Announcing MPAC's 2012 Young Leaders Summits in Hollywood, Media & Government

(Washington, DC, - 2/29/12) – The Muslim Public Affairs Council is proud to announce that it is now accepting applications for its 2012 Young Leaders Summits, which offer Muslim American undergraduate and graduate students a one-of-a-kind opportunity to turn their passions in government, media and the arts into possibilities. Through the Young Leaders Summits, MPAC seeks to expand the pool of talent and new voices in the fields of policymaking, news media and entertainment; provide leadership development; and create a vibrant national network of emerging leaders. Visit summits.mpac.org now for more information and to apply. All applications must be submitted by Monday, April 2. Hollywood Summit in Los Angeles | May 30 – June 2 Ever wanted to be a filmmaker, screenwriter, or actor? The Young Leaders Hollywood Summit in Los Angeles is your chance to meet with working actors, screenwriters, directors, talent managers and studio executives; get practical training in digital storytelling; and provide practical tips for transforming your talent into a successful career. Media Summit in New York City | June 10-14 Interested in becoming a journalist, blogger or writer? The Young Leaders Media Summit will provide you with an exciting opportunity to meet prominent journalists, editors, producers and on-air talent to learn about the ins and outs of the news media industry and learn how you can pursue career opportunities in the field. Government Summit in Washington, DC | July 9-14 Wonder how policies get made in Congress and the administration? Want to share your opinions with decision makers? The Young Leaders Government Summit will provide you with an inside-look at the inner workings of the nation’s capitol while simultaneously providing government officials and congressional leaders the opportunity to learn what is on the minds of young Muslim Americans. For more information, contact Young Leaders Program Coordinator Yasmin Hussein atyasmin@mpac.org or (202) 547-7701. Founded in 1988, MPAC is an American institution which informs and shapes public opinion and policy by serving as a trusted resource to decision makers in government, media and policy institutions. MPAC is also committed to developing leaders with the purpose of enhancing the political and civic participation of Muslim Americans. [CONTACT: Marium Mohiuddin, 323-258-6722, marium@mpac.org]

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Celebrating the Roots of Islam Through Black History Month

The contributions to Islam and America by African Americans have been both inspiring and truly eye-opening. Without a doubt, Islam in America, as it stands today, would not be the way it is without African American influence. Sadly, the narrative of Islam in America generally tends to forget about the major impact African Americans made in shaping a Muslim American identity.

More than 200 years ago, our nation was embedded in the gross practice of slavery; by 1800, estimates have shown that at least 15 to 30 percent of slaves were Muslim. Muslim slaves unknowingly contributed to the narrative of Islam in America by continuing to practice their faith in the face of great adversity. Indeed, Muslims have been part of the American framework since its very inception. American society saw its first population of Muslims through the import of African slaves. From that point, there are historical accounts of Muslims fighting in the American Revolutionary War, aiming to assist in the very creation of this nation.

For example, Peter Salem, a former slave of Muslim background from Massachusetts, fought in 1775 in the Battle of Bunker Hill and later fought in the Battle of Saratoga. In the course of our nation’s short history, Muslims have participated and fought in every American war. Further, when the slaves were emancipated, they fought for their nation’s principles of freedom, equality and justice in the Civil War. Forming the Muslim American identity of participation and engagement—even at the military level—was in its infancy stage of being established.

More than 100 years later, Malcolm X was born and established himself as one of the most prolific contributors to America. In his transformation from petty criminal to a member of the Nation of Islam where he espoused powerful rhetoric in defense of black supremacy to his shift to Sunni Islam, Malcolm X proved to be an intellectual force in the formation of identity to be reckoned with. Malcolm’s fascinating change from exclusion in American society to the realization that participation and engagement within the larger fabric of our nation was exemplified, highlighted and emulated during and after his life. From, “we’re not American, we’re Africans who happen to be in America. We were kidnapped and brought here against our will from Africa. We didn’t land on Plymouth Rock- that rock landed on us,” to his infamous speech in Cleveland, Ohio, “The Ballot or the Bullet,” in which he stressed the importance of political participation to address political maturity and recognizing that through unity comes action.  

