ING Expands Its Reach and Impact in 2008-2009

ING speakers presented at nearly 300 schools, colleges and other organizations, reaching more than 22,000 students and adults in the past academic year. Total presentations in the months of September 2008 through August 2009 represent an 8% increase over the same period from the year before.

The growth in outreach was primarily due to the new Interfaith Speakers Bureau, which recently completed its first full year. This program enabled ING to visit several high schools and colleges for the first-time to teach about Muslims and their religion in the context of America’s religious pluralism. Interfaith panels accounted for one-fourth of ING outreach and reached approximately 5,000 individuals.

ING increases religious literacy and builds mutual respect

The mission and goals of ING are to promote religious literacy and build mutual respect. To achieve these objectives our speaker led presentations provide human interaction, dialogue and visual aids, such as digital presentations and symbols of religions, for the audience to see firsthand. ING’s feedback and evaluation forms measure the impact of ING’s presentations, panels, and cultural competency training seminars on perceptions and relationships. The responses we have received have been overwhelmingly positive.

On increasing religious literacy, here are a few comments from participants:

The information you present reinforces the textbook information and clears up misunderstandings that students have… [The ING speakers] give something neither the textbook nor I can give them… I found your presentation invaluable in broadening the students’ understanding of Islam. (middle school teacher)

The [ING trainer] was very informative. I really had little clue as to the Muslim culture. I have a little knowledge of the religion, but not much. You demonstrated a lot of knowledge and are well versed in the topic, plus being well informed on the "state of the world". (police officer)

On building mutual respect, students and adults wrote:

Your panel did a marvelous job gently opening the doors of their minds. Each panelist spoke beautifully and handled questions respectfully and meaningfully. (university professor)

I am surprised five people, who believe in different religions, can sit next to each other and tolerate each other’s beliefs. There are religious extremists out there and seeing diverse religious people getting along, I feel a sense of peace. (high school student)


Testimonials Demonstrate ING Impact

To demonstrate the positive impact of the Islamic and Interfaith speakers’ bureau programs, ING has launched a series of testimon

Getting to Know American Muslims and Their Faith

At Moreau Catholic High School on a beautiful spring day, Michael Steeb, a theology teacher, welcomed two American Muslim guest speakers to his world religions classes. The students had spent the semester discussing various religions and this week was dedicated to a deeper understanding of Islam and the Muslim world. The classroom was colored with various cultural artifacts including a prayer rug, prayer beads and a calendar depicting pictures of mosques from around the world. The speaker addressed the students with “As-salam alaikum,” as she began the presentation with the common Islamic greeting “peace be upon you.” She then asked the students to respond with “Wa alaikum as-salam,” which is the proper response in Arabic for “and peace be upon you too.” Thus, an interactive environment was created as students heard about the practices of Muslims while asking several questions during the presentation. Read more and download the story.

Interfaith Speakers Bureau Puts a Personal Face on Religion

In a quiet suburb in the San Francisco Bay Area, students and educators alike at the Pleasant Hill Adventist Academy were treated to an interfaith panel of speakers. Not only did the panelists represent the world’s five largest religions, but also a diverse array of backgrounds and achievements set against a backdrop of their individual faiths. Principal Ally Emmerson accompanied the students in to listen to the stories of panelists representing Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, Hinduism and Islam. The group included approximately 50 students and teachers from the ninth through twelfth grade classes in a school that teaches kindergarten through twelfth grades.

High school teacher George Wallace presided over the panel, providing a quick introduction and later fielding questions. Each of the five speakers provided an overview of their religion, and how it related to their daily life. This included the major tenets of each faith, and its practice in today’s modern world. Read more and download the story.


Students in Schools with ING Speakers Score Higher on History-Social Science Standards Tests

The importance of tracking annual student performance

Public schools administer the California Standards Tests (CSTs) for History–Social Science to assess students' knowledge requirements as defined in the California content standards. Each year, these tests are taken by students in 8th grade and in grades 9-11 who have completed U.S. History and World History courses.

Higher proficiency levels in schools hosting ING presentations

An in-depth study of Bay Area schools that have consistently and consecutively offered ING presentations during the past four years shows that these schools scored almost twice as good in CST scores for History-Social Science when compared to schools which did not have ING speakers.


