Gerald Hankerson, CAIR-Chicago’s Outreach Coordinator, spoke at Oakton Community College on November 18th at the Muslim Student Association’s (MSA) Annual Eid Al-Adha Dinner. Hankerson discussed the effects of the media on Islam and Muslims in America.

CAIR-Chicago sponsored the eighth session of the Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium (MYLS) this past Saturday, September 24th. Over 50 youth participants attended and listened to presentations by five local Muslim leaders and professionals. The symposium highlighted topics related to self-identity, media effects, activism and leadership.

On Tuesday March 8 2011, delegates from the Kyrgyzstan news media came to the CAIR-Chicago office to meet with the Communications, Outreach, and Research departments. The delegation was here to understand and develop editorial policies in independent print and online media.

Gerald Hankerson joined the Board of Directors of ARISE Chicago. His role will be primarily a Muslim representative in its Faith and Labor Solidarity Program.

With Pastor Terry Jones’ “Burn A Koran Day” fiasco and the ongoing Park51 debate taking center stage in the media, CAIR-Chicago is taking action. We are challenging misinformation and anti-Muslim rhetoric through interfaith and outreach efforts to educate the public. You may have also seen us in the news recently, adding balanced and informed perspectives to public discourse.

“This might be the first time many people get to hear exactly what the Quran says. Hopefully it’ll lead to asking more questions about Islam and reaching out to Muslims in the area,” said CAIR-Chicago Outreach Coordinator, Gerald Hankerson.

“The extremists that caused the attacks on 9/11 do not represent the vast majority of Muslims who see Islam as a submission to God,” said Gerald Hankerson of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

“There may be differences in political viewpoint and cultural viewpoint, but there’s often far more similarities,” said Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson. “We really cultivate the idea that we should be proactive based on our faith traditions to make a better society here in Chicago.”

Outreach Coordinator, Gerald Hankerson, will be joining police officers for a prayer vigil in remembrance of Chicago Police Officers killed in the line of duty and to pay tribute to those heroes and their families who have sacrificed so much for the city of Chicago.

This week CAIR-Chicago’s Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson attended the first ever Michigan Avenue Forum. The event took place at the Fourth Presbyterian Church in partnership with the Downtown Islamic Center (DIC). The keynote address was given by Eboo Patel, Founder and Director of the Interfaith Youth Core (IFYC) and author of “Acts of Faith.”