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COVER STORY
A constellation of Muslim organizations attends to the many facets of community life in Chicagoland. BY NAAZISH YARKHAN
City of Big Hearts
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ast summer, fleeing her abusive husband in Jordan, Sara Ahmad arrived in America with her four teenaged children. When she approached Arab American Family Services (AAFS; www.aafsil.org), she could not speak English and had no job skills. Two caseworkers quickly took on her case. One worked on securing medical coverage and food stamps through the Illinois Department of Human Services; the other worked on enrolling her children in school. AAFS caseworkers also provided them with school supplies, food during Ramadan, clothing, Eid gifts, and various other essentials. “People often feel isolated when they come to America,” said Sara in Arabic. “But frommarriage the day I came to the I felt that I The Islamic ideal ofagency tranquility, was in my country. The agency helped me and I was encouraged to love, and mercy among the spouses improve myself. And thanks to them I got my children enrolled in eludes families.were Here school quickly, evensome thoughMuslim all their documents notis ready. AAFS helped me feel safe and respected.” some insightful advice on how they can
Nestled in Bridgeview, IL, the heart of a densely populated Muslim Arab community, this nonprofit social services agency was founded in 2001 by immigrants Itedal Shalabi and Nareman Taha. It is one of Chicagoland’s several initiatives, some more established than others, to give back to their city and (clockwise from right) help its most vulnerable residents. ICNA workers bring ^ Apna Ghar: The first social service organization with supplies to new a primary focus on South Asian and other immigrant comimmigrants; Tasneem munities, Apna Ghar, Inc. (“Own Home”; www.apnaghar.org) Usmani and Kareem provides culturally appropriate, multilingual services for Irfan join interfaith service for Haiti victims; survivors of domestic violence. Founded twenty years ago Khaleelah Rafeer (left by five Asian-American women who set up a domestic viorear) of South Side Eid lence hotline, it remains a secular organ-ization and, like the Committee presents an Addison, IL-based Hamdard Center of Human Services, is entertainment center to a leading agency as regards Muslim immigrant survivors of Taylor Park; Muslim youth serve as honorary domestic violence. In 2009, 55 percent of its clients self-idenstate Senate pages tified as Muslim. Apna Ghar’s shelter provides separate food storage and preparation tools and areas for vegetarian or halal-observant women. The staff understands the various dress and/or religious traditions that can keep these women from feeling comfortable in community living situations or in accessing broader systems. ^ Hamdard Center: In 1992, the late Dr. Farzana Hamid and her husband Dr. Mohammad Hamid established the Hamdard Center for Health and Human Services (www.hamdardcenter.org) to address the critical mental health needs of, and do-
realize it in their own lives?
40 ISLAMIC HORIZONS JULY/AUGUST 2010