African Americans have certainly established the bedrock of Islam in America; without them, the way we see and experience Islam in America today would not be. In a time when Islam is seen as a suspicious foreign entity existing within the U.S., the centuries old narrative of Islam in America proves otherwise—it has been a thriving, contributing force to the very structure of our nation from the country’s inception.

It would be completely untrue for the African American experience to be left out of the hundreds of years of forming and shaping a Muslim American identity. The narrative exists, and the roots of Islam in America can be dated back to the very formation of this nation on the backs of those whose religion values freedom, justice, human rights and equality.


[CONTACT: Haris Tarin, DC Office Director, (202) 547-7701, haris@mpac.org]

National Young Muslim American study by MPac

The Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC). I am the Policy and Research Fellow at MPAC, conducting research on college-age (18-25) Muslim-heritage Americans in the United States.

The survey is being administered through faculty at Missouri State University, in a partnership to enhance the research and effectiveness of this project.
 
The Muslim Public Affairs Council  has recently launched a survey focusing on civic and political participation among Muslim American youth. This is an important part of a larger research project, which aims to empower the youth of the Muslim community with regards to civic and political engagement. 

MPAC is a non-profit advocacy organization working for the civil rights of Muslim Americans, the integration of Islam into American pluralism, and for a positive, constructive relationship between Muslim Americans and their elected representatives. 

This survey is meant for Muslim citizens and permanent residents of the United States. The results of the survey are meant to provide policymakers with solutions to increase civic participation among Muslim youth.

We need your assistance in getting the word out. Here is the link to our online-based questionnaire, we kindly ask you to forward it to all the sources you think would fit this population criteria. 

Participation in this survey is completely anonymous and voluntary. It
should take about 15 minutes to complete.

For more information please visit "MPACNews"

Any questions or concerns can be directed to Hisham Fageeh at hisham@mpac.org

Visit our Facebook Event Page!

-- 
Hisham E. Fageeh 
Policy and Research Fellow 

Washington, DC Office
Muslim Public Affairs Council

Tel:             202-547-7701       / Fax: 202-547-7704
www.mpac.org / hisham@mpac.org

I am asking for financial support of you and people you know.  Currently my biggest need is financial to do printing and mailings. 

This can be done online by going to my website (WWW.BARRYALIRIZA.COM), 

selecting help me make it happen then selecting donate.

Please send this email to everyone you know.  Also please send an email to: barryaliriza@yahoo.com with your address, telephone and email if you are registered in Sterling, VA and plan on voting for me so we can build our data base of voters for Barry.  I am also asking for you to place my website on your facebook account. 

I am running for STERLING SUPERVISOR.  Please visit:  www.Barryaliriza.com for details on my bio and platform.  I need your vote, volunteers and your financial support (can be made online).

Primary elections for the Democratic Nominee will be on July 23rd 2011 from noon to 4:00 pm  This will be an un-assembled caucus (a.k.a. Firehouse Primary).  The elections will be at the Sterling Community Center/Library, 120 Enterprise Street, Sterling, VA  20164, Tel:              703-430-9480      .  The Firehouse Primary is open to ALL of Sterling District's registered voters.

For the most part only strong dems and/or our supporters will show up...and yes there can be some republicans, but all have to sign a loyalty pledge to support the winning Democrat before they are allowed to vote.

Absentee voter ballots will NOT be allowed.

The Sterling District residents living in the following precincts can vote for me:

701 Sully Elem School,

702 Park View High School,

703 Rolling Ridge Elem School,

704 Guilford at Sterling Middle School,

705 Forest Grove Elem School,

706 (was 211) Buchanan (Former Potomac District with Supervisor Lori Waters)

707 (was 212) Claude Moore Park (Former Potomac District with Supervisor Lori Waters) 

708 (was 609) Seneca (Former Sugarland District with Supervisor Susan Buckley)

709 (was 608) Mirror Ridge (Former Sugarland District with Supervisor Susan Buckley)

For Sterling residents to know if you can vote for me the voters can click: 

Register

The last four precincts have not been updated yet but even if the new or old precincts show then they can vote for me.

