Spring 2018 Newsletter
Dear Friend,

We are so excited to share WISE's Spring Newsletter, which details what we've been up to in 2018. I think you will agree that we have accomplished a lot over the past few months! We want to continue this important work - and can only do so with your support! Please consider making a tax-deductible contribution to WISE today.

With my very best,

Daisy Khan
Executive Director
Upcoming Events
W ISE Up Townhall Dialogue
Bronxville, NY - April 10th
"Misconceptions Corrected: The Truth about Islam and Muslims"

When: Tuesday, April 10th
6:00pm - 7:30pm

Where: Bronxville Public Library
201 Pondfield Road
Bronxville, NY 10708


Free and open to the public

Copies of the WISE Up Report will be available for purchase at the event
Generously sponsored by
WISE Presenting at...
The First Annual Symposium on
Islam, Dialogue, and Sectarian De-Escalation

"Religion and Civic Activism in the North American Muslim Diaspora Community"

When: Saturday, April 14th
5:45pm - 7:15pm

Where: Center for Government and International Studies
Tsai Auditorium, Room S-010
1730 Cambridge Street
Cambridge, MA 02138


Free and open to the public

NEW DATE
W ISE Up Teacher Training
Merrimack Institute for New Teacher Support (M.I.N.T.S.)
and
Center for the Study of Jewish-Christian-Muslim Relations
"Knowledge is Our Power:
Finding Your Voice about Islam & Muslims"

When: Tuesday, May 1st
3:30pm - 7:30pm

Where: Cascia Hall
Merrimack College
315 Turnpike St.
North Andover, MA 01845


Free and open to the public

Teachers can earn a Certificate of Participation towards professional development or PDPs

Copies of the WISE Up Report will be available for purchase at the event
Co-sponsored by
SAVE-THE-DATE
W ISE Up Townhall Dialogue
Chicago - June 2nd
When: Saturday, June 2nd

Where: Location TBD

If you or your organization is interested in sponsoring this event, please contact WISE at [email protected] or by clicking the button below

Special Invitation:
Book Launch for Daisy Khan's Memoir
When: Thursday, April 26th
7:00pm - 8:00pm

Where: Strand Bookstore
Rare Book Room, 3rd Floor
828 Broadway (at 12th Street)
New York, NY 10003


