IMMC 8^th YEAR ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION

A Centralized Leadership for Muslims in America

The landscape of Muslims in America includes a picture of the broader Muslim World. With respect to different socio-economic and political agenda’s, this workshop seeks to create a platform for building a bridge towards a central body of Muslim leadership in the United States that will serve as a foundation for a unified front.
During this session Imam Siraj Wahhaj will be honored for his sustainable leadership, dedication and service to the Muslim community in America.

SPEAKERS

• Imam Siraj Wahhaj, Muslim Alliance in North America (MANA)
• Imam Faheem Shu’aibe, Masjidul Waritheen
• Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) Representative (invited)
• IMAN Representative, Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN)
• Zahid Bukhari, Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA)
• Akbar Muhammad, African Literacy Foundation

Civil rights and Muslims

Since September 11, 2001, Muslim Americans civil rights have been dangerously slipping away in big and small ways. Many violations of Muslims civil rights have been recorded across the country including detention without charge, denying the right to an attorney, curbing freedom of speech, Muslim profiling, and many others. Hate crimes have steadily increased against Muslim Americans and donations to Muslim charities have been substantially reduced since September 11. This workshop will address understanding of civil rights in America, and how we can work with other organizations to eliminate discrimination against Muslims, end profiling, strengthen non-profits and other charitable Muslim organizations, and ensure that Muslims in America are treated fairly and within the confines of the law.

Speakers

• Nihad Awad, Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR)
• Ibrahim Abdil-Mu’id Ramey, Muslim American Society (MAS)
• Nsombi A. Lambright, ACLU of Mississippi
• Sabir Abdul Haqq, Businessman and Activist
• Patricia Ice, MS Immigrants Rights Attorney

Remixing the Art of Spiritual Change

This panel offers new, youthful approaches to humanizing Islam to the general public through disciplines of the urban aesthetic by way of filmmaking, hip hop and digital media. Poetry and calligraphy were mediums used in the past to enlighten people about Islam but now these art forms have evolved to include a modern aesthetic: spoken word, performing arts, mural painting and digital media/arts. Remixing the Art of Spiritual Change will inspire a progressive discussion about new aesthetics, trends and norms among multicultural and multiracial Muslim youth, how (and if) this art can be propelled as Da’wah, and finally, to present a view of Islam aside from the dogmatic context it is often viewed within.

Speakers

• Hasan Salaam, Muslim Political Lyricist-Activist-Youth Mentor
• Kauthar Umar, Photographer, Writer & Co-producer of “New Muslim Cool”

Healthy Family and Marriage Relationships

As immigrant and indigenous communities mix under the broad umbrella of culture and Islam, what kind of priorities should our communities have? How do we reconcile Islamic traditions with cultural habits and American lifestyle? What can we learn from each group? How do we merge them to promote thriving healthy communities? What role does diet and nutrition play in healthy family and marriage relationships?

Speakers

• Reshma Inamdar, MBA, CPA/Founder SEMAH (Domestic Violence)
• Amanda Dahl, RD, Assistant Professor of Nutrition
• Aisha Waheed, Co-founder of United Muslim Association
• Imam Faheem Shu’aibe, Quranic-based Family Relationships
• Maryam Rashid Washington, IMMC and Educator of Inner-City Students

Latino Renaissance

The Renaissance (from French Renaissance, meaning "rebirth";was a cultural movement that spanned roughly the 14th to the 17th century, beginning in Italy in the Late Middle Agesand later spreading to the rest of Europe. The term is also used more loosely to refer to the historic era, but since the changes of the Renaissance were not uniform across Europe, this is a general use of the term. To the Muslim world, “Latino Renaissance” is a catch phrase for the ‘rebirth’ of Islam among Spanish-speaking people. For 700 years the glory of Muslim Spain was heard around the world. The fear that Islam would be a global power shook Europe into the most horrendous period in history the “Inquisition”. In response, genocide and torture worked hand in hand to destroy the art, literary works, medical contributions and architecture of a unique and vibrant society. Today from Cuba to Spain, Latino Muslims are taking charge of history by spreading Islam from East coast to West. They are involved with art, Hip Hop, and the political forefront, in addition to spreading the teachings of Islam and attending learning centers throughout the world. This workshop will touch upon the contributions of Hajj Malik Shabazz aka Malcolm X to present day.

Speakers

• Imam Yusef Maisonett, Latino Muslim Leader
• Imam Ali Siddiqui, Latino Muslim Association

Financial crisis and Islamic banking and investment

In the mist of the worst global financial crisis since the great depression, many ask what went wrong with the American financial institutions and banking system and the stock and housing markets. This workshop will answer some of these questions and offer an alternative financing system “Islamic banking” which was relatively unaffected by this financial crisis. Also, we will examine how well did investments in mutual finds following Islamic Jurisprudence fared against the major US stock market indexes?

