ING

Spring 2010

New ING Presentation Requests
Based on the survey, of the total people requesting an ING presentation, 42% are requesting an ING presentation for the first time this year (Table A).



Presentation Retention
Overall, requesters reported positive experiences. When asked if they would "likely request another presentation in the future," 96% answered "yes" (Table B). 



ING Office Scheduling Administration
A full 100% said that their "request for a speaker" had been "responded to in a timely manner" (Table C), and 96% felt that ING had adequately prepared them for the presentation (Table D). 



Effectiveness of ING Presentation Content
Questioned whether the presentation was able to "fulfill what you hoped to convey to the audience," 66% thought it did an "Excellent" job of doing so. The other 34% felt it did a "Good" job. Although the options of checking off "Fair" and "Poor" were available, no requester chose to select either (Table E). Requesters also had the opportunity to add their thoughts, ideas, and recommendations about the presentations (Tables F and G).

Effectiveness of ING Speakers
In addition, respondents generally reacted positively to the speakers themselves. When multiple speakers presented at a particular venue, the requester had the opportunity to evalu­ate each speaker individually. Overall, when asked about a speaker's "effective ness in conveying the material covered," 71% considered it "Excellent," and 29% thought it was "Good." No one considered it "Fair" or "Poor" (Table H).



Meanwhile, 81% considered the speakers' "knowledge of the subject matter" to be "Excellent." 16% thought it "Good," and 3% found it "Fair" (Table I). 



The speakers' "delivery skills" were considered "Excellent" in 77% of the evaluations. 18% of respondents considered them "Good," and 5% chose "Fair" (Table J).



In response to being asked how well "the speaker connected with the audience," 64% rated their speaker "Excellent" while 33% considered him or her "Good," and 3% found him or her "Fair" (Table K). 



Finally, when asked to evaluate if speakers provided "sufficient time for Q & A," 70% answered "Excellent" while 23% said "Good" and 7% chose "Fair" (Table L). For none of these questions did any requester select "Poor" as an answer. 



Requesters also had an opportunity to provide a written review of the speakers (Table M).
 

ING Impacts Student Perceptions of American Muslims

While Americans under 25 years of age tend to have fewer stereotypes about Islam and Muslims than older Americans, ING presentations help clarify misconceptions they may have.

Beginning in November of 2009, ING began conducting surveys of middle and high school students attending its presentation "Getting to Know American Muslims and Their Faith." To date, ING has collected data from over seven hundred students from twenty-five classroom presentations. ING speakers administer the survey both before and after their presentations to see how audience attitudes change as a result of the presentation. Many of the students were studying Islam in the context of World History or Social Studies at the time of the presentation, so some of the content was often not new to them. While Americans under 25 years of age tend to have fewer misconceptions about Islam and Muslim than older Americans, ING presentations still leave students better informed about the topic as the following surveys, which were conducted between November 2009 and January 2010, indicate 

Overall, respondents indicated that their knowledge increased during the presentation. Prior to the presentation, only 22% of all responding students identified themselves as having a high level of knowledge, but that number increased to 62% after the presentation (Table 1).



Surveys were distributed on a single sheet of paper with identical questions and answer options on the front and back. One designated side was completed before, and the other was filled out after the presenta tion. Students were then asked five questions about their understanding and perception of Islam and Muslims, with a total of thirty possible answers and no limits on the number of answers circled. ING designed these questions to track audience attitudes about six areas that are often stereotyped by the general public. ING uses the results of these surveys to measure its impact in clarifying these particular perceptions. 

Stereotype 1: Islam and Muslims promote violence.
The survey asked several questions about whether Islam or Muslims promote or engage in negative behavior. Both before and after the presentations, only a small minority of students stated that they thought so. For instance, when asked to complete the sentence "I believe that Islam promotes the following," 6% of high school students circled "terrorism" prior to the presentation. That number dropped to 3% afterwards. There was a larger change however in the number of students who answered the same question with "peace". Prior to the presentation, 55% of high school students chose that answer, which rose to 76% afterwards (table 2).



