Issuu

Andy Schor, Mayor GeorgeBrookover,Mayor

Master of Ceremonies

Welcome

Interreligious Prayer

Prayer

Recognition of Sponsors

evening program

Areesha Shah

Mayor Andy Schor City of Lansing

Mayor George Brookover

City of East Lansing

Pastor Iris Cotton Fearless Faith Church Ministries

Imam Sohail Chaudhry Islamic Center of East Lansing

Pat Spyke

CEO, LAFCU and Board Member of GL Food Bank

Dinner Served

Ramadan Video

Areesha Shah

Rulaine Stokes Poem Writer, Teacher and Performance Artist

Our Work as a Community

Introduction of Keynote Speaker

Keynote Speaker

Closing Remarks

Greater Lansing Food Bank

Thasin Sardar Islamic Center of East Lansing

Dr Farhan Bhatti, M D

CEO, Carefree Medical & Dental

Lt. Gov. Garlin Gilchrist II Lieutenant Governor, State of Michigan

Dr. Farhan Bhatti, M.D.

Michelle Lantz

CEO, Greater Lansing Food Bank

mayors’ welcome note

We are so grateful to have you here to join us at the 17th Annual Mayors’ Ramadan Unity Dinner. The purpose of this dinner is to celebrate the importance of diversity and unifying as one to help those who face hunger or food insecurity. This year, the theme is “Unity Through Meals,” which embodies the fact that this ongoing effort brings communities and individuals from different walks of life together through and unites them And on that note, I’d like to express our gratitude towards both sponsors and attendees who have done just that This event supports the Greater Lansing Food Bank (GLFB) and helps individuals, families and communities by providing them with food and resources right here in the Greater Lansing Area Supporting the GLFB increases its capacity to reach out and do more throughout the entire capital region Please enjoy tonight's event, and thank you again for your support!

We welcome all of you who have joined us tonight for the “17 Annual Mayors’ Ramadan Unity Dinner”. Our theme this year is “Unity Through Meals”. Once again, the funds raised by your participation will help support the Greater Lansing Food Bank (GLFB). The Food Bank is a vital element in our region’s continuing quest to provide vital resources to those who go hungry. Thank you for your participation in this important work It is only through our efforts together that we can continue in a tradition of sharing and respect for all people in the Greater Lansing community th

committee members

Dr. Farhan Bhatti, M.D.

Lucianna Solis

Akua Ekye-Addai

Amber Stairs

Mike Mckissic

Max Mather

Carrie Sampson

Archie Foote

Imam Anthony Weatherspoon

Ali Ali

Mayor Andy Schor

Mayor George Brookover City of Lansing City of East Lansing

Thasin Sardar

Lt. Governor Garlin Gilchrist II

Lieutenant Governor, State of Michigan

Lieutenant Governor Garlin Gilchrist II has dedicated his career to solving problems A software engineer by training, he uses thoughtful and fact-based practices to make government work better for Michigan families on issues like entrepreneurship, criminal and juvenile justice, health care, affordable housing, and economic opportunity He is committed to building a Michigan where every person can reach their full potential

As leader of statewide task forces on jail, pretrial incarceration, and juvenile justice, he worked across the aisle to champion historic legislation to build a smarter and fairer justice system that saves taxpayer money and helps hundreds of thousands of Michiganders access better opportunity for jobs and housing

As chair of Michigan’s COVID-19 Racial Disparities Task Force, Lt Governor Gilchrist acted decisively to respond to the pandemic’ disproportionate impact on communities of color Michigan led the nation in tackling racial disparities and continues to expand access to affordable, equitable health care

keynote speaker background on the ramadan dinner

The first Mayors' Ramadan Unity Dinner was proposed and organized by Sadia G Covert, Esq in 2007 It started with approximately 100 attendees at the Cooley Temple Conference Center of Cooley Law School, raising over $1,000 its first year Since then, the Mayors' Ramadan Unity Dinner has grown to reach an audience of more than 500 attendees and has provided thousands of meals to children and families through the proceeds that have been raised for the Greater Lansing Area Food Bank

Covert is the founder of the nonprofit, Uniting Through Cultural Awareness and Regional Education (UCARE), whose mission is to counter hate and bigotry through diversity education and community empowerment. Covert is also an attorney, owner and partner of Covert & Covert, LLP., who wrote a hate crimes law that gives victims more ways to seek restitution and damages and requires education of offenders about the specific community or group they targeted. As a state-certified instructor for enforcement, she also was the first female Muslim to develop a fourhouse state-certified curriculum on Islamic Cultural Awareness in the state of Illinois and has trained hundreds of police officers and other law enforcement officials on the subject.

Given her extensive background, experience and dedication in uniting communities together to positively impact the narrative of underrepresented groups of people, Ms Covert was awarded former U S President Barack Obama's Volunteer Service Award in 2016 Sadia was presented with a special recognition award in 2013 for establishing Lansing's annual Mayors' Ramadan Unity Dinner while she volunteered as a mayoral intern Her mission for the dinner remains the same: to alleviate hunger while embracing religious diversity and interfaith understanding