ISB-ers celebrating MLK day through community service!

On January 16th, the ISB celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. by participating in an A dopt a Road community service project. 

The Adopt-a-Road litter prevention initiative, sponsored by Gwinnett Clean & Beautiful and Gwinnett County Department of Transportation, enables citizens to show their pride in Gwinnett and safely reduce the amount of unsightly trash and illegal signage alongside county roadways. Unkempt communities are more likely to have increased crime, decreased economic growth and a decline in quality of life. The litter prevention efforts of the Adopt-a-Road program directly benefit the community through litter prevention, greater civic involvement, and area beautification. 

The ISB was proud to be part of this initiative and volunteers were led by Asma Elhuni. The ISB cleaned up the intersection of Rockbridge and Five Fork Trickum Road. Since this cleanup was the second cleanup the ISB has done of the road, the adopted section of road will be marked with two signs stating 'This Clean Street Has Been Cleaned by the Islamic Speakers Bureau.' 

Visitors at Al Farooq Masjid, Atlanta

"Thank you so much for a wonderful, warm and informative program. I'd love to do this again and bring more friends and family."

"We had a great time at Atlanta Muslim Community's Visit a Mosque day. People were so friendly and accommodating and I learned several things about Islam I did not know. And the mosque was beautiful."


These are just a few of the many positive comments left by visitors to various Georgia mosques on January 23rd on  Visit a Mosque Day. Hundreds of visitors showed for the statewide initiative organized by the Atlanta Muslim community, the first of its kind. A total of 16 mosques, some outside of Metro Atlanta, like Al Huda in Athens and two mosques in Macon, participated. Each mosque independently organized their own open houses under #VisitAMosqueATL.

The ISB conducted presentations on "American Muslims: Beliefs and Practices" at the following mosques: Masjid Al-Farooq, Masjid Omar, East Cobb Islamic Center, Islamic Community Center of Atlanta, Gwinnett Islamic Circle, Al Huda Islamic Center in Athens, Hamzah Islamic Center, Madinah Institute USA, and Roswell Community Masjid. 

Many visitors had the opportunity to have their name written in Arabic calligraphy, listen to Quran recitation and Islamic poetry, but most importantly, they were encouraged to ask any questions about Islam. Questions ranged from the meaning of Shariah law, to how to handle prayer times at the workplace, to where the best place is to buy samosas in Atlanta. Many mosques had invited the Islamic Speakers Bureau to give a presentation about Islam and guests had the opportunity to ask their speakers any questions. Guests were welcomed with open arms, treated to snacks and coffee and got to know the common Muslims who make up our Muslim communities. Guests at a couple of mosques also got to meet local Muslim Boy and Girl Scout troops. 

To read the detailed report and to see pictures of the event from mosques all around Atlanta, please click here.

Soumaya Khalifa participated in the ADL's GLI panel

On January 20th, Soumaya Khalifa participated in the Anti Defamation League's Glass Leadership Institute program on "Community Outreach and Partnerships." GLI consists of 20 primarily Jewish, but not all, professionals  aged 25 - 45, who meet once a month from August to June to learn about the work of ADL in depth. Each month they focus on a different topic.

Khalifa was one of four panelists that represented different groups that the ADL works in partnership or coalition with. Joining Khalifa on the panel were Jeff Graham, GA Equality; Sam Aguilar, GALEO; and Chris Haynes, Starbucks.

Khalifa spoke about the ISB mission and work as well as recent success and challenges. Khalifa also spoke about ways in which the ISB has collaborated with the ADL and stressed the importance for the ISB to work in coalition with others. This is the ISB's third year participating in this program.

Soumaya Khalifa, founder and Executive Director of ISB Atlanta,  was interviewed and featured here on Jazz 91.9 WCLK.  I n her radio segment, Khalifa speaks about challenging times and the role of faith in our society today. 

Khalifa explains that members of the Muslim community are feeling unwanted in their own country. Khalifa explains that children are being bullied and are called terrorist at their schools.  She speaks about getting to know our neighbors and understanding that individuals regardless of their faith are still human beings. She emphasizes that Muslims have been a part of this country since it's inception. She encourages us to reach out in peace and understanding to members of our community who are not like us to help build relationships.

Click here to hear her heartwarming interview.  Khalifa was also interviewed on a German Radio station here.

 

Soumaya Khalifa moderates a Study Quran panel.

On November 20th,  ISB Executive Director Soumaya Khalifa moderated a Study Quran panel at Georgia State University. The panel was sponsored by the Department of Religious Studies at Georgia State University, in conjunction with ISB Atlanta and the Muslim Students Association at Georgia State University. 

The Study Quran is a new English translation produced by a team of distinguished Islamic Studies scholars. It includes commentary, maps, essays, and more. The three panelists were Joseph E. B. Lumbard, Professor at The American University of Sharjah in the Department of Arabic and Translation Studies, Mohammed Rustom, Associate Professor of Islamic Studies at Carleton University,  and Abbas Barzegar,  Assistant Professor of Islam at Georgia State University and a Fellow with the Institute of Social Policy and Understanding. 

The event was well attended and was followed by a vibrant discussion during the question and answer session. The ISB is one of the few organizations acknowledged in the book for their support.