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CIOGC Media Reception
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CIOGC Media Reception
“You are the unsung heroes of our community,” began Council Chairperson, Abdul Malik Mujahid, at the first media reception held by the Council. It was an effort to build relationships and share ideas on how to mutually benefit the Muslim community. Council director, Saleem Shaikh, emceed the event. He welcomed and thanked everyone for attending. Yousif Marei of the Arab Voice of Chicago briefly recited from the Quran. Hind Makki, Outreach Coordinator, lightly touched upon some of the services provided by the Council such as healthcare, the New Americans Initiative which helps greencard holders acquire their U.S. citizenship and our recent support of the Chicago cab drivers.
The evening was then turned over to the media guests to voice their concerns and offer their input. Aladdin Elaasar, author of Silent Victims,” began the open dialogue by urging the importance of establishing a Muslim Journal Association. Moin Moon Khan, a political activist and writer, seconded the idea and added that we needed to strengthen our identity as Muslim Americans and develop our own divergent voices. He further added that Muslims were reactive to the media and needed to be proactive.
Some suggestions were aimed directly at the Council. Pakistan Times writer, Mohammed Nadeem, suggested the Council hold open meetings for the public to bring everyone to the same platform noting the absence of an existing relationship. He further proposed that Muslims need to unify and make an effort to network with their neighbors. Tariq Khawaja, Bureau Chief of the Urdu Times, asked the Council to assess the most critical issues of the community and then to focus their energy into that initiative. Samuel Bilal of the Muslim Journal suggested the Council recruit 5-6 youths to regularly write about positive events in the community. He further added the importance and dire need to “measure our progress.” Professor Mohammad Siddiqi of Western Illinois University recommended establishing a scholarship to recruit students for media education. Daily Herald writer, Madhu Krishnamurthy, wanted the Council to create a resource list of Muslim professionals for the media to use.
It was a successful event resulting in a plethora of ideas and networking. In the words of Sammer Ghouleh, President of Spirit Magazine, “We must unite all people of morality and find ways to belong to a society that continues to deny us.”
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