Put your faith into action...
VOLUNTEER at ING!

Here’s what one ING office volunteer had to say about what motivates her:

To be part of an organization that challenges stereotypes is what motivates me to work at ING.

My name is Sadaf Siddiq. I am a Political Science graduate working on a Masters in Public Policy. My passion is studying immigration law and refugee policy and working to bring about political and social change. I am currently working at Unitek Education and volunteering at ING. I live in Fremont, CA.

I was first motivated to begin volunteering at ING when I heard an ING speaker at a Young Muslim Professional conference in San Ramon, CA. I found his talk to be very professional and informative. I really liked what I learned about ING, namely that it is an organization that teaches about religion without proselytizing, and that it provides people an opportunity to learn the facts about a religion, in contrast to the sensationalized images we see in the media. I decided then that I’d like to get involved in this effort and signed up to volunteer at the ING office.

While volunteering at the office I had the opportunity to observe first hand two live school presentations. It was such an amazing experience, listening to the speaker, seeing the interaction between the speaker and the students, and reading the student testimonials afterwards. I truly feel that ING’s work is effective. And in the long-term, by volunteering at ING, I believe I’m working towards building a society that is more tolerant and appreciative of all of America’s diversity; a society in which I’d like my children to live.

If you would like to increase your understanding of your own religion in addition to the religion of others, promote interfaith work, tolerance, understanding and respect for all people, become an ING volunteer. Go to ING’s website and submit the online volunteer application to get started today!

ING Continues to Expand Nationally: New Affiliated Bureau in Louisville, Kentucky

Last year ING was awarded a grant from One Nation, a philanthropic organization founded by George Russell, named after America’s vision of being “One nation... with liberty and justice for all.” The focus and goal of the grant was to utilize existing and potential speakers across the nation who are currently involved or interested in delivering presentations about Islam and Muslims but lack the appropriate training and tools. The grant commenced last year and was completed this month with the development and implementation of ING’s new National Partnership program. This program aims at further expanding ING’s local outreach work across the country. The program involves both the development of the content needed for this program as well as conducting Islamic Speakers Bureau trainings nationwide.

In order to provide the tools for new speaker recruits, ING’s content development department recently completed its second round of revisions to ING materials utilized in this project. Included in the revisions were ING’s three principle presentations now titled “Exploring Muslim Traditions and Practices” and “Getting to Know American Muslims and their Faith” – 45 and 90 minute versions. ING also released a revised Speakers Kit containing scripts to the presentations and answers to over 150 frequently asked questions. Also included among the new speaker materials are training forms and tests used in the certification of speakers and the scheduling of presentations.

This spring ING conducted twelve pilot trainings in the following major cities: three trainings in Chicago, the greater Los Angeles area and in the SF Bay Area each, and one training in Washington D.C., Tulsa and Louisville cities each. Combined, the trainings were attended by 400 American Muslims from diverse ethnic and professional backgrounds, which had the common goal of acquiring the religious literacy to be able to educate others about their religion according to ING’s principles and guidelines. One of these trainings resulted in the formation of a new Islamic Speakers Bureau in Louisville, Kentucky, which is now affiliated with ING.

The feedback from these trainings was overwhelmingly positive with participants expressing their appreciation for the objectivity of ING’s approach in teaching about religion, its guidelines to that affect, and its emphasis on keeping the audience in mind when speaking to them. Trainees particularly appreciated ING’ systematic approach to the training and the tools it provides speakers both through its Power­Point presentations and Speakers Kit.

The next step for ING is taking this pilot program nationwide with scheduled trainings to take place in all major cities in the next two years. ING appreciates the opportunity to take its important work nationwide and expand its vital goal of educating fellow Americans about Muslims and their faith, as well as to empower American Muslims to speak for themselves, rather than allowing others to speak on their behalf.


Join Us for ING’s Annual Supporters Dinner




ING Participates in ISNA’s 46th Annual Convention

ING representatives participated in ISNA’s 46th Annual Convention entitled “Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness” which was held in Washington, D.C. over the 4th of July weekend. ING representatives participated in two main sessions, and two workshops, covering topics from women in the public square to answering difficult questions about Islam and Muslims.

