Cordoba Initiative Newsletter - September 2014
The Cordoba Initiative: Planning for the Future
Q&A with Acting Executive Director, Steven Ellis

In June 2014, The Cordoba Initiative appointed Steven Ellis Acting Executive Director. Mr. Ellis comes to TCI with years of experience in strategic communications and is responsible for guiding TCI's mission and setting goals for the future. 


In the Q&A below, Mr. Ellis responds to some questions we posed to him about TCI's programming and plans, as well as his role in the organization.

 



Q: How did you come to The Cordoba Initiative?


A: I've been working with Imam Feisal for about two years on various projects. As the TCI Board was looking for an executive director, Imam asked me if I would consider serving as an interim executive director. After consultations with him and the Board, I agreed to serve.

Q: What is your background?

A: I've worked in strategic communications for about 40 years, serving as the chief communications officer for a Fortune 500 company and one of its subsidiaries, a vice president for one of the world largest public relations agencies, the CEO of a medium PR agency, and a senior vice president for an international public affairs and political consulting firm. I've been fortunate enough to help 20 foreign governments on five continents manage their communications with the international news media, the U.S. government and corporate decision makers around the world.

Q: What are your goals for TCI?

A: I have three strategic goals designed to advance TCI's influence and Imam Feisal's vision for better relations and understanding between Islam and other religions. Those goals include raising funds from an international universe of corporate, individual and foundation donors;  expanding TCI's Community and Religious Affairs outreach to the American Muslim Community and non-Muslims; and enhancing TCI's presence in the news media, with policy makers, and with the interfaith community.

Q: What do you see as TCI's three biggest challenges?

A: I'd like to turn that question around to outline TCI's three biggest opportunities. Firstly, TCI has an excellent opportunity to provide a voice for Muslims who are not part of the extremism we see in Iraq and elsewhere. Next, TCI's programs are designed to offer tangible examples that Muslims in America and elsewhere have historically made tremendous contributions to civilized society and that creative, energetic Muslims everywhere will continue to do so in art and culture, governance, business development, and many other areas. And finally, TCI has an opportunity to be at the forefront of stabilizing the perception of Islam at a time when that need may be more critical than any in modern history.

Q: As a non-Muslim, does your faith pose a personal challenge to you in working with TCI?

A: No. I'm a spiritual person brought up in the Greek Orthodox Church. I find identifying the similarities in the two religions is far better than spending too much time on the differences, although having the privilege to understand the differences is enlightening.

At the Forefront
Rebranding the Islamic State
  

Op-Ed on ISIS by Imam Feisal in the Huffington Post

 

Click here to read 

"Along with fighting them ideologically, militarily, and economically,
we have to fight them with branding..."
  

Imam Feisal talks to Mohamed Elshinnawi on Voice of America about ISIS and how Muslims can counter ISIS's ideology and reclaim Islam

 

Click to listen

Imam Feisal's interview with Liliana Faccioli about ISIS
Imam Feisal on Italy's SkyTV

 

Click here to watch (with translation)


The Spiritual Alchemy of Music
Saint Bartholomew's Church, New York City
 
 
September 12, 2014 - The performers explored an ancient tradition of spirituality with modern musical trends with a brief presentation about how music, culture, and religion blend to form movements.

Speakers included Imam Feisal; Producer Doug Yeager, who worked with Pete Seeger and other prominent artists; and Stephan Said, a popular American singer-songwriter and global activist of Iraqi and Austrian descent.

The first segment included Stephan performing one of his pieces to illustrate how he has blended his Arab-Iraqi culture into modern American music. The second segment featured a Qawali concert with Farid Ayaz and his team of Sufi devotional singers.

Press Coverage of The Spiritual Alchemy of Music Event
 

TV Coverage on Pakistan's Dunya News featuring statements by

Imam Feisal, Stephan Said, and Doug Yeager

 

Click here to watch 


Upcoming Events
October 30 - 31, 2014 - Seminar Series on Women and Islamic Law (Kabul, Afghanistan)
Imam Feisal will participate in a panel discussion on women's rights in Islamic law organized by Justice for All (JFAO) with sponsorship from The United States Institute for Peace. JFAO is a non-profit human rights organization that aims to expand access to justice to marginalized populations. Other speakers include Mohamad Ashraf Rasooli, Legal Advisor at the President's Office and Advisor to the First Vice President of the Government of Afghanistan; Fazil Ahmad Manawi, Judge and deputy chief justice of supreme court; and Mahmad Zarif Alam Stanikzay, an Afghan defense lawyer, advisor, deputy of Afghanistan Independent Bar Association and scholar of Sharia.


 

(Schedule Subject to Change)

Moving the Mountain
 
Moving the Mountain 
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For Press Inquiries and Requests for Interviews
Please contact Susan Assadi at susan@assadi.com or 800.922.8792

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