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January 27, 2006
Annual CommUnity Dinner - February 26, 2006 - Volunteer
In Action1. Islamophobia Must Become A Topic Of Interfaith Agenda
2. Being Japanese American: A Day of Remembrance
3. IMAN Calls for Drug Treatment Programs
In Service
1. Employment Opportunities At The Council
In Campaign
1. Are You Ready for the Primaries?
2. Election Deadlines
In Debate
1. One City, Two Eids [Poll, Forum, Blog]
NEWSLETTER
COUNCIL NEWS
1. In Action, In Dialogue
(1/25) Abdul Malik Mujahid, the Chairman of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago, joined other national religious leaders this week at a three day conference held by one of the largest international interfaith groups, Religions for Peace. The conference, entitled the National Gathering of Religious Leaders was held to develop agenda for 2006 and to prepare for the upcoming Religions for Peace international conference, to be held in Japan later this year. Mujahid brought up several salient points at the conference, including suggesting that the national religious leadership develop ethical principles to be used in American foreign policy. Mujahid also stated that it is important for all religious leaders to understand the negative effects Islamophobia has on not only the victims, but on society at large. He urged the national religious leaders to take a principled position on the issue of Islamophobia.
The conference also addressed topics such as women and religions, faith and violence and the roles that religions can take in addressing societal ills. The Islamic Society of North America’s Syed Sayeed also attended the conference.
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2. Annual CommUnity Dinner
(1/18) Last Wednesday, the Executive Board of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago met to discuss next month’s Annual CommUnity Dinner. During the last year, through its campaigns, various events and roundtable discussions, the Council has focused its attention on strengthening relations among Chicago’s diverse Muslim communities and on presenting a unified Muslim voice to the community’s non-Muslim partners, the interfaith community and government officials. Our Annual CommUnity Dinner will celebrate the strength that comes with unity and the positive change a unified community can make.
The Council’s Annual CommUnity Dinner will be on Sunday, February 26th at the Burr Ridge Marriott. If your organization is interested in purchasing sponsorship packages or you are interested in volunteering at this event, please contact the Council’s office by calling between the hours of 9 am – 5 pm on the weekdays, at 312.506.0070 or emailing council@ciogc.org.
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3. Being Japanese American: A Day of Remembrance
(1/24) Next month, the Japanese American community in Chicago will commemorate the signing of Executive Order 9066 and the World War II internment of American citizens of Japanese ancestry. The Council urges American Muslims throughout metropolitan Chicago to attend this event and stand in solidarity with a fellow American minority that had been scapegoated as a fearsome enemy by fellow citizens and the US government. This year’s annual commemoration will be held on Sunday, February 19th, at the DeVry Institute on 3300 North Campbell Avenue. The event, which will feature keynote speaker Gil Asakawa, author of Being Japanese American, as well as a panel discussion with several generations of Japanese Americans, will begin at 2 pm. The event is free and refreshments will be served. Please call 773.728.7171 for more information.
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MEMBER NEWS
4. IMAN Calls for Drug Treatment Programs
(1/21) Studies have shown that it is more economical to treat drug abusers, than to lock them up. Last Saturday, the Inner City Muslim Action Network (IMAN), concerned about the high rates of recidivism among some ex-convicts, held a community action forum on sentencing reform for non-violent drug offenses. 53% of released inmates are back in prison within 3 years and studies show that drug treatment programs can reduce this recidivism rate by at least 31%.
Part of the forum focused on the relationship of race and incarceration rates. 2 out of 5 blacks are admitted to prisons because of drug offenses and more blacks are sent to prisons for drug abuse than for violent crimes. However, studies show that only 15% of drug users are black. A disproportionate number of black Americans are incarcerated, compared to their numbers in the greater American population, and a larger percentage of blacks are incarcerated for drug offenses, though whites make up a larger percentage of overall drug users nationally.
The forum also discussed the issue of family and incarceration. 75% of the 150, 000 women incarcerated nationwide are mothers. 16 million American children have had one or more parents incarcerated at some point in their loves. Children of incarcerated parents are at a higher risk for anxiety, depression, truancy, aggression, attention disorders and poor academic performance.
The forum, which highlighted the social and financial effects of recidivism on the Chicago community, was open to all concerned Chicagoans and Council Chairman, Abdul Malik Mujahid, was one of the attendees. IMAN is a member of the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago.
For more information on IMAN’s Project Restore click here.
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5. EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES AT THE COUNCIL
(1/25) The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago announces a job opening for Director of Development, to join its existing team. The Director will coordinate and manage all aspects of fundraising for the Council, will conduct outreach for the Council’s various campaigns and events, and will be responsible for implementing the Council’s annual agenda. This position is located at the Council’s new office in the Chicago Loop, at 231 S. State Street. The Council is a federation of over 50 mosques, Islamic schools and other non-profit Muslim-run entities advocating the interests of over 400,000 Muslims in the Chicago metropolitan area.
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CAMPAIGN UPDATES
6. Are You Ready for the Primaries?
(1/24) The 2006 primaries are on the horizon and politicians are visiting mosques, are you ready? The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago has been preparing for the upcoming Illinois primaries, on March 21, 2006. In July of last year, at the House of Representatives bi-monthly meeting hosted by Masjid al-Huda in Schaumburg, the Council held a voter registrar workshop and registered several of those in attendance to become voter registrars. The Council urges all US citizens to register to vote and to vote in the upcoming Illinois primary elections. We have developed an Electoral Participation Survey to help us analyze the frequency of civic participation of Chicago’s Muslim community. Please fill in the Council’s survey form and distribute to others.
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7. Election Deadlines
(1/24) The deadline to register in time for the primaries is Tuesday, February 21. Registration applications may be obtained from county or city election officials, some drivers’ licenses facilities, some public libraries and US post offices. The deadline for absentee voting is the same date as the election – March 21. You may pick up an absentee voting ballot at your local election board.
The Council is also looking to hear from Muslims who are voter registrars or would like to become voter registrars. Please contact the Council at 312.506.0070 or council@ciogc.org for more information on voter registration, how to become a registrar or on absentee voting.
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SAVE THE DATE
1/28 (1 pm – 5 pm) The House of Representatives will have their bi-monthly meeting at Masjid al-Muhajiroun, which is located at 3777 W. Columbus Avenue, Chicago IL 60659. Please call the mosque at 773.581.1083 for directions. Please RSVP if your representative is attending the meeting, by contacting the office at 312.506.0070 or emailing us at council@ciogc.org.
2/26 (5 pm – 9 pm) The Council will hold its Annual CommUnity Dinner at the Marriott Burr Ridge. Networking will begin at 5 and dinner will begin promptly at 6 pm, so come early! The Marriott Burr Ridge is located at 1200 Burr Ridge Parkway, Burr Ridge IL 60527. Tickets are $50 per person; please contact our office at 312.506.0070 or email council@ciogc.org for more information.
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