AMERICAN MUSLIM WOMEN ACTIVISTS: Driving Lessons for Refugees

ABOUT US

March 6, 2007 AMWA (American Muslim Women Activists) WE ARE A MUSLIM WOMENS GROUP WHO ARE ACTIVIST MINDED AND HAVE CREATED A DEMOCRATIC COMMUNITY PLATFORM FOR DISCOURSE, DEBATE AND PHILANTHROPIC GRASSROOT MOVEMENTS! We welcome all sister’s concerns and causes in our group, for this is a democratic forum, intended to rally support behind co-members causes. AMWA’s dynamic group of women comprises of journalists, activists, community leaders, TV commentators, think tank members and writers. I think, to get such a diverse group of talents together, is an exceptional networking and meeting opportunity. Objectives we have for the group: 1. Naazish and Samana felt that we need to ask for Allah’s blessings and to begin and end the session with a dua. Our meetings will become part of our ibadath if we begin it with the intention that we are serving Allah and want his guidance, and end it with thanks and ask for mercy, courage and the ability to pursue our work in His way. 2 Samana feels that our mission is to give confidence to Muslim women, providing a forum where Muslim women can learn and share ideas, strengthen the bonds of sisterhood and offer a platform for activism. 3 Ruby is concerned was that there is inadequate representation of women in the Muslim community, on local and national levels. It is important that we meet regularly and that we affect change via women’s voices and families. 4. Sadia feels that we need to address Muslim misrepresentation in the media, and that we need to focus on outreach amongst non-Muslims and try to figure out how we can use our journalist access to reach the mainstream media. The group needs to focus on turning negatives into positives, as well as being involved in humanitarian, political and social activism.

Members List

Ruby: Director of Hamdard, very competent and experienced in a lot of public and policy venues: calm and mature approach to finding solutions, was member of high powered thinktank and worked abroad and in Kabul for USAID, Radio Islam producer http://www.hamdardcenter.org/ Naazish: Creative writer, excellent community and interfaith outreach, runs WRITERS STUDIO, a creative writing workshop for kids and teens. Editor of Chicago Crescent and Halal Consumer Magazine, she also has by-lines in over 26 publications and her commentaries have aired on National Public Radio and Chicago Public Radio. Her other life comprises working as a community activist with DuPage United and refugees to aid in their resettlement. (www.writersstudiodoorswideopen.blogspot.com) & www.naazishyarkhan.blogspot.com Samana: Soundvision writer and editorial board (Altmuslim , Chicago Parent), well versed in Islam and politics, very organized and result oriented writing (I googled muslim women activist found a book of essays Muslim Women Activists in North America which featured Samana's essay: how pertinent:) www.soundvision.com Sadia: free lance writer for (Altmuslim Illume Media, Muslim Girl) and artist, draws (pun unintended) people together. Responsible for creating public murals for the city of Joliet. Faakiha: ISPU member and doctorate candidate Kiran Ansari Rasul: Journalist for Crescent, Chicago Parent, Web Designer. (www.kiranansari.com & http://wallstreettosesamestreet.parentinghoopla.com) She has been on Chicago Public Radio, and also written for Chicago Tribune—Woman News Section, Chicago Baby, Azizah Magazine, Ft. Myers Magazine, Interfaithfamily.com, Motherproof.com, Islamic Horizons, Hiba Magazine, Motherhood Magazine and Holiday Hoopla Ambreen: journalist and podcaster Nadia: Journalist for Daily Herald news Amina: Teacher and very active and highly motivated Sabah: Optometrist, poet, essayist, speaker for Islamic speakers Bureau. Sadaf Syed: Director of A Make Over Studio, http://www.amakeoverstudio.com/.and Photographer. She is currently on a cross country tour of the USA, to photograph Hijabi women, for her coffee table book. The book is intended to challenge stereotypes of Muslim women. She also shoots weddings, portraits and more! Sabah Akbar: Optometrist, Volunteer "hat knitter" for Central Asia Institute, poet, short story writer Seema Malik: Founding Member of Midwest Refugee Assistance Foundation. This is a new organization aimed at providing a social, economic, and religious backbone for refugees who have relocated to the Chicago area. Maria: Sarwath Khan: She is an occupational therapist and works with kids who have physical and cognitive disabilities. I also volunteers for the interfaith refugee and immigration ministries (IRIM) and has worked extensively with refugee kids. She volunteers as a teacher at the Muslim Community Center (MCC) Sunday school, has taught seerah for 3 years and now teachs Quran and Arabic. She is on the Nawawi Foundation planning committee.). She plans on doing some volunteer work in kenya this summer, insha'Allah. Zahra: President/CEO of Zahra Ink, Incorporated. I have found a way to combine my love of writing with my desire to pursue projects that can truly affect change; the result is a small business which I take very seriously and find intensely fulfilling. My restless feet have taken me across the globe on more than one occasion; I have traveled the world in an effort to find myself and have only recently begun to understand that while traveling is indeed a wonderful activity, finding myself can be done much closer to home. Thus I write in anticipation of what I will discover in my words. http://www.zahraink.com/, http://www.latitude.blogspot.com If we have left anyone out anyone or if I can add some info about you, please email me: sashmural@yahoo.com

Donate Furniture!

Salaam friends -I'd like to share a notable organization with you. Sharing Connections is a non-profit based in Downers Grove that collects used and old furniture (and other household items) and gives it to needy people, predominantly in the western suburbs, some of whom sleep on the floor due to lack of a bed!www.sharingconnections.org Consider using this great service for the old couches, bed sits, toys, household items, kids stuff that you have lying around and don't know whom to give it to. They will even come pick it all up if you live within a certain boundary. Ditto with World Relief. Oleg Tsymbalyuk is their donations coordinator. (630)462-7566 His extension is 19, and his e-mail address is otsymbalyuk@wr.org. Feel free to contact him concerning furniture donations, particularly single/ double beds, kitchen tables & chairs, and sofas. ~ Sabah

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

AMERICAN MUSLIM WOMEN ACTIVISTS

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Donate Furniture!

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Monday, March 12, 2007

Driving Lessons for Refugees

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