Community News (V15-I15)

Jaguars owner makes it to the list of ‘Richest Floridians’

Shahid Khan, owner of Jacksonville Jaguars, has made it to the list of ‘Richest Floridians.’ He is ranked No. 9 Florida Trend’s list, with a net worth of $2.8 billion.

According to the Business Journal Khan has been spreading his good fortune throughout Jacksonville. He’s offered up to$1 million in prize money for OneSpark, a Downtown arts and innovation festival later this month and made a $1 million loan to an entrepreneur for research on fuel-injection technology.

Rashid Najeeullah wins Positive Coaching Alliance Award

Rashid Najeeullah — who coaches basketball for several New York City youth sports organizations, as well as The Heschel School — has won Positive Coaching Alliance’s coveted Double-Goal Coach Award presented by Liberty Mutual Insurance for his positive impact on youth athletes.

“Rashid helps youth athletes win on and off the court,” said Jim Thompson founder and CEO of Positive Coaching Alliance (PCA) and author of eight books on youth sports, including The Power of Double-Goal Coaching. “By creating a positive, character-building youth sports experience, and serving as a Double-Goal Coach, Rashid helps youth develop into better athletes and better people.”

Najeeullah coaches a 14-and-under team for the legendary Riverside Hawks AAU organization, whose alumni include Elton Brand, Mark Jackson, Chris Mullin, Lamar Odom, Jerry Stackhouse and Metta World Peace (although Najeeullah did not coach them). He also is an assistant for the varsity high school team at The Heschel School, serves as basketball coordinator at the Boys’ Club of New York and leads a basketball program for Global Professional Sports

In all his different positions, he realizes that “coaching is a huge responsibility,” he said. “You’re not just a basketball coach, but you’re really a youth mentor, helping to raise productive members of society. Of course, everybody loves winning games, but I really enjoy the relationships I build with these youth.”

Najeeullah’s coaching runs the gamut from the recreation-oriented Global Professional Sports program to the more competitive Heschel School to the nationally competitive Riverside Hawks. “One thing I’ve learned is that kids are all different,” he said. “You have to know who you should be extra-hard with and who requires a softer approach. These are 14-year-olds, trying to figure out who they are and where they stand on the team and in life.

Winston-Salem library to host ‘Muslim Journeys’

WINSTON SALEM,NC–“Muslim Journeys,” a series of programs slated to be held next month in the Central Library Auditorium, will support the Muslim Journeys Bookshelf, a collection of 25 books and three DVDs awarded to Forsyth County Public Library by the American Library Association and the National Endowment for the Humanities. The series is free and open to the public.

• The film “Koran by Heart” will be screened on Sunday, April 14 at 2 p.m. This movie follows the story of three young people as they train and then compete in the annual International Holy Koran Competition in Cairo. The film will be introduced by Dr. Marlin Adrian, professor of religion at Salem College.• “What is Islam?” will be held on Sunday, April 7 at 2 p.m. The presentation will deal with the origins, history and basic beliefs of Islam. It will be presented by Imam Khalid Griggs of the Community Mosque of Winston-Salem.

• “Islamic Art: Mirror on the Invisible World” will conclude the series on April 21 at 2 p.m. This film explores the richness of Islamic art, from ornamented palaces and mosques to the beauty of ceramics and paintings. The film will be introduced by Dr. Chanchal Dadlani, assistant professor of art history at Wake Forest University.

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