Magid has an exemplary record of
service to the Muslim community and building bridges of
understanding between Muslims and people of other faiths,
government officials, and the community at large. He was named one
of the 2009 Washingtonian's of the Year and has been recognized by
the State of Virginia and other government agencies for exemplary
community service representing Muslims and encouraging a better
understanding of Islam by the larger American
community.
"Imam Magid helped me translate
my knowledge of Christianity and Judaism and put it in a way in
which I could understand Islam," said Jeannette Smith, a Quaker
leader from Langley Hill Friends. Of all the imams that Ms. Smith
has worked with, she feels that Imam Magid best grasps a vision of
what the Muslim community needs to do in order to become recognized
as a positive religious group in the United States.
"ISNA has grown tremendously
under the leadership of President Ingrid Mattson, with whom Imam
Magid worked closely for two terms as ISNA Vice President, and we
look forward to the same kind of dedication and positive direction
in leadership and organizational changes from Imam Magid in his
term as President," said ISNA Secretary General Safaa Zarzour. "He
will bring consistency to the organization, as he helped shape many
of the positive changes initiated by President Mattson, such as
term limits for ISNA leaders, and we know he will move forward with
these changes with the able assistance of his new Vice
President."
To learn more about Imam Magid,
please visit the ISNA website. You will find a full
biography, statements from interfaith, community, and government
partners he has worked with and recent press coverage of the Imam
and his exemplary work.
On our
website, you will also hear
directly from the Imam and learn what he has to say about
extremism, Islamaphobia, his vision for ISNA and America, and what
it means to be American.
ISNA also elected a new Vice President-USA, Vice
President-Canada, and two Majlis (board) members. This year's
elections brings the benefit of increased diversity, in age,
experience, and ethnicity, to the ISNA Majlis. ISNA members
elected experienced community members from the Arab,
Indo-Pakistani, and African American communities, including an
American born Muslim who also represents the youngest person, at
age 26, ever elected to a leadership role at ISNA. The new ISNA
President and Vice President are both under the age of 42, bringing
the fresh perspective of younger generations to ISNA
leadership.
"The diversity and youth of our new leadership point to the healthy
direction ISNA is taking as it strives to lead the development of
the Muslim community in America. ISNA members have elected a new
group of leaders that more adequately represent the diversity of
the American Muslim population," stated Zarzour.
For interview requests, please contact Sarah Thompson, ISNA
Communications Coordinator, at 317-839-1816 (o) or 317-679-6350
(c). She can also be reached at
sthompson@isna.net.
