Home > News > And it is FINALLY Here ISNA Convention Kicking Off Now Join Us
And it is FINALLY Here; ISNA Convention Kicking Off Now! Join Us!
UPDATE: July 1, 2011
WE ARE HERE! ISNA staff, volunteers, and convention speakers are already piling in to the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center. What's more? We just confirmed that NFL brothers Husain and Hamza Abdullah will join us for special sessions and to kick off this year's basketball tournament!
If you are in the Chicago area, there is still plenty of time for you to join us; we have programs running through Monday morning and can't wait to see you here.
To view the full program, click here.
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The ISNA convention brings together an all-star line-up of speakers at this year’s convention. While you can find renowned activists, community leaders, and scholars at various events across the nation, you will only find them all in one place at the Annual ISNA Convention. Check here regularly to learn about a selection of this year's top speakers and what you can walk away with after their sessions. You can also view a full line-up of speakers and more information about the convention here.
UPDATE: June 21, 2011
Make your voice heard at this year's ISNA Convention and archive the story of Muslims in America in the Library of Congress, contribute to public service announcements to promote a positive image of Muslims in America, and more.
ISNA is partnering with My Faith My Voice (MFMV), a platform for the American Muslim grassroots voice, on a variety of projects at convention this year to promote a positive image of Muslims in America. MFMV is responsible for the popular public service announcements (PSA) released last fall to share a more comprehensive highlight of Muslims in America with the nation. We have new and exciting projects in store at convention, so find out how you can get involved below!
1. Join the ISNA-MFMV Public Service Campaign
As we approach the tenth anniversary of 9/11, many of our national leaders, community members, and media are asking the questions, "Where are we now?" or "What has Changed in the Past Ten Years?" Unfortunately, Muslims are often not asked these questions directly and the story of our work to promote tolerance and positively contribute to our communities in the last ten years is lost. ISNA and MFMV will be stationed in the bazaar throughout convention to record your thoughts on these questions, and others, to develop public service announcements that will release around 9/11 this year. Just visit the MFMV booth in Row 18 of the Convention Bazaar to make your voice heard!
2. Share What ISNA Means to You
ISNA receives regular emails and phone calls from community members who share with us what we mean to them, how we have impacted them, and what our work means to the community. Whether you met your spouse as a volunteer with ISNA or have been impacted directly by one of our many programs, we want to hear from you. Stories will be archived with ISNA and MFMV, edited into a video for use in many public forums, and used on social media networks to share your voice with our community. Just visit the MFMV booth in row 18 of the Convention Bazaar to record your story!
3. Archive Your Story in the Library of Congress and Possibly on NPR
StoryCorps, the premier national oral history project, will be at the ISNA Convention to record and preserve the stories of the Muslim community in America. Recordings will take place from July 1st to the 3rd at this year's ISNA convention in Chicago, Illinois, and you must make a reservation before convention starts.
A StoryCorps interview is 40 minutes of uninterrupted time for meaningful conversation between two people who know each other. It's an opportunity for us to preserve our stories for future generations by asking questions that matter, such as:
What is the most important life lesson you've learned?What are you most proud of?How has your life been different than what you'd imagined?How would you like to be remembered?
At the end of each session, participants will receive a broadcast-quality CD of the interview and a copy will be archived at the Library of Congress. MFMV will also upload edited versions of the interviews on its website and promote them to the media. NPR selects clips of storycorps recordings to air on their national radio station and local affiliates, and it would be excellent to include the story of Muslims on this outlet.
We hope you'll be able to make a reservation to interview someone whose life you are moved or inspired by. Don't wait to apply to have your story considered. We have a limited number of spots available!
For More Information and to Make a StoryCorps Reservation:
If you, or someone you know, would like to participate in preserving a story as part of American history and will be attending the 48th annual ISNA convention, make a reservation by emailing MFMV at myfaithmyvoice@gmail.com or calling 202-439-1441.
Please offer a short summary of the story that you would like to suggest and why you think it's important for it to be a part of America's oral history.
