Lekovic Keynotes Interfaith Iftar at Islamic Center of San Gabriel Valley

August 1, 2013


This past Saturday, Edina Lekovic, MPAC’s Director of Policy and Programming, served as the keynote speaker at the Islamic Center of San Gabriel Valley’s third annual Interfaith Iftar. Organized by the ICSGV Alumni Association, the iftar was attended by more than 300 people of diverse faith backgrounds, as well as the Mayor Mary Su of the City of Walnut, U.S. Attorney André Birotte, Jr., and representatives from the Los Angeles Policy Department and Los Angeles County's Sheriff’s Department.

In her remarks, she stressed the special role that Ramadan plays as a kind of "spring cleaning for soul" that is marked by three behaviors: fasting, praying and giving.

She urged the audience to demonstrate what Ramadan is about by living the spirit of generosity and service toward others. Engaging in community service and giving of ourselves is a path to self-reflection and self-renewal, which are the goals of fasting. Lekovic also described a series of concentric circles of relationships that we should work on during Ramadan: our relationship with our self, our Creator, our family, our community and humanity.

Founded in 1983, the Islamic Center of San Gabriel Valley recently opened the doors of its new 40,000 square foot mosque which replaced the previous 4,000 square foot original structure. Featured in the Los Angeles Times, the center includes a free medical clinic and a charter school, 
which will open this fall.




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