(CLEVELAND, OHIO, 11-1-2022) – The Cleveland Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Ohio and members of Muslim leadership in greater Cleveland recently joined an interfaith luncheon forum hosted by the new President of Cuyahoga Community College (Tri-C), Dr. Michael A. Baston. Dr. Baston, a national thought leader in the fields of education, workforce development, and economic advancement, sought to leverage the voices of faith leaders in advancing social and economic justice in our region through promoting access to affordable high-quality education offered at community colleges such as Tri-C.
At the forum, Dr. Baston, an inspirational faith leader in his own right, issued a clarion call to clergy and leaders of diverse faiths to center the message of education as a means to help congregants fulfill their human potential. He emphasized the centrality of education as a tool to promote sustainable and equitable regional development and as a means to prepare people for good paying jobs with benefits that allow them to build economic security and achieve lasting prosperity for their families.
“Dr. Baston’s exemplary servant leadership and compassion are evident in his care and concern for the entire community and his insistence on leaving no one trapped behind the barriers of multi-generational poverty,” said Julia Shearson, CAIR-Ohio Cleveland Chapter Executive Director, who helped coordinate attendance of Muslim leaders at the event. “His message of inclusion and the need to lift all boats is especially critical in the Cleveland metropolitan area which faces stubborn disparities in terms of access to economic resources, high-quality education, and affordable childcare, housing, and healthcare.”
To Learn more about the new Tri-C President, Dr. Michael A. Baston, click here.
Click here to learn more about the breath of Tri-C’s educational services including more than 1,000 courses offered and more than 200 programs covering areas from career readiness and workforce development programs for high school students to their life-long learners and senior citizen programs.
In keeping with the values of diversity and inclusion, Tri-C recently established a prayer space for Muslim students attending the main metropolitan campus.
CAIR is America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims.
La misión de CAIR es proteger las libertades civiles, mejorar la comprensión del Islam, promover la justicia, y empoderar a los musulmanes en los Estados Unidos.
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CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio, Cleveland Chapter Executive Director Julia Shearson, 216.830.2247, jshearson@cair.com; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202.744.7726, ihooper@cair.com