhood. All the students at this elementary school participate in the free lunch program.

"This project will benefit kids and teachers alike,” said CAIR-Cincinnati Director Karen Dabdoub. “According to a recent news report, teachers typically spend $1000 or more per year buying supplies for their students. This project will help students succeed in school and allow teachers to concentrate on teaching.”

The supplies will include pencils, notebooks, crayons, pencil sharpeners, and other items.

CAIR-OH’s participation in the giveaway is part of “Muslims Care,” an ongoing CAIR program designed to encourage volunteerism in the American Muslim community. Information about School Supplies for Kids will be entered in the Muslims Care database for submission to President Obama’s “United We Serve” initiative.

SEE: Show Muslim Support for President Obama’s Community Service Appeal

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR Cincinnati, Karen Dabdoub, 513-281-8200, E-mail: kdabdoub@cair.com; Zeinab Schwen, zschwen@cair.com

---

CAIR ACTION: NY MUSLIMS URGED TO JOIN HUDSON RIVER CLEAN-UP - TOP

(NEW YORK, NY, 8/12/2009) - CAIR-NY is calling on area Muslims and others who want to help take care of the environment to volunteer in an effort to clean up the Hudson River Park Estuarine Sanctuary on Saturday, August 15.

CAIR-NY’s participation in this activity is part of “Muslims Care,” an ongoing program designed to encourage volunteerism in the American Muslim community. Information about Hudson River Park Estuarine Sanctuary clean-up will be entered in the Muslims Care database for submission to President Obama’s “United We Serve” initiative.

SEE: Show Muslim Support for President Obama’s Community Service Appeal

ACTION REQUESTED:

Individuals interested in taking part in the clean-up should contact CAIR-NY as soon as possible to register for the event. Volunteers must be at least 18 years old or accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Please send your name and contact info to fali@cair.com.

Event Details:

WHAT: Clean Sanctuary Campaign River Clean-up, Hudson River Park Estuarine Sanctuary
WHERE: Hudson River Park, Pier 54, New York, NY 10038; Volunteers will meet at Hudson River Park's Pier 54 at 9 a.m., just one block south of 13th Street and the Hudson River
WHEN: Saturday, August 15, from 9 to 11:30 a.m.
CONTACT: CAIR-NY Community Affairs Director Faiza N. Ali, 212.870.2002, fali@cair.com

This event is sponsored in conjunction with Friends of Hudson River Park, a private non-profit organization that supports the development of Hudson River Park on Manhattan's West Side, and the Hudson River Park Trust, a group responsible for building and operating the park.

---

CAIR-TAMPA HOSTS HEALTH FAIR - TOP

(TAMPA, FL, 8/12/09) - On August 8, 2009, the Tampa Chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations (CAIR-Tampa) hosted its second annual health fair at the Islamic Society of Tampa Bay Area (ISTABA). The theme for this year's fair was "Wellness today for a healthy tomorrow."

Khadijah Rivera, Operations Director for CAIR-Tampa, said: "It is a duty for every American to cherish and contribute to the community they live in; this is what makes America a great nation. In this spirit, we are honored to host an event that provides information and activities on wellness and health."

Rivera also indicated that inspiration for this year's health fair came with a recently announced initiative by President Obama called "United We Serve," calling on Americans to participate in our nation's recovery and renewal by serving in our communities.

CAIR is asking Muslim communities to plan new volunteer community service initiatives, to expand existing activities and to report all such efforts to its "Muslims Care" website. Muslims Care, an ongoing CAIR program, is designed to encourage volunteerism in the American Muslim community. CAIR's initiative is being coordinated with "Muslim Americans Answer the Call," a nationwide grass-roots campaign to mobilize American Muslims to answer the call to service.

SEE: Muslims Care "United We Serve" Project Submission Form
SEE ALSO: Muslim Americans Answer the Call
SEE ALSO: Community Health Fair (2009) - "Wellness today for a health tomorrow"

CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

CONTACT: CAIR-Tampa Executive Director Ramzy Kiliç, 813-486-2529, E-Mail: rkilic@cair.com; CAIR-Tampa Operations Director Khadijah Rivera, 813-516-2137, E-Mail: krivera@cair.com

---

CAIR-NY ACTION: BE PART OF THE SOLUTION, REGISTER TO VOTE FOR NYC LOCAL ELECTIONS - TOP
(NEW YORK, NY, 08/12/09) ­ - With primary season fast approaching, CAIR-NY is urging members of the Muslim community to participate in this year’s citywide elections by registering to vote. New Yorkers will head to the polls this November to elect local leaders including a mayor, public advocate, and comptroller.

