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1-800-678-0753February 16, 2006
In Today's Newsletter
1. Annual CommUnity Dinner in Ten Days!
2. February 21st is the Last Day to Register for the Primaries
3. Muslim Social Services Networking Event
4. It’s Getting Harder to Become a Citizen
5. Islamophobia and the Danish Cartoon Controversy6. Meet Sister Mona the new Office Manager
7. IMPORTANT DATES
1. Annual CommUnity Dinner in Ten Days!
(2/13) This year’s Annual CommUnity Dinner will honor Illinois State Senator Jacqueline Collins, for her lead in protecting civil rights for Muslims and all other Americans. Senator Collins was the chief sponsor of the Charity without Fear resolution in the Illinois State Senate and represents the 16th District. Over the past year, the Council has developed many campaigns designed to create and maintain unity among Chicago’s diverse Muslim communities and our neighbors, including a campaign to support cab drivers throughout the city, citizenship assistance for immigrants and several multicultural forums bringing together religious, women and youth leaders from all over the Chicagoland area to discuss issues that face each community and how the Muslim community as a whole can address them.
The keynote speaker of this year’s Annual CommUnity Dinner is Ms. Ilyasah Shabazz, the daughter of the late Malik Shabazz and author of Growing Up X. Ms. Shabazz, following her parents’ legacies, dedicates her life to empowering future generations of Americans and has recently completed the Hajj, a pillar of Islam which exemplifies the unifying spirit of faith among the extremely diverse global Muslim population. Ms. Shabazz is currently leading a project to resurrect the Malcolm X and Dr. Betty Shabazz Memorial and Education Center at the Audobon, the place of her father’s assassination in 1965.
Join the Council in celebrating the strength that comes with cohesion and the positive change a unified community can make at our Annual CommUnity Dinner!
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2. February 21st is the Last Day to Register for the Primaries
(2/13) The 2006 Illinois primaries will take place on March 21, which means that the deadline to register for the primaries is on February 21st. You may download the registration form here (note – this is a PDF file) If you register to vote by mail, you must vote in person and cannot vote through an absentee ballot. The Council urges all US citizens to register to vote and to vote in the upcoming Illinois primary elections next month.
The Council has developed an Electoral Participation Survey to help us analyze the frequency of civic participation in Chicago’s Muslim community. Just as it is important for citizens to vote, it is important for the community to have accurate numbers of their level of civic participation. Please fill in the Council’s survey form today and distribute to others.
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3. Muslim Social Services Networking Event
(2/15) This Saturday, the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago is hosting an invitation only event for Muslims, both individuals and organizations, interested in offering or currently involved in social service work. This will be a moderated discussion intended to explore the social services needed in the Muslim community, the role that mosques, Muslim social workers and Islamic centers can play in providing them and how funding can be acquired to pay for them. Our panel of presenters have extensive experience in social work. Discussions will pertain to social service models that have succeeded, and what we can learn from those that haven’t, and how to acquire state funding for the same.
Panelsts will include Dr. Aneesa Nadir, the President of Islamic Social Services Association USA, and a Professor of Social Work at the University of Arizona; Altaf Hussain, a PhD student in Social Services from Howard University and the former president of MSA-National; Dr. Mohammad R. Hoque, a professor of Social Work at Mississippi Valley State University and Vice President of Islamic Social Services Association USA.
Who should attend:
- Member(s) of your organization who lead the Social Services efforts you currently offered.
- Individuals committed to social service who are interested in learning about funding opportunities and work being done by Muslim Social Service groups throughout the USA. Organization’s Social services Committee lead.
- Interested organizations and individuals who are in the planning/development stages of designing social services for their local community.
Please fill out our Social Services Survey
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4. It’s Getting Harder to Become a Citizen
(2/7) Last Tuesday, the Council’s citizenship team, represented by Hind Makki and Farid al-Taqi, attended a press conference hosted by the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) about the increasing difficulty of becoming a US citizen. The press conference announced to immigrants and those who work with them about the dangers of the new bill, and speaker and after speaker, including Illinois State Senator Martin Sandoval, a champion of immigrant rights and State Representative Linda Chavez – members of the Latino Caucus in Springfield - stressed the importance of taking advantage of the New Americans Initiative by beginning the citizenship process immediately. The Sensenbrenner bill which is currently being fast-tracked through the House by Speaker Dennis Hastert who represents Chicago’s western suburbs, will make the process of becoming a citizen much more difficult through various measures, including changing the existing citizenship exam and making the entire process more expensive.
If you or someone you know is a green card holder and would like to apply for citizenship, contact the Council immediately before the entire process becomes more difficult and more expensive! Our multi-lingual staff will inform you of eligibility qualifications and will set up an appointment with you to begin the naturalization process. We assist immigrants through the citizenship process without charge, saving them hundreds of dollars in legal fees. Call 312.506.0070 or email nai@ciogc.org for more information.
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5. Islamophobia and the Danish Cartoon Controversy
(2/13) Islamophobia is today's accepted form of racism. It will require Muslims to fight hard against it. Muslims are neither solely responsible for its creation, nor will they be able to fight it on their own. It is a collective responsibility for all bridge-builders of the world. Let us today take a stand to end all kinds of fear and hatred of "the other."
Read more on this article on Abdul Malik Mujahid’s blog
Chicago Tribune – Why the Cartoons Sparked Furor Chicago Tribune editorial - Mocking Muhammad
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(2/13) Mona Martinez has joined the Council’s team as the new Director of Operations. Ms. Martinez, a native of Chicago, was previously the Volunteer Administrator at the Inner City Muslim Action Network (IMAN). Ms. Martinez, who has four children and is finishing a Bachelors of Science from DePaul University in Botany, is interested in education and in creating a stronger, unified Muslim community. She would like to further pursue activities devoted to developing and maintaining scientific literacy among inner city students and is fluent in Spanish and English.
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2/18 (6 pm – 9 pm) Social Services Networking panel discussion and brainstorming session in Villa Park. This event is by invite only. Please contact Zain Khan at Zain_Khan@ciogc.org or Naazish YarKhan at bigmomentum@hotmail.com to RSVP for this event.
2/19 (2 – 4 pm) Being Japanese American: A Day of Remembrance. The Japanese American community will commemorate their internment during World War II at the DeVry Institute located at 3300 N. Campbell Avenue. The event is free and refreshments will be served. Please call 773.728.7171 for more information.
2/26 (5 pm – 9 pm) The Council’s Annual CommUnity Dinner will be held 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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Printed from the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago website (www.ciogc.org).
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