Sunday, November 25, 2007
AMWA and DUPAGES’ HOMELESS
November 3rd, 2007 Taskeen, 10 and Yousuf, 5 and mom Naazish participated in
Sleep Out Saturday sponsored by Bridge Communities, Inc. They were amongst hundreds, including tons of other kids, who slept out in the open in tents or cars and card board boxes to raise pledges. Brrrrrr.. it was cold ( and remember there aren’t any washrooms around when you’re homeless and its cold and you need to go…)
The trio raised funds while they trick or treated in their neighborhood, the ICNA Ladies Neighbor Net at MSI Masjid contributed generously too, as did some others who heard about Taskeen and Yousuf and Naazish via various list serves. Still others wanted to join them next year.
The sleep out was intended to raise awareness about homelessness in DuPage County and to raise money to support homeless families.
Over 75 groups participated around DuPage - more than 1,500 people total!
Why Bridge Communities you ask? “Well,” says Naazish, “they provide two years worth of free rent to a family that qualifies, rescuing them from homelessness, then gets them GED trained or whatever they need help with academically, financial management training, drug rehab. It’s not only a hand out, it’s a hand up. And when you improve the lives of those around you, there is a ripple effect. What comes around, goes around,” says Naazish.
Will the kids be doing it again next year! You bet!!!!!
You can still contribute at
http://www.bridgecommunities.org/sos/pledge.cfm
Sleep Out Saturday sponsored by Bridge Communities, Inc. They were amongst hundreds, including tons of other kids, who slept out in the open in tents or cars and card board boxes to raise pledges. Brrrrrr.. it was cold ( and remember there aren’t any washrooms around when you’re homeless and its cold and you need to go…)
The trio raised funds while they trick or treated in their neighborhood, the ICNA Ladies Neighbor Net at MSI Masjid contributed generously too, as did some others who heard about Taskeen and Yousuf and Naazish via various list serves. Still others wanted to join them next year.
The sleep out was intended to raise awareness about homelessness in DuPage County and to raise money to support homeless families.
Over 75 groups participated around DuPage - more than 1,500 people total!
Why Bridge Communities you ask? “Well,” says Naazish, “they provide two years worth of free rent to a family that qualifies, rescuing them from homelessness, then gets them GED trained or whatever they need help with academically, financial management training, drug rehab. It’s not only a hand out, it’s a hand up. And when you improve the lives of those around you, there is a ripple effect. What comes around, goes around,” says Naazish.
Will the kids be doing it again next year! You bet!!!!!
You can still contribute at
http://www.bridgecommunities.org/sos/pledge.cfm
AMWA Meeting Minutes
Where: Panera Bread, Lombard
When: 11/3/2007
Who: Sadia Ashraf, Ruby Khan, Kiran Ansari, Ayesha Khan, Amina Rahman
1) CAI
- Sadia distributed new Pennies for Peace pamphlets
- We discussed some possible speaking engagements for Greg Mortenson at Aqsa School (in combination with Universal, and perhaps an other combined event on the same day at CPSA/Foundation). Sadia & Ayesha are in touch with Principals at both schools.
2) Hamdard
- Ruby told us about the Rug sale held 2 weeks ago.
- There are 3 job opening were sent out on the AMWA mailing list, contact Ruby for
more info.
-Women's Breast Cancer Awareness Group: Hamdard is trying to encourage women to join this group as a means of increasing their awareness about preventing breast cancer, as well as a way of introducing to them the services and resources available to them in their communities as well as from Hamdard.
- Afterschool program: there are currently 25 students participating in this program, Hamdard partnered with a local community group and opened this to children from any backgrounds. There are Hispanic, Bosnian, Indo-Pakistani and African American children participating.
3) AMWA membership:
-Facebook: Sadia suggested that we should form a group on facebook as a way of posting current messages, that way the facebook account can be kept current and the blog can be more of an archive. Amina will create the facebook group. Doing this will also allow more women to get involved with AMWA even if its just be keeping in touch and being more aware of the activities.
4) ANDREA ELIOTT
- She is the NY times writer on Muslims/Islam and will be coming to Chicago in December. She has been presenting a tempered and humanizing view on Muslims. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/national/series/muslimsinamerica/index.html
- It was suggested that we should partner with organizations so we can increase the size of the venue and audience insha-Allaah (eg: DePaul, ISP, Dr. Aminah McCloud, Dupage United)`
- suggested venues: DePaul, Naperville North Auditorium
-Ruby will discuss this with Andrea Eliott
-Kiran and Samana can help with press releases, we should also post on Metromix and Community Builders.