ACTION REQUESTED:

1. Register to vote by downloading a NYS Voter Registration Card here. Be sure to mail the completed form to: Board of Elections, 32 Broadway, 7th. Fl., New York, NY 10275-0067
2. Encourage others to register! Forward this alert to your friends and family.
3. Report back: Help CAIR-NY keep track of how many members in the community register this year! Email fali@cair.com with your name, contact, and the number of people you were able to register.
4. Download a copy of CAIR’s Civic Participation Handbook, a manual designed to help you roll up your sleeves and start impacting the public sector.

This initiative is part of VOTE NYC: Building Community, Building Country, a grassroots effort launched by CAIR-NY aimed to keep Muslim New Yorkers informed and engaged in the political process. For more information, contact CAIR-NY Community Affairs Director Faiza N. Ali at 212.870.2002.

-----

CAIR-OK: EXHIBIT ON ISLAMIC CULTURE SET - TOP
The Oklahoman, 8/8/09
An Islamic Culture and Art Exhibit will begin Friday at the Gold Dome, 1112 NW 23, Suite 111.
The exhibit is sponsored by the Oklahoma chapter of the Council on American Islamic Relations and the Gold Dome Multicultural Society. The exhibit opening will be 7 to 9 p.m. Friday, and it will remain on view through Sept. 25.
Artwork by Uzma Muzaffar, Tehmina Cheema and Samir Abdullah Hulseberg will be featured.
The Council on Islamic-American Relations also will host an open house from 7 to 9 p.m. Friday in the Gold Dome, Suite 207, and will feature light refreshments and a tour of the council’s local office. Information will be available for people who want to know more about the Islamic faith. Traditional food and live music also will be provided.
For more information, call 415-6851.

-----

CAIR-SAN DIEGO: WAHEEDA SAMADY: DOMESTIC VIOLENCE DOES NOT DISCRIMINATE - TOP
Vivian Moon, La Prensa San Diego, 8/7/09

Domestic violence crosses all ethnic, social, and economic borders. Dr. Waheeda Samady, a medical resident at UC San Diego, has embarked on a project to fight the on-set of family violence and explore ways to better educate the public on its prevention, focusing on Muslim communities in San Diego. By working with local organizations, Dr. Samady marks the importance of awareness and proactive efforts to maintain respect within families. As a Muslim herself, Dr. Samady also acknowledges the costs of stereotyping minority groups, and the resulting barriers that can make seeking help all the more difficult.
Dr. Samady works closely with the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) to bring a better knowledge of both domestic violence and available resources to the Muslim community. Together, Dr. Samady and CAIR are planning to make family violence the topic of at least one Friday prayer sermon at Islamic centers in San Diego, an effort that can reach thousands who attend these weekly prayer services. A leadership conference is also in the works, and will seek to bring together social workers, lawyers, advocates, religious leaders, congressional organizational leaders, and doctors, with the goal to teach community leaders how to deal with issues of family violence.
In order to make this all happen, Dr. Samady is working on getting funding, not only for the conference, but also to provide CAIR with the funds to equip Muslim community leaders with resource kits, which educate their communities on family violence prevention and resources. Such kits will include binders with directories of social workers, counselors, and Arabic and Urdu translators. The grant would also allow for ongoing efforts in spreading awareness at local religious institutions. (More)
-----

CAIR-TAMPA 'KNOW YOUR RIGHTS' SEMINARS AUGUST 14 - TOP
Concerned about the rights of Our Community? Don’t be a victim. Protect yourself and your family. Presentations by three attorneys.
Friday August 14, 2009
6:00 P.M. - 7:30 P.M.
Islamic Society of New Tampa (Dar-us-Salaam)
15380 Morris Bridge Road
Thonotosassa, FL 33592
8:00 P.M. - 9:30 P.M.
Islamic Community of Tampa
“Masjid Al-Qassam”
Expansion Building
5901 E. 130th Avenue
Tampa, FL 33617
Call (813) 514-1414
info@tampa.cair.com
fl.cair.com/tpa

-----
CAIR-SAN DIEGO: WAR OF WORDS OVER ISLAM IN SAN DIEGO - TOP
United Press International, 8/11/09
The Council for American-Islamic Relations has asked the San Diego Public Library to stop publicizing a lecture by a group CAIR says is anti-Islamic.
Edgar Hopida, an official with the San Diego chapter of CAIR, said the group is not asking the library to cancel the lecture by a member of ACT! for America, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported Tuesday. He said, however, the library should not use its letterhead stationery to publicize the talk. (More)