Community News (V14-I21)

Faiz Shakir hired by Nancy Pelosi

House Minority leader Nancy Pelosi has hired prominent blogger Faiz Shakir to hear her online operations.

Shakir was until now serving as  the editor-in-chief of Think Progress, the highly influential blog for the think tank Center for American Progress. He has emerged as a prominent figure in the blogosphere by spiritedly presenting the progressive viewpoint. He holds a B.A. degree in government from Harvard University and a J.D. degree from the Georgetown Law Center. Shakir has previously worked as a research associate for the Democratic National Committee, as a legislative aide to Sen. Bob Graham (D-FL) on the Senate Veterans Affairs Committee, and as a communications aide in the White House Office of National Drug Control Policy. Faiz is co-author of Howard Dean’s Prescription for Real Healthcare Reform. He also authored a chapter entitled “Blogging the election” in The Change We Need: What Britain Can Learn from Obama’s Victory. His writings have been published in the Jerusalem Post, Florida Today, and Salon. Shakir has appeared on MSNBC, CNN, Fox News, and CNBC television, among other places, and has been a guest on many radio shows.

Plans for new mosque in DeKalb

DEKALB, IL–The Islamic Society of Northern Illinois University is planning to move into a new bigger location. The The DeKalb Planning and Zoning Committee will consider the project during a meeting this week. It will also need to be approved by the city council.

Derek Hiland, principal planner for DeKalb, told the Daily Chronicle that  the location is ideal because of other religious facilities in the area and its proximity to campus. NIU students make up 30 percent to 50 percent of the Islamic Society’s membership.

“It seems logical for a church to locate in that area,” Hiland said. Leaders from the Islamic Society have reached out to neighbors and hosted informational meetings about the plans and purpose of the building.

Waukesha County to get its first mosque

BROOKFIELD,WI–Waukesha County in Wisconsin is set to get its first mosque after the City of Brookfield granted the final approval to the Islamic Society of Milwaukee.

The Islamic Society of Milwaukee expects to break ground this summer on the 13,000-square-foot mosque and community center on Pheasant Drive east of Calhoun Road. The mosque will serve the growing Muslim population in the western suburbs. The Islamic Society estimates there are 100 Muslim families within a 4-mile radius of the site — many of them Brookfield residents who have turned out at city meetings, including Tuesday’s, to advocate for the project.

The project had faced some opposition from residents but in the end it succeeded in convincing the city officials over its viability. The City’s mayor said he was proud the way the proposal was handled.

Kabiruddin Ali seeks Senate seat

Kabiruddin Kareem Ali of Ontario, California, has joined the field of candidates seeking to unseat Dianne Feinstein from the senate in the June 5th election. He is running on the Peace and Freedom Party ticket. This is the same party which had earlier nominated Ralph Nader for president.

Ali runs a distribution business and is well know in the community.

His priorities include housing, health care, education, and environmental protection. He says these issues are of utmost importance to the 99 per cent of the population of the USA.

Muslim students to get facilities at Rutgers

NEW JERSEY–The growing Muslim student population at Rutgers University is speeding efforts to  develop programs to cater to their needs. There are an estimated 3,000 to 5,000 Muslim students on its campus. Private efforts are underway to accomodate their lifestyles.

There is an initative to build  build a Center for Islamic Life to offer prayer space, a Halal kitchen and counselling services.

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