Speakers

• Mike Abdelaaty, President of American Finance House LARIBA
• Dr. Parvez Ahmed, Associate professor of Finance, the University of North Florida.

Interfaith Dialogue

This panel of religious leaders from different faith traditions will discuss how people of different faiths can work together as one humanity under God through dialogue, understanding and mutual respect. The panel will discuss how we can respond to the global call for building bridges of peace, justice and reconciliation.

Speakers

• Imam Qasim Ahmed, Islamic Learning Institute
• Imam Plemin El-Amin, Atlanta Masjid
• Bishop Ronnie Crudup, New Horizon Church
• Rev. Paul Jones II, Mississippi Religious Leadership Conference
• Dr. James Bowley, Professor of Millsaps College of Jackson

Special Honors

Congressman Andre’ Carson
Imari Obadele, PGRNA
Owens Brooks, Civil rights Activist

Islamic Leadership and its Diversity

Presidents Gaddafi and Toure’ will deliver pre-recorded messages to the conference participants. These messages will utilize the theme of the conference and IMMC’s exhibitions to discuss how past and current Islamic leadership can be utilized as a new way of thinking in molding an Islamic leadership model within the Muslim community in America based on tolerance, embracing diversity and intellectual thought. Then leaders of key Islamic organizations in America will respond to the Presidents’ messages.

Pre-recorded videos

• Honorable Muammar Gaddafi, President of Libya and The African Union
• Honorable Amadou Toumani Toure, President of Mali

Respondents

• Sheikh Al-Hajj Muhammad Umar Al Faruqi, Mosque Umar
• Uzhar Usman, Attorney, Activist, Entertainer
• Abdul Malik Mujahid, SoundVision
• Zahid Bukhari, ICNA
• Imam Plemin El-Amin, Atlanta Masjid

Timbuktu Roundtable: A Conversation about the historical Role of Islamic African leadership

This is an invitation to the diverse African American leadership, to begin a new dialogue about the State of the African American community and to explore a successful community development model from our past. The Timbuktu Exhibition presents authentic examples of developed communities in West African that were great centers of learning and wealthy empires. Islam and Islamic ideas were at the core of the development of these West African communities, as revealed in the ancient manuscripts of Timbuktu. Here, Islam is presented not as a religion, but a cultural worldview with ideas that sparked an Age of Enlightenment in Africa that expanded into Europe and the West. The conversation is to explore the historical role of Islam and Islamic African leadership in Africa’s development and its prospect for development of African American communities today. This dialogue is designed to create intellectual discussion among the leadership based on scholarship and research. It begins efforts toward development of a think tank associated with IMMC’S and Jackson State University’s Islamic Thought Institute concept. It is based on the principle of the leadership’s accountability to build a genuine partnership within the diverse African American leadership around a common vision for a more unified, peaceful, safe, healthy, productive, morally strong and socio-economically competitive community.

Speakers

• Akbar Muhammad, ALF
• Ronald Mason, President of Jackson State University
• Chokwe Lumumba, Jackson Attorney and City Councilman
• Malik Aziz, Darfur 23 author and activist
• Honorable Robert Clark, former MS State Representative

Civic Responsibility

This panel discusses the responsibility of Muslim organizations to actively engage in advancing the voices of the unheard in America. How do we use our faith and way of life to transform America and make it better, and at the same time fulfill God’s purpose for us. The panelist will share their stories of how they utilized community-based nonprofit to work for social justice and deliver a range of direct and indirect services beneficial to the public. Special Honors for Mosque Umar in North America, New Medinah Islamic Community, and Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood.

Speakers

• Reshma Inamdar, MBA, CPA
• Imam Alvin Shareef, New Medinah Islamic Community
• Shaheed Amanullah, Founder alt.muslim
• Abdur Rauf (Walter Edwards), Mosque of Islamic Brotherhood
• Salim Al-Nurridin, Mosque Umar & Healthcare Consortium of IL

Tour time will be scheduled at registration. The tour is expected to last an hour. Tours will be performed every 30 minutes starting at 2:30 pm.

ISLAM AT A CROSSROADS IN AMERICA: THE ROLE OF IMMC

Special Guest

Jarvis Al-Amin

Keynote Speaker

Imam Zaid Shakir, Zaytuna Institute

Entertainment

Azhar Usman, "Allah Made Me Funny"

Participants will have an opportunity to learn about the Zaytuna Institute, its mission, programs, functions and benefits to the community. Also, participants will interact with imam Zaid over a range of topics of interest to the participants. We will also use this opportunity to raise funds in support of the Zaytuna Institute.