November 1, 2011

Over the course of three days last week, Aziza Hasan, MPAC’s Southern California Government Relations Director, addressed more than 800 people at a series of events in Kansas City.

Hasan led an “I Am Change” workshop for 40 participants at the Islamic Center of Johnson County, where she spoke about effective ways to counter Islamophobia — especially as it is projected to intensify for the upcoming 2012 election cycle. At the end of the evening, participants were given certificates for their participation.

The following day, Hasan spoke to an audience of more than 180 at the Jewish Community Center of Greater Kansas. During the 1½ hour panel discussion, she highlighted the work of MPAC and the importance of providing a voice so that other forces do not fill the vacuum with anti-Muslim rhetoric, which is usually filled with factually incorrect statements.

During her last full day in Kansas City, Hasan addressed more than 600 students at Notre Dame de Sion High School and then spoke at the Jewish Community Center in Overland Park.

She ended her day as the keynote speaker at the Midland Islamic Council’s Annual Awards Dinner. She challenged participants to be part of the solution to overcoming Islamophobia by being active citizens and taking to heart teachings of the Quran, which commands all Muslims to stand for justice and testify in favor of God.

Toward the end of the evening, she was presented the Midland Islamic Council 2011 Interfaith Relations and Civic Engagement Award; which reads “In special recognition of your dedication and outreach work for the services to the Muslim Community in the United States of American.”

If you are interested in scheduling an "I Am Change" workshop in your area, please email iamchange@mpac.org or call 323.258.6722.

-- Marium F. Mohiuddin
(Marium@mpac.org)
Communications Coordinator