5) AMWA Blog
- Kiran will manage the Blog and make sure it is updated
6) Varia
- Contact with police in Naperville related to South Asian issues: Sadia was contacted by a woman named Betty when recently a Hindu woman in Naperville died in a fire, it was ruled a murder/suicide. It seems that she had gone to the police previously but they did not understand the issues she was dealing with. Ruby pointed out that Hamdard can receive referrals from the police. Sadia will pass on Hamdard’s contact info to Betty and she will inform Naperville police.
- Focusing AMWA’s goals: Ayesha suggested that perhaps we should focus our goals for AMWA so we can be more effective in achieving things.
- Used Toys/Clothes: Muslim Thrift Store in Downers Grove closed down. Ruby said that Hamdard can use women’s clothing, toys, car seats, and fancy clothes (which they make pillows out of and re-sell). Sadia said she wil willing to store some donations in her basement, Saba Akhter has said she can collect a lot of donations.
When: 11/3/2007
Who: Sadia Ashraf, Ruby Khan, Kiran Ansari, Ayesha Khan, Amina Rahman
1) CAI
- Sadia distributed new Pennies for Peace pamphlets
- We discussed some possible speaking engagements for Greg Mortenson at Aqsa School (in combination with Universal, and perhaps an other combined event on the same day at CPSA/Foundation). Sadia & Ayesha are in touch with Principals at both schools.
2) Hamdard
- Ruby told us about the Rug sale held 2 weeks ago.
- There are 3 job opening were sent out on the AMWA mailing list, contact Ruby for
more info.
-Women's Breast Cancer Awareness Group: Hamdard is trying to encourage women to join this group as a means of increasing their awareness about preventing breast cancer, as well as a way of introducing to them the services and resources available to them in their communities as well as from Hamdard.
- Afterschool program: there are currently 25 students participating in this program, Hamdard partnered with a local community group and opened this to children from any backgrounds. There are Hispanic, Bosnian, Indo-Pakistani and African American children participating.
3) AMWA membership:
-Facebook: Sadia suggested that we should form a group on facebook as a way of posting current messages, that way the facebook account can be kept current and the blog can be more of an archive. Amina will create the facebook group. Doing this will also allow more women to get involved with AMWA even if its just be keeping in touch and being more aware of the activities.
4) ANDREA ELIOTT
- She is the NY times writer on Muslims/Islam and will be coming to Chicago in December. She has been presenting a tempered and humanizing view on Muslims. http://topics.nytimes.com/top/news/national/series/muslimsinamerica/index.html
- It was suggested that we should partner with organizations so we can increase the size of the venue and audience insha-Allaah (eg: DePaul, ISP, Dr. Aminah McCloud, Dupage United)`
- suggested venues: DePaul, Naperville North Auditorium
-Ruby will discuss this with Andrea Eliott
-Kiran and Samana can help with press releases, we should also post on Metromix and Community Builders.
5) AMWA Blog
- Kiran will manage the Blog and make sure it is updated
6) Varia
- Contact with police in Naperville related to South Asian issues: Sadia was contacted by a woman named Betty when recently a Hindu woman in Naperville died in a fire, it was ruled a murder/suicide. It seems that she had gone to the police previously but they did not understand the issues she was dealing with. Ruby pointed out that Hamdard can receive referrals from the police. Sadia will pass on Hamdard’s contact info to Betty and she will inform Naperville police.
- Focusing AMWA’s goals: Ayesha suggested that perhaps we should focus our goals for AMWA so we can be more effective in achieving things.
- Used Toys/Clothes: Muslim Thrift Store in Downers Grove closed down. Ruby said that Hamdard can use women’s clothing, toys, car seats, and fancy clothes (which they make pillows out of and re-sell). Sadia said she wil willing to store some donations in her basement, Saba Akhter has said she can collect a lot of donations.
Wednesday, April 4, 2007
Goodsearch.com
Salam everyone,
I recently heard about this search engine that donates 1 cent to the charity/school of your choice for every search you conduct. It's powered by Yahoo! so it's pretty good and with the number of searches we do everyday, we could be contributing to a good cause at the same time.
Look for your favorite charity in their list or perhaps we could reach a consensus and add a local, Muslim organization.
