Weekly News & Updates
IOICA Launches Annual Policy Fellowship Program on Capitol Hill

ISNA's Office for Interfaith and Community Alliances (IOICA) is excited to announce its inaugural Policy Fellowship Program. Launched last week, the Fellowship Program provides three Fellows with hands-on experiences with the inner workings of federally-focused faith-based advocacy. Fellows will focus on issues such as health care access, wealth inequality, and gun violence prevention, and work with a host of interfaith partners to shape federal policy. In addition to gaining experience working with faith advocates, Congressional staff members, and top administration officials, Fellows will also educate the Muslim-American community on how to more effectively engage in the political process from a faith-based perspective.

Applications for the 2018-2019 Policy Fellowship will be available online this summer. 

Meet the 2018 IOICA Policy Fellows
Sara Ahmed:  A native of Egypt, Sara received a Fulbright Scholarship and a USAID MBA Scholarship Award where she completed her Master's in Business Administration from Southern New Hampshire University. Her experiences include interning for Senator Jeanne Shaheen’s Office, serving as a Communications Intern at the Brookings Institute, and teaching Arabic at Rice University. Sara plans to pursue a doctoral degree in international affairs upon completing IOICA's Policy Fellowship Program. 
Sara Swetzoff:  Sara was raised in Arlington, Virginia and later lived in Egypt and Tunisia during college. She received an MA in Islamic Studies from the University of London, School of Oriental and African Studies, after which she worked for publishing company Fons Vitae. She is currently pursuing a PhD in African Studies at Howard University. Upon completing IOICA's Policy Fellowship Program, Sara will travel to Ethiopia to conduct fieldwork for her dissertation, and plans to teach at the university level as a professor of International Affairs.
Kamil Jamil:  Kamil Jamil hails from Peshawar, Pakistan and recently graduated with a Bachelor’s of Political Science from the Lahore University of Management Sciences. His past work includes working as an Advisor in the Permanent Mission of Pakistan to the United Nations, and as a researcher for the  Inheriting Harappa  joint exhibition with UNESCO and the Lahore Museum. Kamil recently received a scholarship to attain a law degree in the United States and plans to pursue this opportunity following the completion of his IOICA Policy Fellowship Program. 
IOICA Joins Faith Partners at the Washington Interreligious Staff Community's Annual Retreat

On Friday, February 2, all staff members from ISNA's Office for Interfaith and Community Alliances gathered with over 120 Christian, Jewish, and Muslim partners at the Lutheran Church of the Reformation on Capitol Hill to discuss the 2018 legislative calendar for the Washington Interreligious Staff Community's (WISC) Annual Retreat. Discussions centered around strategic faith-based engagement in a challenging political climate, practical tips for adhering to a humble yet principled faith voice in the face of hostility and hate, and the most likely openings for bipartisan movement on legislation that cares for the least among us. 2018 IOICA Policy Fellow Sara Ahmed participated in an interfaith recitation inspired by African-American poet Langston Hughes, and IOICA Director Colin Christopher announced the office's sponsorship of the new WISC website set to launch next month. Rooted in the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s, WISC is a network of 70-some Washington D.C.-based offices of national religious bodies and faith-based organizations, encompassing Christian, Jewish, Muslim, Buddhist, Hindu and Humanists faiths. WISC offices collaborate on advocacy for U.S. government policies that advance a more just, peaceful and ecologically sustainable world. Today, staff of WISC offices are organized in “working groups” that address a variety of issues and IOICA is a member of the Domestic Human Needs and Energy & Ecology working groups. 
Fun Run at the 55th Annual ISNA Convention
In support of healthy living and promoting an active lifestyle, ISNA is proud to bring back the 5K run/walk to its Annual Convention this year in Houston. The run will be around Houston’s premier park called Discovery Green with amazing views of Houston’s skyline. The start and finish line will be right in front of the GRB convention center where the ISNA convention is taking place.
Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA)
- Paid Advertisements -
Action Alerts and Community Resources
Upcoming Events
he Spring Conference, in collaboration with University of Texas Deen Intensive serves not only the Austin community, but also the entirety of the Texas Muslim population
The ISNA Conference in South Florida features Imam Tahir Anwar, ISNA President Azhar Azeez, Dr. Jonathan Brown, Ust. Ubaydullah Evans, ISNA Vice President Dr Altaf Husain, Imam Majid & Sr. Aisha Subhani.
ISNA matrimonial banquets provide an opportunity to meet and interact with other Muslim singles in a safe and Islamic environment.
The Chicago Education Forum features pre-conference workshops, knowledge based sessions, celebration banquet and networking luncheon.
ISNA matrimonial banquets provide an opportunity to meet and interact with other Muslim singles in a safe and Islamic environment.
ISNA matrimonial banquets provide an opportunity to meet and interact with other Muslim singles in a safe and Islamic environment.
The 55th Annual ISNA Convention will be held in Houston, TX over Labor Day Weekend (August 31-September 3, 2018)
Muslim communities and Islamic organizations in the United States can only grow stronger by individuals supporting one another. It is with your support that ISNA has been bringing hearts closer for over 50 years!
 
Make ISNA your partner in helping create a better tomorrow.