Stereotype 2: American Muslims do not assimilate.
Two of the questions tried to determine whether students see American Muslims as fitting into American culture and life. The first asked "When I think about American Muslims, this is what comes to mind." One of the possible answers, "foreigners who do not speak English," showed a drop among middle school students after the presentation with a shift from 21% who initially selected it, to 10% afterwards (table 3). Among high school students, the number of students responding that American Muslims "have long been part of the history of this country" rose from 36% to 56% (table 4). High school students were also more likely to select the response that Muslims "are ethnically diverse;" afterwards those circling that option increased from 40% to 66% (table 5). Likewise, the percentage opting to say that American Muslims are "diverse members of the community" rose from 55% to 64% (table 6).



Stereotype 3: Muslims are intolerant of and have little in common with other religions.
When asked whether Muslims "share common beliefs with other religions," 60% of high school audiences selected that answer. This increased to 76% after the presentation (table 7). In response to the question "I believe that Islam promotes the following," 38% of high school students selected "respect for other religions" before with a rise to 57% after the presentation (table 8). Also, the percentage of high school students choosing to identify Muslims as "monotheistic" increased from 52% to 76% (table 9).



Stereotype 4: Muslims cannot be good Americans.
These questions gauge audience perceptions of American Muslims' relationship with the United States. Presented with the statement that American Muslims are "Americans like myself," the number of high school students choosing this answer rose from 45% to 61% (table 10). Also, when presented with the option that American Muslims "contribute to the well being of the U.S.," high school students' affirmative answers increased from 47% to 63% (table 11).




Stereotype 5: Islam promotes misogyny.
Several questions were asked about Muslim women and the perception that they are oppressed. Before the presentation, 22% of high school students circled the response that "Islam promotes the oppression of women;" that number decreased to 7% after the presentation (table 12). The percentage of those circling the statement that Muslims "view women as inferior" was also reduced from 28% to 6% (table 13).



Stereotype 6: American Muslims are disadvantaged.
The survey also tried to gauge audience attitudes about whether Muslims are viewed as coming from a lower socioeconomic class. Asked "When I think about American Muslims, this is what comes to mind," 14% of high school students initially chose "high level professionals." That changed to 24% after the presentation (table 14).



These and other results have shown the impact of ING's presentations in challenging common percep tions and stereotypes. ING will continue to administer the survey to various audiences and continue to gauge responses in efforts to improve its educational programs.

Gallup Poll Finds Religious Prejudice Strongest Against Muslims

The Pew Forum on Religion and Public Life released a report in September 2009 which found that Muslims suffer more discrimi nation than any other religious group. A report of a survey conducted by the Gallup Center for Muslim Studies released in January 2010 concurred with the previous poll in its findings that religious prejudice is stronger against Muslims than any other religious group in the U.S. 43% percent of Americans admit to feeling at least "a little" prejudice towards Muslims, compared with 18% towards Christians, 15% towards Jews and 14% towards Buddhists. According to the report, Islam is also the most negatively viewed of the four religions, with nearly one-third (31%) of Americans stating that their opinion of Islam is "not favorable at all." Gallup argues that Americans' prejudice against Muslims is at least partly due to misinformation. Download the full report. 

These polls emphasize the importance of education about Islam and the need for greater outreach. ING's work in this area continues to be timely and critical, and your continuing support is crucial in enabling ING to continue and expand its educational programs. 

Please donate today to make your tax deductible donation.

Introducing ING's Affiliate in Minnesota: Islamic Resource Group

The Islamic Resource Group (IRG) was incorporated in the state of Minnesota in July 2001 as a non-profit educational organization based in the Twin Cities with a chapter in Rochester. In August 2001, IRG became an affiliate of the Islamic Networks Group (ING).