UPDATE: June 16, 2011
Imam Zaid Shakir of Zaytuna Invites You to ISNA Convention
Click here to receive a special message from one of this year's outstanding ISNA speakers, Imam Zaid Shakir, scholar-in-residence and lecturer at Zaytuna Institute. Learn from Imam Zaid about what you can expect to learn at this year's Annual ISNA Convention.
Register online and also find in depth information about this year's convention.
UPDATE June 15, 2011
This summer, unprecedented gas prices and the rising cost of airfare has made it difficult for large groups to travel in a tight budget. Given the spending difficulties that families may face, ISNA knows this may place difficulties on some families who want to travel to convention, and are offering our help! ISNA is providing assistance to families, masjids, youth groups, and communities for group travel to this year's Annual Convention.
Various groups have contacted ISNA for assistance to travel to the Annual Convention. For example, one group from Texas is traveling with their local imam on board, and ISNA is providing a group rate for them. Another group from the northeast has arranged to travel to ISNA by bus, and ISNA is helping them by partially funding the cost of their bus.
Assistance is meant to provide a benefit to those groups who want to travel to ISNA and can arrange buses, but are not able to fund their whole trip. If your community or group of 30 people or more are looking for assistance on travel costs, please contact Director of ISNA's Annual Convention and Special Projects Br. Basharat Saleem by phone (317-839-1825) or email (bsaleem@isna.net) to get more information on how ISNA can work with you.
Join us for an Islamic Film Festival at this year's Annual Convention in Rosemont, IL . ISNA's Islamic Film Festival provides a platform for filmmakers to present their work to convention attendees. Films will include documentaries, feature films, short films, and animated films. These films explore the diverse images of Muslims and reflect Islamic history, values, societal issues, ethics, morals, and more.
The ISNA Film Festival will feature 18 different films, which will be showcased for the community at the Convention. To register for the Convention and attend this event, click here. The exciting array of films focus on the unique experiences of Muslims in America and all over the world. Below is a snapshot of the films that will be included:
Fordson
?'Fordson' is a feature length documentary film that follows four talented high school football players from Dearborn Michigan as they gear up for their big senior year rivalry game during the last ten days of Ramadan, a month when Muslims traditionally fast every day from sunrise to sundown.
The film begins on September 11, 2009 and concludes at the end of Ramadan ten days later. The story is set against the backdrop of the beautiful Fordson High School, a public high school built by Henry Ford in 1922, which was once all white, but now boasts a 98% Arab population. As the team readies itself to play its affluent, cross town rival, we unearth the adversity faced by a community that is desperately holding onto its Islamic faith while struggling to gain acceptance in post 9-11 America.
?Lost Found
?This documentary tracks the rise and transition of Elijah Muhammad's Nation of Islam, a movement that challenged black people to reclaim their lost identity. Both black and white Americans sacrificed their lives and property to end segregation. Malcolm X and Muhammad Ali exemplified the uncompromising stance on race relations that the Nation of Islam maintained. However, the movement would soon be heading for an abrupt change. Upon Elijah's death, did the movement fall into leadership crisis or did the original members progress towards universal humanity?
?A La Cart
?'A La Cart' is a celebration of the men and women of New York City who make their living as street food vendors. It documents the experience of three Muslims vendors who immigrated to America from various backgrounds. The film portrays their personal struggles as they working class immigrants. Two of the three main characters have established families in the US, while the third leads a much lonelier existence, rarely seeing his wife and children who are thousands of miles away in his home country. The movie shows how hardworking immigrant men and women contribute to the diversity of America's population and enrich its cultural landscape.
For a full listing of all the films that will be featured, please click here. Don't forget to register for the Convention and attend this event that you won't want to miss!
UPDATE: June 14, 2011
Over the past 6 months, the world has watched in awe as millions of Arabs from across the Middle East have risked everything, including their lives, to peacefully struggle against oppressive regimes in search of freedom and justice in their homeland. While the specific paths to freedom have varied for each country, they have all shared a common desire, from Egypt to Bahrain, for a country that respects all its citizens and provides the freedoms that we in America enjoy on a regular basis.