Kiran
I recently heard about this search engine that donates 1 cent to the charity/school of your choice for every search you conduct. It's powered by Yahoo! so it's pretty good and with the number of searches we do everyday, we could be contributing to a good cause at the same time.
Look for your favorite charity in their list or perhaps we could reach a consensus and add a local, Muslim organization.
Kiran
Call for Essays
Zahra and her friend Maria are putting together a collection of essays by Muslim American women to be published in a book. Each essay must be written by a practicing Muslim American woman, either born and/or predominantly raised in the U.S. They are looking for contributors between the ages of 22 and 35 who are born into a Muslim family and claim Islam as their faith.
Please write articulately about a personal aspect of your life with regards to being a Muslim American woman. The essay should express in some way how your Muslim-ness and American-ness affect your life. This need not be overt but the essay should come from that perspective.
Essays should be no longer than 1000 words and will be edited for clarity. All submissions may not be accepted, but every submission will be considered. Please include name, age, birthplace, sect of Islam, profession/field, and anything else about yourself that might be useful for us to know (short bios are fine).
This is a project that, Inshallah, will appear across a variety of platforms, both national and international.
Please send all queries about this project and/or entries via email to: muslimabook@gmail.com
Please write articulately about a personal aspect of your life with regards to being a Muslim American woman. The essay should express in some way how your Muslim-ness and American-ness affect your life. This need not be overt but the essay should come from that perspective.
Essays should be no longer than 1000 words and will be edited for clarity. All submissions may not be accepted, but every submission will be considered. Please include name, age, birthplace, sect of Islam, profession/field, and anything else about yourself that might be useful for us to know (short bios are fine).
This is a project that, Inshallah, will appear across a variety of platforms, both national and international.
Please send all queries about this project and/or entries via email to: muslimabook@gmail.com
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
GREG MORTENSON FUNDRAISER, SPONSORED BY CAMP AND AMWA
Buy Tickets Now!
Venue: Monty's Banquet's, Bensenville IL
Date: April 21, 2007
Time: 6:00 P.M.
TicketsL $50.
630 926-1564
Monday, March 12, 2007
Driving Lessons for Refugees
march 12, 2007
Asalmalaikum,
I am soooo thrilled to let you know that AMWA just scored another little victory! Sr. Amena Tahera and I worked together to accomplish a plan to help the refugees learn to drive. Zakat Foundation is providing the funding and MSI is taking care of the paperwork. Mashallah, we've gotten funding for 10 learners to begin with. Please do dua that this initiative grows bigger and better. Zakat Foundation is paying refugees to teach each other ( we've got a liability-free contract singed by the students) and while this isn't the best of plans, it is a beginning. This took all of two days to organize but a whole lot of persistence and follow up to get the job done. I can't thank Muslim Society Inc. enough for their complete dedication. They have always been accessible even with a few hours notice, and very receptive to getting programs underway, alhamdollilah.
Next on the big picture agenda is having a meeting with District 4's Peter Roskam and the Illinois Dept. of Transport to see if they can make some sort of program available to low income people, to learn to drive, given how essential it is. Anyone interested in initiating this - making the calls to Roskam and IDOT to get a meeting date?
Jazak Allah for your duas. Here's doing growing wider, stronger wings!
Salam
Naazish
Asalmalaikum,
I am soooo thrilled to let you know that AMWA just scored another little victory! Sr. Amena Tahera and I worked together to accomplish a plan to help the refugees learn to drive. Zakat Foundation is providing the funding and MSI is taking care of the paperwork. Mashallah, we've gotten funding for 10 learners to begin with. Please do dua that this initiative grows bigger and better. Zakat Foundation is paying refugees to teach each other ( we've got a liability-free contract singed by the students) and while this isn't the best of plans, it is a beginning. This took all of two days to organize but a whole lot of persistence and follow up to get the job done. I can't thank Muslim Society Inc. enough for their complete dedication. They have always been accessible even with a few hours notice, and very receptive to getting programs underway, alhamdollilah.
Next on the big picture agenda is having a meeting with District 4's Peter Roskam and the Illinois Dept. of Transport to see if they can make some sort of program available to low income people, to learn to drive, given how essential it is. Anyone interested in initiating this - making the calls to Roskam and IDOT to get a meeting date?
Jazak Allah for your duas. Here's doing growing wider, stronger wings!
Salam
Naazish
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