With 23 volunteer Muslim speakers, IRG's educational outreach extends to all the institutions with which ING and its affiliates work. A hallmark of its efforts is IRG's relationships with a number of diverse community based organizations. Some of its initiatives include the following:

As a member of the Minnesota Global Education Network (MNGEN), IRG took part, for the 8th year in a row, in offering educational seminars at the Education Minnesota Professional Conference that draws over 12,000 educators. It partnered with the University of Minnesota to organize "Islam Curiosity Camp" and a series of workshops titled "Muslims and Islam in Minnesota Schools: Dialogue, Resources, and Community." IRG helped provide input for the University of Minnesota Institute of Global Studies website called "Meeting Minnesota Muslims."

IRG serves on the advisory board of the Muslim-Christian Dialogue Center (MCDC) at the University of St. Thomas. IRG has co-sponsored several events with the MCDC and with the St. Paul Interfaith Network (SPIN). IRG is also part of the Twin Cities Interfaith Network (TCIN).

IRG's work with the media has been in-depth and involved. IRG conducted educational sessions for the Minnesota Star Tribune, Twin Cities Pioneer Press, Rochester Post-Bulletin, Minnesota Public Radio (MPR) and took part in a series of discussions on the local PBS affiliate, KSMQ. IRG speakers also participated in "A Peace of My Mind" online project that promotes peace concepts. Two IRG board members blog for the Star Tribune's "Your Voices" blog. Three IRG speakers serve on MPR's Twin Cities Community Advisory Council.

Since 2001, using ING content, IRG has held 2,277 presentations to an audience base of 81,492. IRG has demonstrated consistency and innovation in expanding its outreach efforts to forge long term relationships with its audience and partner organizations. IRG continues to be a key player in educational outreach in Minnesota.

ING Holds Diversity Seminars for Leaders in Spring 2010 Live and on Webinar

To expand ING's educational outreach and promote institutional impact that will affect potentially thousands of individuals around the country, ING has introduced a new series of Diversity Seminars for Leaders. These professional development workshops are developed for corporate executives, institutional administrators and managers, and educators. In today's global economy, the seminars meet a critical need for diversity education and cultural competency skills development. Resource kits and tools will be provided to participants who can then disseminate and incorporate the knowledge they acquire during the seminar to others in their institutions. 

Through participation in the diversity seminars, participants gain:

• Knowledge: A better understanding of American Muslims in areas such as traditions and practices that might impact their interaction with others.
• Understanding: An enhanced understanding of a people or culture to help prevent bias and enhance the ability of executives to foster a tolerant and harmonious work and service environment.
• Skills: Tips and protocols for interacting with American Muslims from various ethnic backgrounds to help improve service delivery.

The following Diversity Seminars are available through June 30, 2010. Learn more and register for an upcoming seminar. If you are interested in hosting a seminar at your organization, contact ING.

Education – Understanding Muslim Students: Fostering an Inclusive Environment
Millbrae School District – March 31, 2010, 2:00PM-4:00PM

Healthcare – Developing Cultural Competence: Improving Healthcare for the Muslim Patient
Santa Clara Valley Medical Center – April 20, 2010, 8:30AM-10:00AM

Corporations – Developing Cultural Competency: American Muslims in the Workplace
Cisco Systems – May 4, 2010, 2:00PM-4:00PM

Law Enforcement – Developing Cultural Competency: Working with American Muslim Communities
San Jose Police Department – June 17, 2010, 8:00AM-12:00PM

ING Hosts its First Townhall for Donors: Provides Update and Receives Feedback 

As ING aims to expand its programs and scope, it held its first townhall meeting for local donors on Sunday, March 21st in Fremont. The purpose of the event was to present an update as well as its strategic goals for the future while receiving input and feedback from donors. 

