CAIR-Cleveland & Northern Ohio

Category: Event

  • CAIR-CLEVELAND JOINS INTERRELIGIOUS PANEL AT ST. LADISLAS CATHOLIC CHURCH

    CAIR-CLEVELAND JOINS INTERRELIGIOUS PANEL AT ST. LADISLAS CATHOLIC CHURCH

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 10/11/2010) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Cleveland Chapter recently participated in two interreligious panels on Judiasm and Islam held at St. Ladislas Catholic Church in Westlake, Ohio.

    The panels, entitled “World Religions: Finding Common Ground”, were attended by more than 100 members of the St. Ladislas Church, and covered a range of topics including basic beliefs and practices; religious holidays in Islam and Judaism; faith and family life; perspectives on Jesus; views of the afterlife; interfaith relations; Sunni-Shia relations; Middle East peace, etc.

    “The panels on world religions were an excellent opportunity to build interreligious understanding and mutual respect among Catholics, Jews and Muslims,” CAIR Cleveland advisory board member Isam Zaiem said. “We thank the members of St. Ladislas parish for their efforts to strengthen interfaith relations in the greater Cleveland area.”

    For more information, contact CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia A. Shearson, jshearson@cair.com, 216-830-2247 or 216-440-2247.

    CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties and advocacy group has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

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  • CAIR-CLEVELAND JOINS PANEL AT HOSPICE OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

    CAIR-CLEVELAND JOINS PANEL AT HOSPICE OF THE WESTERN RESERVE

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 10/10/2010) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Cleveland Chapter joined an interreligious training session today for spiritual care volunteers at the Hospice of the Western Reserve.

    The panel was part of a comprehensive training program for spiritual care volunteers who serve at various hospice centers in Northern Ohio that are part of the Hospice of the Western Reserve. The panel covered issues related to death and dying from the perspective of different traditions such as Buddhism; Islam; Christianity; Judaism; Atheism and Humanism. CAIR’s representative presented the Islamic view of illness and death; interacting with Muslim patients and families; palliative care for the Muslim patient; religious rituals; end of life issues; burial practices; organ donation; etc.

    CAIR offers a number of presentations for healthcare practitioners. To arrange an in-service or for information about CAIR speakers, contact CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia A. Shearson, jshearson@cair.com, 216.830.2247 or 216.440.2247.

    CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties and advocacy group has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

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  • CAIR-OHIO JOINS DIVERSITY FORUM AT COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER      

    CAIR-OHIO JOINS DIVERSITY FORUM AT COUNTY JUSTICE CENTER      

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 9/30/2010) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Cleveland Chapter recently attended a diversity seminar for officials and staff at the Cuyahoga County Justice Center. The training was entitled Islam and the Justice System.

    The forum provided information on Muslim demographics; basic religious beliefs and practices; Islamic perspectives on justice; issues of religious accommodation and other topics of concern to justice system officials and staff.

    “We are glad to see the Justice Center is taking a pro-active approach in educating its staff on the diverse cultural and religious groups we have here in our County,” said Julia A. Shearson, executive director of CAIR-Cleveland. “Building understanding and mutual respect promotes a great working environment and helps ensure fair and just treatment for all who come in contact with the Justice Center.”

    For more information, contact CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia A. Shearson, jshearson@cair.com, 216.830.2247 or 216.440.2247.

    CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties and advocacy group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

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  • CAIR-Cleveland Holds Press Conference to Challenge Islamophobia and 9/11 Quran Burning and to Launch PSAs Featuring Muslim 9/11 First Responders

    CAIR-Cleveland Holds Press Conference to Challenge Islamophobia and 9/11 Quran Burning and to Launch PSAs Featuring Muslim 9/11 First Responders

    Public service announcements designed to challenge bigotry, Florida Quran burning and physical attacks against mosques nationwide

    Muslim first responders and area mosque leadership to address Islamophobia

    (CLEVELAND, OHIO – 9/9/2010) — On Thursday, September 9, the Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland), in conjunction with area mosque and interfaith leaders, held a news conference in Cleveland to continue a national public service announcement (PSA) campaign featuring Muslim 9/11 first responders and designed to challenge the growing anti-Muslim bigotry sparked by opposition to the planned Park51 project in Manhattan.