At this year’s Annual ISNA Convention, we will bring you some of the leading activists, who have been on the ground in the heart of the Arab Spring, in Egypt, Bahrain, Tunisia, Libya, Yemen, and Syria. Activists will fly in especially for this convention track and will include Radwan Ziadeh, Founding Director for the Damascus Center for Human Rights Studies; Libyan Ambassador Ali Suleiman Aujali, representing the Interim Transitional National Government of Libya; and Hossam Bahgat, Executive Director of the Egyptian Initiative for Personal Rights. Stay tuned to find out who else will join us for this empowering ISNA convention track.
This comprehensive session is an opportunity for you to get educated on the latest developments in the revolutions of the Middle East, from the people who are in the middle of the movement, and learn how you can take action here in the United States to support peaceful transitions to democracy for the people of the Arab Spring.
Following this Sunday main session, parallel break-out sessions will take place throughout the rest of the day on Sunday of convention to focus more comprehensively on the changes taking place and the needs of the people of each individual country, including: Egypt, Bahrain, Tunisia, Libya, Yemen, and Syria.
Although you might be thousands of miles away from Tahrir Square or the center of Damascus, ISNA will provide you with tangible steps you can take to support our community overseas during this year’s Annual ISNA Convention.
To learn more and register today, please visit us online.
UPDATE: June 10, 2011
The Annual Convention experience doesn't end Sunday! Join ISNA and wrap-up the exciting Convention program on Monday, July 4th. Dr. Rafik Beekun will present a seminar on leadership providing participants with the basic skills needed to be an effective Muslim leader in today's challenging environment.
Dr. Rafik Beekun is a Professor of management and strategy, Co-Director for the Center for Corporate Governance and Business Ethics, and previous Senior Fulbright Scholar the University of Nevada. Dr. Beekun obtained his MBA and PhD from the University of Texas, and his BA and MA from Columbia University, New York. He specializes in strategic management, international management, business ethics, and leadership.
The leadership seminar, normally valued at $200 per person, is free with ISNA Convention registration and will be presented in four segments from 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. In the program, Dr. Beekun will focus on four key elements presented in four modules:
1. Leading from an Islamic Perspective. This module will focus on discussing the components of an Islamic Model of leadership with special emphasis on the Prophet (s) as a servant leader and coach, and on the five steps for developing your effectiveness as the leader of an Islamic organization.
2. Team Building. What is the significance and role of team building within Islamic organizations? An executive committee or board of trustees may be a group, but not function as a team. In this module, we will explore how to transform a regular group into a synergistic team.
3. Conflict Management. Conflicts permeate Islamic organizations, often hampering their work. We will explore how conflict arises, the positive and negative outcomes of conflict, and how to manage conflict while enhancing organizational and interpersonal performance.
4. Strategic Planning. To be productive, Islamic organizations need a clear vision of where they are going and a mission statement to express what they are about. In this short module, we will discuss how to write effective vision and mission statements.
Also on Monday, there will be a "Welcome Ramadan" program with ISNA President Imam Mohamed Magid and Dr. Mokhtar Maghraoui in which attendees will learn how to best prepare for Ramadan. InshAllah we will highlight this part of Monday's program in the next newsletter.
Don't forget to join us for these important sessions as the Convention draws to a close. To register for the ISNA Convention, please click here.
UPDATE: June 9, 2011
Learn how to effectively share your knowledge about Islam from the experts! ISNA's Annual Convention offers an Islamic Speakers Bureau Training where participants can learn how to best represent and share our beautiful faith with any audience. At a time when Islamophobia is rapidly increasing and rhetoric of hate against Muslims is becoming a norm, it is incumbent upon American Muslims to rise to the occasion and define themselves rather than having others define us. To register for the Convention and benefit from this session, please click here.