ING’s president Maha Elgenaidi spoke in a main session titled “Women in the Public Square: Reclaiming our Heritage.” She joined a panel of other accomplished female Muslim activists and professionals to discuss the important role of Muslim women in addressing and breaking down stereotypes, both within our community and in society at large, while firmly standing within our Islamic tradition. “Engaging the public with excellence,” Maha said, “is the best way to break down stereotypes.”

ING founding member Ameena Jandali took part in a main session along with three esteemed scholars titled “Foundation to Facilitation: The Pillars of Islam,” where she focused on the importance of charitable giving while discussing Zakat, or required alms.

Both ING members participated in a long-running feature of the ISNA convention, a workshop titled “Answering Difficult and Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) about Islam and Muslims.” The workshop began with an overview of ING’s guidelines for answering difficult FAQs which was followed by inviting the audience to ask their own FAQs of the panel. The panel included scholar and teacher Imam Zaid Shakir and MPAC representative Haris Tarin. The overflow audience responded with numerous questions ranging from the common to the very specific, and ING kept a record of the questions to add to their list of over 150 FAQs.


Educators Give ING High Marks

In June 2009, ING asked nearly 400 educators who had requested an ING speaker presentation or panel whether ING had met their expectations, what additional services they needed, and if they had any suggestions for improvement. The majority expressed high satisfaction levels with their presentations, speakers and the scheduling process.

When asked which parts of the ING presentation were most beneficial for helping educators teach about Islam in their courses, survey participants rated these three items as the most valuable. Each item was rated from 1 to 5, with 1 being the most valuable.

1. Opportunity for students to meet/speak with an American Muslim - 1.06
2. Questions and answers – 1.32
3. Islamic major beliefs – 1.42

One educator provided the following comment, which reflected other responses.

I have nothing but the highest praise for ING and its excellent speakers. I taught Social Science in a middle school for 7 years and it was my great fortune to have ING speakers come speak to my classes for a number of those years. Many students told me that was the highlight of their year


Meet ING Speakers

Meet Nashwan Hamza, one of ING’s long time volunteer speakers for the Islamic Speakers Bureau, who joined the organization almost at its inception 16 years ago. To say that Nashwan has a way with words would be an understatement. He connects with every student in the audience in some way or another and has an approachable presence that encourages dialogue with the students. Nashwan feels that the work at ING is very important because it really is making an impact on the community. He has evidence for this in the countless letters he has received from students who have attended his presentations.

Nashwan is the CEO of an Architectural Design and Construction Group in Monterey County. He received a B.S. in Biology from the University of California, Santa Cruz. He currently lives in Carmel with his wife and three children.

Dianne Muller is one of ING’s Interfaith Speakers Bureau newest speakers; she represents the Christian religion. You would never guess what a short amount of time she has been an ING speaker by the amount of time she volunteers to participate on interfaith panels throughout the Bay Area.

Dianne is completing a M.A. in Theology from the Dominican School of Philosophy and Theology at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley. She is studying world religions and hopes to continue her work in inter-religious dialogue after graduation. Her previous education at Trinity College and Boston University was in the fields of humanities, theology, and anthropology. An active participant in local churches, Dianne is not only a practitioner but also an instructor, lector, and leader of community programs such as RENEW and in the formation of an ecumenical council. Dianne and her husband have three grown children and live and farm in the Napa Valley.


Why I Serve on ING's Board

I remember first meeting Maha Elgenaidi in 2005 while moderating an interfaith panel in San Francisco. I made a mental note that I had not had a formal introduction to Islam prior to that day, and that Maha was the first hijab-wearing woman I'd ever seen in a visible leadership role in the U.S. I also felt an interest in learning more about the Muslim community in the Bay Area and about ING as a result of the experience.

Two years later I encountered Maha once again. She was delivering an interfaith message at a community iftaar (fast-breaking dinner) hosted by the Yaseen Foundation in Belmont, CA. It was a beautiful experience to be welcomed to the local mosque with Muslims, Christians, Jews, and others to share a meal and take a closer look at our respective religions. As I witnessed neighbors from the same community but from different religious backgrounds meet and get to know one another, I became a fan of ING and decided to get involved.

Today, in my role as an ING board member, I view the work that ING does as vital both for individuals and for society. I believe that the work of ING nurtures understanding and acceptance among people from different cultures and religions, which benefits all of us. I also support ING because I believe its programs enable a sense of safety and inclusion for Muslims in America, and for that, I am grateful and honored to serve on the board of ING.