Registration Required
Please email [email protected] or click link below to RSVP
Reviews
" Readers will be entranced as they see Khan’s persistent fight for peaceful dialogue in a world sometimes torn apart by religious conflict and misunderstanding. Khan’s fantastic memoir is a testament to courage and resilience as well as an important chapter in the story of American Muslims and women of faith."
-- Publishers Weekly, starred review
"The author's account is informative and appealing, and she is doing important work."
-- Kirkus Reviews
Click below to purchase your copy of Born With Wings
WISE Activities
Feb. 3, 2018 - OneSpirit Interfaith Seminary Class on WISE Up
Daisy Khan taught a full-day class on all things Islam using WISE Up: Knowledge Ends Extremism at New York City's OneSpirit Interfaith Seminary. Pictured here with Rev. Diane Berke and OneSpirit students.
Feb. 5-6, 2018 - International Conference Against FGM in The Gambia
D aisy Khan presented WISE's Global Muslim Shura Council's position paper against Female Genital Cutting (FGM) at a conference held in The Gambia in commemoration of the UN's International Day of Zero Tolerance for Female Genital Mutilation . In 2011, the Shura Council's paper had been used as the basis of a fatwa against FGM in Mauritania, which has since been used to craft legislation banning the practice in The Gambia.
March 2, 2018 - WISE Up "Religion and Radicalization" Lecture at NYU
Daisy Khan presented WISE Up as a resource for students at an NYU "Religion and Radicalization" class, taught by Professor Colette Mazzucelli.
March 2, 2018 - WISE Up presentation at John Jay College of Criminal Justice
Daisy Khan presented at John Jay's Center on Terrorism's ARTIS Spring 2018 Seminar Series, where she discussed the potential uses for WISE Up as a tool to prevent and end violent extremism.
March 4, 2018 - Georgetown University's Alternative Breaks Program
Daisy Khan presented WISE Up to students from Georgetown University as part of a program exploring the roots of Islamophobia. Their trip to New York, titled "Magis: Deconstructing Islamophobia," was led by Imam Yahya Hendi, and it asked students to explore the American Muslim experience by engaging in conversations about race, religion, and identity.
March 12, 2018 - AJC Westchester/Fairfield Passover Dinner "We Are All Immigrants"
Daisy Khan spoke about WISE Up at AJC Westchester/Fairfield's special Passover Seder dinner honoring immigrant communities in Westchester. The event honored the Latin American, Muslim, Caribbean, and African immigrant communities in Westchester, and was dedicated to Isabel Villar, Founding Director of El Centro Hispano .
March 29, 2018 - "Countering Violent Extremism: Media & Messaging" at the Foreign Press Center
Alongside Humera Khan and Dr. Shuki Cohen, Daisy Khan discussed the important role that the press plays in accurately portraying Muslims and Islam, as well as some recommendations for how the press can help counter the spread of violent extremist ideology.
WISE Up Campaign Activities
WISE Up Townhall Dialogue
Manhattan College - Feb. 15th
On February 15th, Manhattan College's Holocaust, Genocide, and Interfaith Education Center (HGI) sponsored a WISE Up Townhall Dialogue, which was attended by students, faculty, and community members. WISE presented a copy of WISE Up: Knowledge Ends Extremism to MSA President Rabea Ali (pictured, above right). HGI Director, and WISE Up Contributor, Dr. Mehnaz Afridi, and Rabbi Bob Kaplan (pictured, above left) spoke about the importance of people of all faiths working together to end violence, extremism, and hate.
WISE thanks its generous sponsor
Holocaust, Genocide, and Interfaith Education Center
WISE Up Townhall Dialogue
Greenville, SC - March 15th
The Atlantic Institute, in partnership with Upstate International and Greenville Interfaith Forum, hosted a WISE Up Townhall Dialogue in Greenville, South Carolina on March 15th. The event included an interfaith panel with Daisy Khan, Father Mike Flanagan, Rabbi Mathew Marko, and Dr. Akif Aydin (pictured, above left), and included time for Q&A from the audience. WISE also presented a copy of WISE Up: Knowledge Ends Extremism to Greenville Chief of Police Kenneth Miller (pictured, below left), and Community Relations and Correspondence Director for the Greenville County Sheriff's Office Martine Wilder (pictured, below right).
WISE presented "WISE Hero" awards to Roann Abdeladl, Dr. Peter Cohen, Rev. Darian Blue, and Nedal Mefleh (pictured below, L to R), as well as Rabbi Marc Wilson and Father Patrick Tuttle, OFM (not pictured). Honoring people of all faiths who are helping others and positively contributing to their communities is a crucial part of the WISE Up campaign.
WISE thanks its generous sponsors
If you are interested in having WISE Up come to your city, please click below!
In Case You Missed It...
Daisy Khan commemorated International Women’s Day by discussing women and faith-based activism , as part of CFR’s Religion and Foreign Policy Conference Call series

WISE Up Endorsements and Testimonials
" The WISE Up Report ... is based on the belief that knowledge is the most powerful weapon against all forms of extremism. This research and evidence-base book is filled with powerful graphics and supporting detail, aimed at not only countering the unfounded fears associated with Islam, but also providing practical information that members across the community - parents, faith leaders, friends, etc. - can use to prevent bullying, hate crimes, and extremist recruitment.

I embrace the belief that 'all that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing.' WISE Up offers unclassified, practical guidance for communities to do something to address this particular brand of evil.

Bottom line: WISE Up offers citizens an opportunity to be proactive, versus reactive. "
-- Retired counterterrorism expert
Help Spread the Knowledge...
Donate a copy of WISE Up to your Congressman, Senator, Mayor, Police Chief, Rabbi, Pastor, Reverend, Imam, or to your local library
Vice President of the Gambia Fatoumata Tambajang
Nabila Freidji, WISE Woman, Morocco
Rabbi David Schuck of Beth El Synagogue Center in New Rochelle, NY
Banafsheh Keynoush, PhD, Author of Saudi Arabia and Iran: Friends or Foes?
Dr. Ahmed Abaddi, President, Mohammedia League of Moroccan Ulama
Fatima Rahmati, Coalition Coordinator of Women for Afghan Women
Special Announcement
Premiere Screening of "The Muslim Next Door"
Catch the premiere episode of America Inside Out , a new six-part docu-series produced by National Geographic, which follows Katie Couric as she travels across America to speak with people about the most topical social issues facing our society today.
When: Wednesday, April 11, 6:00pm - 9:00pm
Where: The George Washington University, Jack Morton Auditorium, 805 21st Street NW, Washington, DC 20052
Follow the WISE Up Campaign on Social Media!