    CAIR’s campaign also includes a PSA that features interfaith leaders offering an implicit challenge to the Florida church that plans to burn copies of the Quran, Islam’s revealed text, on September 11. The Public service announcements are designed to challenge the rise in bigotry, Islamophobia, and the physical attacks taking place against several mosques in the US.

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  • CHURCH HOSTS RAMADAN IFTAR WITH CLEVELAND AREA MUSLIMS

    CHURCH HOSTS RAMADAN IFTAR WITH CLEVELAND AREA MUSLIMS

    Interfaith program counters Islamophobia stoked by controversy over NYC Islamic center

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 8/26/2010) – On August 26, the Cleveland Chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-OHIO) co-hosted a Sharing Ramadan Interfaith Iftar event at the West Shore Unitarian Universalist Church in Rocky River.  The program was designed to promote interfaith harmony in light of the anti-Islamic rhetoric surrounding the New York City Islamic center expansion project near Ground Zero.

    Churches and synagogues in other parts of the country have hosted Ramadan Iftar events, but this was the first such event in the Cleveland area. Imam Ramez Islambouli of Case Western Reserve University and Uqbah Mosque Foundation spoke on the meaning of Ramadan.

    Dr. Mansoor Ahmed spoke on flood relief efforts in Pakistan. More than 150 guests shared a traditional Ramadan Iftar dinner and then stayed for an interfaith dialogue.

    “In the midst of the bigotry being stoked around the country against Muslims, it is comforting to know that here in Cuyahoga County, Muslims, Christians, Jews, Hindus, and others are breaking bread in the spirit of friendship and mutual respect,” said Isam Zaiem, CAIR-Cleveland Board President.

    CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

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    CONTACT: CAIR-Ohio Cleveland Chapter Executive Director Julia A. Shearson, 216.830.2247 or 216.440.2247, E-Mail: jshearson@cair.com

  • CAIR-OHIO OFFERS SEMINAR ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AT THE CLEVELAND CLINIC

    CAIR-OHIO OFFERS SEMINAR ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AT THE CLEVELAND CLINIC

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 5/4/2010) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Cleveland Chapter recently offered a forum entitled Islamic Perspectives on Domestic Violence Prevention during Grand Rounds at the Cleveland Clinic.

    The training offered information and tools for helping social workers, patient advocates, and health care practitioners to optimize services for Muslim victims and covered issues such as: the impact of family violence on the Muslim community; challenges and barriers for advocates and victims; resources for combating domestic violence in Muslim communities; marriage and gender roles in Islam; the role of religious texts; and Islamic perspectives on healthy relationships.

    “Domestic violence is a serious public health issue that impacts all communities, regardless of race, religion, culture or nationality.” said Shearson. “The goal of our training is to break down barriers to effective treatment and prevention by offering health practitioners and social workers the awareness and tools to provide culturally aligned approaches to recognize and help stop domestic violence in diverse communities.”

    CAIR-Cleveland has offered similar trainings on domestic violence at the Ohio Attorney General’s “Two Days in May” statewide witness/victim conference; Fairview Hospital; First Cleveland Mosque; and the Islamic Center of Cleveland.

    To set up a training session or for more information, contact CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia A. Shearson, jshearson@cair.com, 216.830.2247 or 216.440.2247.

    CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties and advocacy group has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

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  • CAIR-OHIO OFFERS DIVERSITY SEMINAR TO LUTHERAN CHAPLAINS 

    CAIR-OHIO OFFERS DIVERSITY SEMINAR TO LUTHERAN CHAPLAINS 

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 4/26/2010) – The Council on American-Islamic Relations, Cleveland Chapter recently offered a diversity training seminar for members of the Lutheran Chaplaincy Services. The training, which took place at Christ the Redeemer Lutheran Church in Brecksville, Ohio, was entitled Optimizing Care for Muslim Patients and Clients.

    The two-hour training provided information on Muslim demographics; basic religious beliefs and practices; Islamic perspectives on health and illness; interacting with Muslim patients, Islamic views on end of life issues; palliative care for the Muslim patient; grief and bereavement, and other topics of concern to hospital chaplains and health care practitioners.

    “Health care providers increasingly agree that a holistic approach to patient care that takes cultural and religious background into consideration can help create positive outcomes for patients and their families,” said Julia A. Shearson, executive director of CAIR-Cleveland.

    To set up a training session or for more information, contact CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia A. Shearson, jshearson@cair.com, 216-830-2247 or 216-440-2247.

    CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties and advocacy group has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

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  • CAIR-OHIO ADDRESSES LORAIN COUNTY HATE CRIMES CONFERENCE

    CAIR-OHIO ADDRESSES LORAIN COUNTY HATE CRIMES CONFERENCE

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 1/16/2009) – On January 15, 2009, the Council on American-Islamic Relations, Cleveland Chapter participated in the 2nd Annual Hate-Free Lorain County Conference. The Conference, entitled Stand Against Hate – A Community Action, was organized by the Community Anti-Hate Task Force, which is an outgrowth of the Department of Justice/FBI Northern Ohio Hate Crimes Working Group.

    The day-long seminar featured workshops, panels and group discussions designed to keep Lorain County hate free. Featured speakers included community activists, youth advocates, cross-cultural experts, members of law enforcement, and public officials.

    CAIR-Cleveland executive director Julia Shearson participated on a panel on community perceptions of law enforcement and led a break-out session on understanding Islam and Muslims.

    “The conference helps build coalitions to prevent hate and promote understanding across diverse communities, said Shearson. “It also helps promote positive relations between law enforcement and the communities they serve.”

    CONTACT: CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia A. Shearson, jshearson@cair.com, 216-830-2247.

    CAIR, America’s largest Islamic civil liberties and advocacy group has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. Its mission is to enhance the understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

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  • Akron U. Students Host Panel On Anti-Islamic Film ‘Obsession’

    Akron U. Students Host Panel On Anti-Islamic Film ‘Obsession’

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 10/14/08) – On Wednesday, October 15, the Akron University Muslim Student Association (MSA) will hold a panel discussion on the anti-Muslim film “Obsession: Radical Islam’s War Against the West.” The panel is designed as a proactive response to a screening of the film being hosted later that evening by the College Republicans.

    WHAT: Student Panel on the Film “Obsession”
    WHEN: Wednesday, October 15, 2008 at 5 p.m.
    WHERE: Student Union Auditorium, University of Akron
    CONTACT: Julia A. Shearson, CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director, 216-830-2247 or 216-440-2247; events@cleveland.cair.com

    Panel participants: Rev. Dr. Werner Lange, Edinboro University of Pennsylvania; Imam Musa Abdullah, Akron Mosque; Jason Zeigler, College Republicans; Julia A. Shearson, Council on American-Islamic Relations-Ohio; and a representative of the Akron University Law Department and Campus ACLU Chapter.

    The Muslim Student Association (MSA) is a volunteer organization run by Muslim students on campus. The main purpose of the MSA is to raise awareness of Islam on campus and to provide related services and activities for both Muslim and non-Muslim students.

    The event is free and open to the public.

  • CAIR-OH PROVIDES TRAINING AT STATE CONFERENCE ON VICTIM ASSISTANCE

    CAIR-OH PROVIDES TRAINING AT STATE CONFERENCE ON VICTIM ASSISTANCE

    (CLEVELAND, OH, 6/11/08) – The Cleveland chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR-Cleveland) recently gave a presentation at the Ohio Attorney General’s 2008 Conference on Victim Assistance, held in Akron, Ohio, on how to prevent and respond to domestic violence in the Muslim community.

    The statewide conference aims to provide training for those who assist victims in the aftermath of crime. CAIR’s training, which was part of a session entitled “Domestic Violence in Immigrant Homes,” offered tools and suggestions for helping victims and witness advocates optimize services for Muslim women.

    The presentation covered issues such as the impact of family violence on the Muslim community, challenges and barriers for advocates and victims, resources for combating domestic violence in Muslim communities, marriage and gender roles in Islam, the role of religious texts, and Islamic perspectives on healthy relationships.

    “Violence in the home is a serious public health and law enforcement problem that cuts across all demographic lines,” said CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia Shearson, who gave the presentation. “The goal of our training is to break down barriers to effective treatment and prevention by offering law enforcement and social workers the tools to provide culturally aligned approaches to help stop domestic violence in diverse communities.”

    CAIR, America’s largest Muslim civil liberties group, has 35 offices and chapters nationwide and in Canada. CAIR’s mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, encourage dialogue, protect civil liberties, empower American Muslims, and build coalitions that promote justice and mutual understanding.

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    CONTACT: CAIR-Cleveland Executive Director Julia A. Shearson, Tel: 216.830.2247 or 216.440.2247, E-Mail: jshearson@cair.com; Isam Zaiem, 216.337.7928, E-mail: isamz@sbcglobal.net.