Islamic Speakers Bureau Grows to 30 Speaker Volunteers

The Islamic Speakers Bureau continues to be the core of ING’s educational services. Over the past year, we increased the number of speaker volunteers by 25% from 24 to 30 to help meet ING’s numerous requests for presentations. For nearly 17 years, this program has provided an invaluable service to educational institutions by supplementing social sciences and history course curriculum. In a recent educator survey conducted in June 2009, one high school teacher commented “there is more emphasis on teaching about the Muslim world in its modern context and not simply as part of teaching the basics of the religion….” In addition to visiting academic institutions, ING has also delivered dozens of cultural competency workshops to healthcare providers and law enforcement agencies. Over 20% of its presentations were delivered to various community groups including faith-based organizations and national leadership conferences.


Interfaith Speakers Bureau Reaches Nearly 5,000 in First Year of Program

The Interfaith Speakers Bureau was introduced in 2007 to expand ING’s work by promoting religious literacy and mutual respect through partnerships with interfaith organizations throughout the Bay Area community. This program now includes more than 35 interfaith speakers. In its first year of operation, panels were held for 171 classrooms and other groups at schools, colleges, and faith-based organizations. Every panel includes a Muslim presenter with one or more speakers representing Buddhism, Christianity, Judaism, or Hinduism. The most popular panel is the Muslim-Jewish panel followed by multi-faith panels on “living the faith” or “shared values.” Students enjoy the interactive dialogue and especially value the opportunity to ask the speakers candid questions about their religion. For many, it is the first time they have ever met a Muslim, Jew, Buddhist or Hindu.


Speaker Recruitment at ING

Want to learn to speak in public about religion? ING is currently seeking speaker volunteers to join the Islamic Speakers Bureau (ISB) and the Interfaith Speakers Bureau (IFSB).

The ISB is an educational program open to all Muslims interested in learning to speak in public about Islam from an educational perspec­tive. The IFSB is an educational program open to anyone who practices one of the following major world religions: Buddhism, Christianity, Hinduism, Judaism and Islam. The IFSB trains volunteers to speak in public about their religion as part of an educational interfaith panel.

For over 16 years ING has been at the forefront of local and national efforts to increase religious literacy and promote mutual respect among people of all religions (and none) in our culturally diverse communities. Since 1993 the ISB has been at the core of ING’s outreach efforts. The IFSB was introduced in 2007 by ING to expand its religious literacy outreach programs. This recent initiative promotes religious pluralism by modeling civil dialogue among the world’s five major religions.

Guest speakers are invited to schools, colleges, universities, healthcare organizations, law enforcement agencies, civic centers, corporations and other public and private institutions. ISB and IFSB certified speakers deliver hundreds of onsite presentations each year to increase inter-religious understanding and build relationships among all Americans. If you enjoy speaking and sharing your religious tradition, we invite you to attend an upcoming ING training. Find out when the next speakers training workshops will be held.


ING Receives Foundation Grants

ING’s Marketing and Content Departments recently received a grant from the Healthtrust Foundation, which is located in the city of Campbell. The grant was for research and development to support ING’s work in the area of cultural competency relating to healthcare and the Muslim patient. Learn more about the Healthtrust Foundation and their services.

ING’s Programs Department received a grant from the Walter & Elise Haas Fund to continue the growth and development of ING’s Interfaith Speakers Bureau throughout the Bay Area. Find out more about the Walter & Elise Haas Fund.


ING Hosts Blair Foundation Faith Acts Fellows

The Tony Blair Faith Foundation in collaboration with the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) has announced that twelve exceptional young people in the U.S. have been selected to take part in a youth leadership program. The program was established to bring people of different faiths together to achieve the Millennium Development Goals and in particular to eliminate deaths due to malaria.

Islamic Networks Group (ING) was one of the organizations selected to host a pair of Faiths Act Fellows during these eight months. Working in inter-religious pairs, these young people will reach up to tens of thousands of people of various faiths through outreach activities, informing them in person and online about the devastating impact of malaria and the opportunities open to faith communities to work together to save millions of lives. Learn more about the Tony Blair Faith Foundation and the Faiths Act Fellows program.