The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC), a coalition of over 60 Islamic institutions across Chicagoland, has elected a new Board of Directors that has assumed responsibilities as of January 1, 2017. Staying true to its mission of promoting unity, the new CIOGC Board represents a cross section of the Chicago Muslim community. From medical and business professionals to educators and humanitarian activists, the CIOGC board is comprised of individuals that embody the spirit of Chicagoland Muslims.
“The biennial elections and term limits enshrined in CIOGC bylaws ensure the infusion of new blood on a regular basis and has led to peaceful transition of power/responsibilities for the last quarter century. Our new Board members are well-connected with the diverse segments of our community and bring decades of experience to the CIOGC table. We are fortunate to have them at the helm of CIOGC as we unite and strengthen the Chicagoland Muslim community,” said Dr. Mohammed Kaiseruddin, co-founder and former Chair, who will also be a part of the Board as an Ex-Officio.
CIOGC’s new Chair, Dr. Bassam Osman, is a neurologist by profession and is a co-founder of CIOGC. He has served as the Chair of the CIOGC By-Laws and Membership Committees. He has intimately worked with several CIOGC member organizations, such as Mosque Foundation, MECCA Center and Universal School. His work with CIOGC and its member organizations for over 20 years offers priceless insight and experience in his new role as Chair of CIOGC.
Syed Shahnawaz Khan, the new Vice Chair of CIOGC, has previously served at CIOGC as Secretary and Treasurer. He is a former Board member of the Mecca Center in Willowbrook and former Chair of Downtown Islamic Center (DIC) in Chicago. His decades of experience with the Muslim community make him a valuable asset to the Board.
Karen Danielson, the new CIOGC Secretary, represents the Bridgeview area Muslim community as a leader at MAS (Muslim American Society) – Chicago and the Mosque Foundation. She has experience with CIOGC as a previous Board Secretary and as part of CIOGC’s Interfaith, Intra-faith, and Illinois Muslim Action Day Committees.
Tasneem Osmani, CIOGC’s Treasurer, has been associated with CIOGC for over 13 years, and has held positions of Vice Chair and Board Director with the organization. As the Chair of the CIOGC Annual Dinner Committee since 2013, she has led the preparation and planning for the organization’s yearly fundraising event which draws up to a thousand Muslims representing the diverse Chicagoland community.
Halil Demir, is a new CIOGC Board Member is the leader of Zakat Foundation of America, a Chicago-based global humanitarian organization and member of CIOGC. He is active in the labor and interfaith community. He has served on the board of ARISE-Chicago. His experience and accomplishments as a non-profit leader earned him CIOGC’s award of recognition as the 2016 Top Achiever.
Saleem Shaikh, a new CIOGC Board Member, has experience as a previous Board member and Treasurer, and member of the Human Resources Committee. As a community organizer, he has served as CIOGC’s representative to the Illinois Coalition of Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR) and as Chair of the Education and Finance Committees at Islamic Foundation – Villa Park where he is also a founding member of its full time school.
Zahid Mohsin, is a returning CIOGC Board Member, and has previously served on the Personnel Committee. As a member of the Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) Shura, he represents the humanitarian group at CIOGC House of Representatives meetings. He has also previously served as the President of ICNA-Chicago for four years.
Dr. Mohammed Kaiseruddin, Ex-Officio Board Member, is a co-founder and former Chair of CIOGC. Currently, he is also the Vice Chair of Downtown Islamic Center (DIC) and the Chair of the Board of Trustees of the IMAN Fund. He has been the President of Muslim Community (MCC) and served the Chicago Muslim community in various capacities for the past 40 years. He is called upon regularly to give Friday khutbahs and speak on Islamic topics. His interests include Islamic education, intrafaith and interfaith, and civic engagement. Professionally, he has a Ph.D in Nuclear Engineering and is a manager at a consulting engineering company.
The new Board may add up to three more Board members. For more information about CIOGC please call 312-506-0070 or visit www.ciogc.org.