Join the Islamic Networks Group's (ING) first Speakers Training session at the ISNA Convention. ING Representatives Maha Elgenaidi and Ameena Jandali will train attendees on basic presentation skills as well as speakers' guidelines. They will also provide participants with the knowledge on how to answer frequently asked questions about Islam and Muslims. ING is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to promote interreligious understanding, tolerance, and harmony through dialogue and religious literacy. ING achieves its mission by providing informative presentations and panel discussions that supplement existing curriculum and cultural diversity programs in public institutions.
Sr. Maha Elgenaidi is the founder, President, and CEO of ING and author of training handbooks on outreach for American Muslims as well as training seminars for public institutions on developing cultural competency with the American Muslim community. Recently named by the San Jose Business Journal as one of Silicon Valley's 2010 Women of Influence, Maha is active with many state and federal government agencies and was a former commissioner on Lt. Governor Cruz Bustamante's Commission for One California as well as the Santa Clara County Human Relations Commission.
Sr. Ameena Jandali is a founding member of ING. She is an editor of ING training handbooks on outreach for American Muslims. She is also the co-designer and developer of ING's educational presentations and cultural competency seminars, overseeing all ING content. Since 1993, she has delivered hundreds of presentations in schools, colleges, universities, churches, and other venues on Islam and related subjects.
The presence of Islamophobic sentiments among mainstream American thinkers and media has grown rapidly. To do our part and respond to messages of hatred with a message of peace and confidence, we must gain sound knowledge about our faith and take action through dawah and exercising our rights as Muslim Americans. At this year's ISNA Convention, join us for sessions that will provide participants with practical tools that they can use to combat Islamophobia. To register for the convention and check out the full program, click here.
In a session entitled "Islamophobia -Opportunities, Challenges and Responsibilities for Dawah," Sheikh Yasir Qadhi and Amir Mertaban will discuss how Muslims can effectively participate in society and ensure that their beliefs and values are becoming known. The challenges facing Muslims in American society are ever-increasing. While many of us have very pleasant interactions with people of other faiths and backgrounds, the presence of a significant proportion of Americans that have negative sentiments about Islam cannot be ignored. This session will guide participants on how to address common concerns raised about Islam.
Another session with Sheikh Yasir Qadhi and Khurram Wahid entitled "Muslims Under the Microscope: Tales & Legal Tips for Getting Through Your Life," will provide Muslims with the legal knowledge they need to ensure their rights are not infringed. Panelists will offer practical advice to implement in everyday life. Many Muslims have a personal story about being stopped, searched or questioned at the airport or while going about their daily lives. Panelists will tell tales of "flying while Muslim," and legal experts will give updates on work being done to protect our rights while interacting with law enforcement.
These sessions provide perspectives on how American Muslims can contribute to the cause of combating Islamophobia either through direct dialogue or by ensuring that we know how to peacefully stand up for our rights. Attaining these skills and implementing them in our lives is a way to demonstrate that we love god, love our neighbors, and are doing our part to live in harmony.
UPDATE: June 3, 2011
At this year's ISNA Convention, Representative Keith Ellison and Executive Director of Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) Salam Al Marayati will present on the topic "Empowerment for Muslims: Faith in Public Service." The session will focus on how our faith drives us to help make society a better place for all, encourages participation in good causes, and contributes to the greater benefit of those around us. To learn more about the ISNA Convention program and to register, click here.
?Public service empowers Muslims before Allah (swt) by helping us achieve the goal of improving the human condition. Salam Al Marayati, Executive Director of the Muslim Public Affairs Council, will discuss the role Muslims play in all areas of public service, and why it is important for the Muslim community to have a presence in social empowerment and improvement. Congressman Keith Ellison, the first Muslim elected to the House of Representatives, will be joined by Congressman Andre Carson to provide insights from their own life-long commitment to public service, what motivates them, and how their faith empowers them to strive for what's right.
