Powerful, Positive Impact of American Muslims in Springfield! Over 450 American Muslims Participate in Muslim ACTION! Day Over 450 American-Muslims from across Illinois came to Springfield on May 21, 2009 to participate in the Council of Islamic Organization of Greater Chicago’s first annual Muslim ACTION! Day! This day of civic engagement and advocacy for the common good brought together a wide range of people from elementary school children to and through the pioneer leaders of the Muslim community. Muslim ACTION! Day placed the community’s diversity on display in the State Capitol. Muslim ACTION! Day had multiple activities for students, community leaders and the community at large. The participants accomplished a tremendous amount of work in just one day of advocacy. Leadership Breakfast with Legislators  | | Ahlam speaking to Rep Greg Harris |
Community leaders arrived the night before and very early in the morning to attend an intimate breakfast meeting with legislators at the Governor’s Mansion on Muslim ACTION! Day. In addition to leaders from the Council’s executive committee and staff, the breakfast was also attended by leaders from the Springfield Muslim community and by leaders from the youth and young professionals’ generation. Among the legislators to attend the breakfast was Rep. Paul Froehlich (D) from the 56th District (which is the greater Schaumburg area). Rep. Froehlich is a co-sponsor of the Arabic language instruction in public schools resolution introduced by Senator Jacqueline Collins (D). Like Senator Collins, Rep. Froehlich is a strong supporter of American Muslims. Kick-Off Rally Features Legislators, State & National Muslim Leaders As the buses arrived at the Capitol Complex they were guided to the Muslim ACTION! Day Kick-Off Rally held in the Howlett Auditorium just adjacent to the Statehouse. The 450 plus participants gathered together to get organized and energized for the citizen advocacy to come!  | | Rep. Paul Froehlich (D) |
The Muslim ACTION! Day rally was electric with positive messages of civic engagement and Muslim values and there was a keen focus on serving humanity. The audience was engaged by Council Chairman Dr. Zaher Sahloul as he reflected on the great leaders who once served in the Illinois General Assembly including President Abraham Lincoln and President Barack Obama and imagined a not-too-distant future when several of the youth in the audience would one day serve in the Illinois’ General Assembly, the U.S. Congress and the White House. IMAN’s executive director Rami Nashashibi, who also serves on the Council’s executive committee, delivered his vision of civic engagement for the common good with his trademarked passionate oratory as well. Sen. Dan Cronin (R) from the Islamic Foundation community, Rep. Paul Froehlich (D) from the Masjid Al-Huda community and Rep. David Miller (D) from the CMecca School community engaged the community and gave an added boost to an already excited crowd. Salam Al-Marayati, executive director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, flew in from Los Angeles specifically to be a part of Muslim ACTION! Day. Mr. Al-Marayati capped off the rally with a poignant message on the impact of grassroots mobilization for the common good on the national scene. Citizen Advocacy in the Statehouse! Participants gathered in groups of 3 or more and headed out to the Statehouse as soon as the Kick-Off Rally ended. Both the Senate and the House were in session so everyone headed to the third floor. Both chambers were busy taking votes early on so not everyone was able to see their legislators outside of the Senate and House chambers. Those who were not able to see their legislators outside of the Senate and House chambers visited the legislative offices and hand-delivered literature on the issues for which they were advocating directly to Legislative Aides. In the process of doing this many participants had an opportunity to see the inner offices of their elected officials and were able to meet with key support staff as well. The Rotunda on the first floor was abuzz all afternoon with American Muslims. All of the corridors, the cafeteria in the basement and the chairs in the Rotunda were filled with American Muslims taking in the experience of citizen advocacy. Some of the participants were veterans of citizen advocacy, but for many, Muslim ACTION! Day marked their first foray into this important act of civic engagement. Several leaders including Council Chair Zaher Sahloul, Vice Chair Tasneem Osmani and executive committee member Bambade Shakoor-Abdullah visited with Rep. Tom Cross (R) and Sen. Christine Radogno (R) in previously scheduled meetings to discuss a wide range of issues. While the community was advocating and engaging their legislators, six gifted young high school students from the American Muslim community spent the day as honorary Senate pages. These six young men and women (all of whom were selected through a competitive process) had the opportunity to see the legislative process from the legislators’ perspective! Lunch, Prayers & Fellowship At the conclusion of Muslim ACTION! Day everyone re-grouped at the Visitors Center. Volunteers from the Springfield Muslim community organized and distributed lunch and drinks to the participants. It was a beautiful Spring afternoon with warm and sunny weather and lunch turned into a picnic! Everyone had a chance to visit with folks from all over the state. The youth had a chance to talk about their experiences, people prayed together on the well-manicured and lush lawns surrounding the Visitors Center and by 3pm the buses departed for home! And with the successful conclusion of Muslim ACTION! Day 2009 the Council team is gearing up for Muslim ACTION! Day 2010 to be help in May 2010! Stay tuned… Picture Gallery of Muslim ACTION! Day Reflections of Honorary Senate Pages from Muslim ACTION! Day |