Local Imam Tahir Anwar opened the event with inspirational words about the importance of outreach and education. This was followed by an overview of ING's strategic goals by ING's president, Maha Elgenaidi. She was then joined by ING Content Director Ameena Jandali for an interactive feedback session with the audience. One of the central topics discussed during the session was ING's engagement in interfaith dialogue, a key component of ING's outreach efforts. Both ING representatives emphasized that by engaging in interfaith dialogue, American Muslims are building bridges with all Americans of faith and none, while creating opportunities for challenging the numerous misconceptions and stereotypes about Islam and promoting a better understanding of the faith and its adherents. Imam Alaeddin Albakri concluded with his own reflections on the importance of interfaith dialogue which he traced back to the Qur'anic verse: "O mankind! We have created you from a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that you may know one another" (49:13). 

ING in the National Spotlight

U.S. State Dept asked five experts: Is it possible to protect religious freedom without limiting free speech?

Here's what ING President, Maha Elgenaidi had to say:

The First Amendment of the Constitution states: "Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech … ," thereby binding together these two important concepts in the consciousness of its citizens and in many ways differentiating the United States from other nations. Both freedoms have been challenged in the brief history of the United States, but both concepts have prevailed in the long term, reflecting an underlying assumption that to limit either would be more detrimental than any possible challenges arising from their application. 

Yet the question arises: Is there ever a circumstance that would warrant the curtailing of free speech to ensure religious freedom? There are times when unfettered free speech allowed the spread of toxic ideas with horrifying results. Violations against humanity do not happen in a vacuum, but are often preceded by a slow and insidious program of hatred advanced by the spoken or written word. 

Today, in light of recent events in the United States and ongoing conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan, the political climate has put a new group of people at risk — Muslims in the West, who since 9/11 have been a target of increased discrimination, harassment and hate crimes. In the aftermath of the tragic Ft. Hood attacks and the Christmas Day attempted airline bombing, reports of mosque vandalism, hate crimes, and other incidents have soared. In this context, the freedom to denigrate another's religion is no longer a purely legal issue but takes on other dimensions. It has been noted that an important precursor to genocide is the denigration and dehumanization of the target group, which prepares the public for the suspension of its rights. 

As the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) implements actions that are viewed by some as ethnic profiling at airports, it is not a great leap to envision curtailment of civil liberties and an increase in hate crimes and other incidents against Muslims. 

Are we willing to risk harm to others for an absolute interpretation of an important principle? There is no simple answer, but it is important to note that even under the Constitution, the right to free speech is not absolute, but must be balanced against the rights of others and the welfare of the general public. 

In the spirit of positive change, we urge people of all faiths and backgrounds to view this issue not as a reason to divide us but as an opportunity for dialogue, understanding, and bridge building. 

ING Joins Church-State Experts in Drafting a Statement on Religious Expression in American Public Life

On January 12, 2010, a new document was released to the public that explains the relationship between law as it relates to religious expression. While there is much debate about how law should address issues at the intersection of religion and government, there is much less debate among experts about the current state of such law. Religious Expression in American Public Life: A Joint Statement of Current Law is sponsored by the Wake Forest University Divinity School's Center for Religion and Public Affairs. ING's president and executive director, Maha Elgenaidi served as a member of the committee that drafted the 32-page statement. 

View the full statement.

ING President Maha Elgenaidi Recognized as 2010 Woman of Influence

The San Jose Business Journal has selected its 2010 Women of Influence honorees, highlighting Silicon Valley's most accomplished women. Among the honorees is ING's Executive Director, Maha Elgenaidi. The 2010 honorees were nominated by community members and selected by a panel of judges based on their power and influence within their respective fields and the difference they make to Silicon Valley. The women are leaders in either the private, public, or not-for-profit sectors. The accomplishments of the honorees were celebrated on April 8th at the Fairmont Hotel in San Jose in a dinner sponsored by the San Jose Business Journal, El Camino Hospital, and other event sponsors.