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COVER STORY language. They based their ultimately successful request on the facts that the State Department has identified Arabic as a strategic world language, that learning it can help students in world trade and national security, and that it can open more doors for our children. “It was a pleasure to see so many Muslims from different parts of Illinois doing advocacy for the first time right in the heart of Illinois State government” said Abdul Javid (board member, the Islamic Society of Northwest Suburbs, Rolling Meadows). Around half of the Muslim ACTION! Day participants were students from the Muslim Education Centre, the Aqsa School, the Chicago Metropolitan Educational Center for Community Advancement, the Islamic Foundation School, the
Universal School, and other full-time Islamic schools. Students also wrote essays and applied for honorary Senate page positions so they could be in the Senate chamber while it was in session. “I enjoyed the amount of action that was taking place in the Senate chambers, and being able to feel like I was trusted with some great responsibilities,” said tenth-grader Haleema Shah from Islamic Foundation School in Villa Park. “I was at Aqsa School the day after Muslim ACTION! Day and the school’s principal and administrative assistants walked up to me with their arms wide open and gave me a very warm hug of appreciation” said Amal Ali, the Council’s youth director. “Words can’t do justice for the amazing experience our students had today,” wrote
Khalida Baste (principal, Aqsa School) in an email message to the Council. “These are the steps that will lead them to be the leaders we need” she remarked.
More Civic Achievements Muslim Democrats (www.muslimdemocrats.net) is a Chicago-area organization that played an active role during the 2008 presidential election. From articles like “What a masjid can and cannot do in the elections” to phone banking and mobilizing people to vote early, the organization encouraged Muslims to engage in training and promote civic engagement. The community has also participated wholeheartedly in national campaigns like “Muslim Serve” (http://maserve.org/), with close to eighty projects submitted by the Council and its member organizations. Blood
Harnessing the Energy CIOGC has helped facilitate networking, capacity building, and coordination among Greater Chicago’s young Muslims. BY AMAL ALI ith a profound vision to fulfill the prophetic model of youth development, the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC) has allocated a substantial portion of its energy and resources to working with young Muslims. When one considers the actual extent of the area’s youth-work landscape — 46 weekend schools, 15 fulltime Islamic schools, over 50 member organizations, over 100 youth mentors, more than 15 MSA campus chapters, and at least 40 youth groups — one can understand CIOGC’s focus on network facilitation, capacity building, and coordination among Greater Chicago’s young Muslims. Leadership retreats entitled “SOAR! Muslim Youth at the Highest Elements” have been very well-received by the community. SOAR!, a day-long retreat offering team challenges and leadership workshops led by youth development experts, enables participants to experience a series of initiatives held at least 30 ft. in the air. Strategy and strength, combined with strong spirituality, are employed by teams to ascend climbing towers with over 1,000 sq. ft. of climbing surface and multiple routes. Relying on their teammates and concentrating intensely, they are compelled—if they want to make it back down safely—to master the qualities of unity and personal excellence. After the vigorous four-hour course in the field, young minds and souls are stimulated
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by illuminating workshops from service learning, community organizing to social and civic responsibility, leadership development, character building, all of them led by youth development activists and spiritual trainers. Greater Chicago’s approximately 200,000 Muslim youth, many of whom carry a hyphenated identity, are largely left alone to negotiate a trail between assimilation and denial. This retreat is very timely, for the post-9/11 strengthening of traditional stereotypes has often left young Muslims unsure of how to address these social tensions constructively. SOAR cultivates a positive selfimage, a well-integrated Muslim American identity, and important community-building skills. “The youth discovered the importance of working together and persevering,” said Dr. Bambade Shakoor-Abdallah (mentor, SOAR; member, CIOGC Executive Committee). “Young people learned to confront and push pass their fears. They discovered a greater sense of self and closeness to God.” The Council has also made great strides in getting Muslim cultural sensitivity and education in public schools. Whether they are forward-thinking and progressive or fixed about their cultural hegemony, all schools will hopefully benefit from an updated resource guide sent to approximately 700 public schools this year. Ayesha may now be delighted upon seeing a guest Muslim story-teller or puppeteer enter her classroom to demonstrate her own culture and faith.
Yusuf may now be overjoyed to notice the selection of books in his teacher’s library that feature Muslim characters as good, honest people or brave, admirable superheroes. These are among the many resources now offered in the Council’s updated “Public School Resource Guide on Muslim Students’ Cultural Sensitivity.” The 2010 version includes a suggested reading list divided by grade-appropriate categories, recommended video documentaries, synopses of Muslim holidays, resourceful websites, references to guest performers, presenters, curricular materials, lesson plans, and more—all of which promise an enriching experience with Muslim culture and will foster communal cohesion within each school. “We don’t like people because they look different or dress different. We fear people who are different. But this show made everyone realize that it is GOOD to be different,” said Merrit Arnold (president, Oak Lawn Elementary, Parents’ Association). “I want Dawud Wharnsby Ali to come back every week. I want to surround the kids and the school with his message. And that song, ‘People of the Boxes,’ it gave me goosebumps. I’m sorry for all those who didn’t come to the show ... and stayed in their boxes. Dawud promoted healing and understanding. We could have brought Bon Jovi or anyone else ... but no, we needed Dawud. We needed that calmness that he and his messages of peace and positivity bring. People