Sincerely,

Committee to Elect Barry Aliriza
P. O. BOX 3332
Sterling, VA 20167-3332
ph:             703-598-7269      
barryaliriza@yahoo.com

 

 

BOLD ACTIONS MUST FOLLOW PRESIDENT’S CALL FOR END OF STATUS QUO TOWARD MIDDLE EAST & NORTH AFRICA

(Washington, DC - 5/19/11) -- The Muslim Public Affairs Council today commended President Barack Obama’s stated pledge to shift U.S. policies toward the Middle East and North Africa, particularly his repeated recognition that the “status quo is unsustainable” in both the Middle East and the U.S. approach to the broader region. As the world looks on, the test moving forward will be what bold and decisive policies and actions will take place to turn the rhetoric into reality.   SEE: Full text of President Barack Obama’s speech   “President Obama’s support of democracy, human rights and self-governance for all people, irrespective our geo-political interests, is a crucial stance which reflects our nation’s values,” said Haris Tarin, Director MPAC’s Washington, DC, office, who was on hand for the president’s speech. “As each country in the region continues to struggle to bring about lasting change and democracy, we as Muslim Americans underscore the point that our short-term national interests must align with our long-term values and vision for the region.   "Failure to change our approach threatens a deepening spiral of division between the U.S. and the Middle East," the president added.   The president repeatedly underscored the U.S.’s commitment to support the self-determination of people across the region, and warned Middle East leaders that continued resistance to calls of reform from their people means their days are numbered. He specifically outlined sanctions against Syria and criticized Bahrain and Yemen.   At the core of the regional struggle for self-determination is the ongoing struggle of the Palestinian people for their own state. MPAC supports Obama’s statement that a “democratic Jewish state cannot exist with a permanent occupation.” Stressing the administration’s support for a two-state solution which abides by 1967 borders and self-governance by Palestinians, Obama made an important statement about the U.S. needing to tell the truth as a reflection of its commitment to Israel.   Calling for an independent statement is crucial for U.S. policy in the region. But the test moving forward for the administration will be if they stand firm in pressuring Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to make changes in policy that will create the conditions which actually allow for a Palestinian state and security for both Palestinians and Israelis. Prodding Israel to accept that it can never have a truly peaceful nation that is based on "permanent occupation" is commendable, but the world will be watching to see if U.S. policy will back that statement up with real action. The first test will be later this week when Obama addresses the annual conference of the American Israeli Political Action Committee.   Finally, we echo the president’s characterization of Osama bin Laden as a “mass murderer” rather than a “martyr,” and his recognition that bin Laden and al-Qaeda are increasingly irrelevant to Muslims worldwide who are successfully using peaceful means to achieve real change.   Obama’s parting words also made an important cultural link between centuries-old American struggles for advancement and those of the people of the Middle East and North Africa:   “For the American people, the scenes of upheaval in the region may be unsettling, but the forces driving it are not unfamiliar. Our own nation was founded through a rebellion against an empire. Our people fought a painful civil war that extended freedom and dignity to those who were enslaved.   “And I would not be standing here today unless past generations turned to the moral force of nonviolence as a way to perfect our union – organizing, marching and protesting peacefully together to make real those words that declared our nation: ‘We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal.’ ”    Founded in 1988, MPAC is an American institution which informs and shapes public opinion and policy by serving as a trusted resource to decision makers in government, media and policy institutions. MPAC is also committed to developing leaders with the purpose of enhancing the political and civic participation of American Muslims.   [CONTACT: Marium Mohiuddin,             323-258-6722      , marium@mpac.org]