?Working for the public good through community service providers, non-profits and governmental agencies gives Muslims a vehicle to directly contribute to the public interest. Given the misconceptions and challenges our community faces today, it is necessary for local communities to gain access to tools that they can use to engage with public officials and community representatives. Register for this year's Convention by clicking here to participate in this session to gain insights and lessons about civic engagement that you won't want to miss.
Join us at the ISNA Convention for the 3rd Annual Turkish Symposium! The symposium consists of a series of sessions throughout the convention that are a part of a program tailored toward the Turkish
community. The Turkish Symposium is a special event during the convention, organized to establish a network of support in the Turkish American community that will help preserve their heritage and enhance their contributions. To participate in the Symposium and register for the Convention, click here.
?The symposium will open on Friday after Jummah with scholars Mahinur Ozdemir and Yusuf Kavacki. In the first session, entitled "Turkey's Zero Problem Foreign Policy under the Leadership of Recep Tayyip and Its Impact on World Politics," panelists Fatih Yildiz, Mahinur Ozdemir, Kemal Bozkurt, and Cemal Demir will discuss the leadership and policies of Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. They will provide analysis on how Erdogan's "Zero Problems with Neighbors" policy transformed a warring region into people who embrace each other with the removal of visas, and how his vision will continue to impact Middle East politics.
Among the late afternoon sessions will be a youth panel focusing on issues related to Turkish Youth. This interactive session will focus on the college and graduate students of Turkish origin in the U.S. Three groups of youth that will be represented include: students studying in the U.S. with sponsorship from the Turkish government, students studying in the U.S. by their own mean, and students born and/or raised in the U.S. The speakers will be Ibrahim Demirer, Omer Yazaci, Sumeyye Demir, Fatima G. Abushanab, Bayram Eryilmaz, and Hanif Rauf Soysal.
Another topic at Symposium highlights the Ottomans' approach to keeping multicultural and multi-religious nations of the Middle East, North Africa and Europe in Peace and Harmony for Centuries. This session provide attendees with insights on how Muslims, Jews and Christians lived for 600 years as peaceful neighbors particularly in Jerusalem. In addition, the contributions of scholars will be discussed in this session on 20th Century Scholars who influenced the formation of current Turkish society.
Learn how to bring your heart closer to Allah (SWT) at this year's ISNA Convention. Our theme, "Loving God, Loving Neighbor, Living in Harmony," focuses on the command by our faith to love God, and out of a desire to please Him, to serve others. Developing and nurturing our own love for God is a critical step in personal growth and building the capacity to serve our fellow human beings. To gain beneficial knowledge and practical tools to implement faith through righteous deeds, join us for the Convention. Click here to register.
?One of the main sessions at the Convention entitled "Cultivating a Loving Heart" with Muhammad Al-Ninowy, Dr. Sherman Jackson, and Mokhtar Maghraoui promises to inspire participants to build their love for God. The highest spiritual state that one can attain is the station of having love for God and for that which God loves. This session will offer insights into the importance of cultivating love in the heart; how this love is planted and nurtured in the soul; and the expression of love in our daily lives.
?The panelists in this session represent a variety of backgrounds. Shaykh Muhammad Al-Ninowy has acquired knowledge in many disciplines, including Aqeedah, Fiqh and Hadith, with numerous licenses to teach. He attended Al-Azhar University and studied with many prominent scholars. Dr. Sherman A. Jackson is an Arthur F. Thurnau Professor of Near Eastern Studies, Visiting Professor of Law, and Professor of Afro-American Studies at the University of Michigan. Shaykh Mokhtar Maghraoui is a foundation scholar for Al-Madina Institute and is thoroughly versed in the Islamic sciences and holds a doctorate in the fields of physics and engineering. For more details on speakers and sessions please click here.
UDATE: MAY 20, 2011
“The Quran states that God does not change the condition of a people until they change themselves. We American Muslims, who have harmonized the seemingly disparate American and Muslim parts of ourselves, are uniquely positioned to bridge the chasm, and to contribute some urgently needed fresh ideas on what needs to be changed on both sides.” (Imam Feisal Abdul Rauf, Letter from the Founder of the American Society for Muslim Advancement).
