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.