Community News (V13-I52)

Syed Rahman wins national award

JERICHO,NY–Syed Amaan Rahman, a fifth-grade student at Jackson Elementary School, was one of 12 students nationwide to win the McGraw-Hill “What Math Means to Me” art contest, the Syosset-Jericho Tribune reported.

Rahman’s artwork, entitled “Step by Step…Stairway to Learning” was selected from more than 2,400 entries and 72 finalists. Rahman, will receive nearly $15,000 in classroom resources for their school from McGraw-Hill and their sponsors.

His artwork will also be displayed at  new Museum of Mathematics in New York City and will also be featured in the McGraw-Hill My Math student materials.

Muslims bring gifts for nursing home residents

TULSA,OK–Helping out those in need is an Islamic value which doesn’t take into consideration the faith or beliefs of the needy. Tulsa area Muslim women and their supporters did just that by bringing gifts for the elderly residents of a nursing home, the Tulsa World reported.

The effort was started by Teresa Mallak who saw a request for items by the seniors at a local drug store. She had originally planned to bring five of her friends to deliver the requested gifts but the group grew to include several Muslim and non-Muslim volunteers.

“I think it’s very gracious of them,” said Wantha Morgan, 80, a Ranch Terrace resident.

A daughter of one of the residents turned to tears when she saw the Muslims delivering the gifts. “I don’t think kindness should have a label. How sweet. How sweet. How sweet.”

Islamic Center of Boston creates new scholarship

WAYLAND,MA–The Islamic Center of Boston has created a new scholarship to be awarded to a member of the graduating class of Wayland High School.
The text of the award is as follows:

“The Islamic Center of Boston (ICB) has been a part of the Wayland community since 1986. The ICB Award is given to students who have demonstrated dedication to promoting peace and acceptance. The ICB hopes to encourage and support students who strive toward building relationships that cross boundaries of religion, race or ethnicity, and who work toward dispelling prejudice and discrimination.”

The Islamic Center of Boston approached the Wayland High School Scholarship Committee with creating this award in gratitude to the Wayland High students who stepped forward in support of the mosque last year when members of the Westboro (Kansas) Baptist Church engaged in a demonstration against the Muslim community.

Signature campaign planned against Lowes

MOORESVILLE,NC– An interfaith coalition is planning a signature campaign against Lowe’s decision to remove its ads from the “All American Muslim” television show.  Participating organizations include  Faithful America, Change.org, CREDO, Sum of Us, and Groundswell.

They plan to deliver 200,000 signatures to Lowe’s at its headquarters.  The group is asking the company to apologize to the Muslim community for its pullout.

Lowe’s has been facing a hail of criticism after its decision. It apologized on facebook but stood by the decision. The facebook post was deleted after it attracted thousands of angry comments.

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