Imam Feisal will speak with Dr. Tariq Ramadan and Dr. John Espositio on "Islam, Pluralism, and Social Harmony," as they offer practical advice and strategies to the community on how to capitalize on the lessons of the “Arab Awakening” abroad of peace and harmony in our own local communities. The session will have a special focus on how to develop social movements that respect pluralism and promote social harmony.
Imam Feisal is the Founder of Cordoba Initiative, an independent, multi-faith, and multi-national project that works with state and non-state actors to improve Muslim-West relations. In this capacity, he provides innovative solutions to those areas where conflict between Islamic and Western communities undermines local and global security. Author of What's Right With Islam: A New Vision for Muslims and the West, he is the visionary behind the Cordoba House Community Center in downtown NYC that received worldwide attention from May through October 2010 and has become an expert in navigate contentious political and social mine-fields to promote social harmony and tolerance.
This
year, Imam Webb will join ISNA President Imam Mohamed Magid, Dr. Sherman
Jackson, and others to speak on this year’s theme at the ever popular
“Saturday Night Main Session.” This panel discussion will focus on
this year’s convention theme, “Loving God, Loving Neighbor, Living in
Harmony,” to discuss the most important messages at this year’s
convention. The Saturday night session is always well received and
designed to gather all convention attendees in one room to reflect on
the most important messages of the convention. This year, more than
ever, we need a common strategy on how to engage with our communities to
combat Islamophobia, create closer relationships.
Imam Webb is a contemporary American Muslim activist and speaker. After
converting to Islam, Webb left his career as a DJ and studied at the
University of Central Oklahoma, where he graduated with a Bachelors
degree in Education. He also studied privately under a Senegalese
Shaykh, learning enough Islam and Arabic to become a community leader in
Oklahoma City, where he was hired as Imam at the Islamic Society of
Greater Oklahoma City. He simultaneously started teaching at Mercy
School, an Islamic K-12 school in Oklahoma City.
We are pleased that both of these leaders will join us and bring fresh insights on establishing a Muslim voice within the pluralistic context at this year's convention. To hear more of their insights and about the sessions they will speak about at this year’s convention, please purchase your tickets here. Visit our website or facebook page often for regular updates on ISNA speakers at this year's convention and this year's new and exciting special events and additions to the convention.
UPDATE: May 13, 2011
To obtain social justice, we must be "humble with Allah and ambitious with humanity. Social justice is a means - not an end - to get peace within ourselves and in our societies". (Tariq Ramadan, ICNA keynote address, "Social Justice: A Means to Attain Inner Peace," 2010. )
ISNA is pleased to announce that Prof. Tariq Ramadan will join the full list of renowned speakers at this year's Annual ISNA Convention; Ramadan will speak on "Islam, Love, and Social Harmony."
Tariq Ramadan is Professor of Contemporary Islamic Studies at Oxford University and speaks regularly on the topic of social justice and dialogue between different communities, locally and globally. Professor Ramadan was voted one of Time Magazine's Top 100 Innovators of the 21st Century.
Through his writings and lectures he has contributed substantially to the debate on the issues of Muslims in the West and Islamic revival in the Muslim world. Ramadan is active both at the academic and grassroots levels lecturing extensively throughout the world on social justice and dialogue between civilizations.
Professor Ramadan returned to the U.S. last year after a hiatus, and was met with much enthusiasm from convention attendees during his keynote address at the Community Service Recognition Luncheon and Saturday night main sessions. We are pleased to once again include him in this year's convention and bring his inspirational knowledge to the national Muslim community as we all struggle for social justice and equality in America.
To hear more of his powerful thoughts on finding social justice through dedication to God, purchase your tickets for this year's convention here. You can also view video clips of Professor Ramadan from last year's convention here.
Visit our website or facebook page often for regular updates on ISNA speakers at this year's convention and this year's new and exciting special events and additions to the convention.