CAIR-Chicago is proud to announce that Ian Bushner has joined its team as a Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) Fellow. Ian graduated with honors from the University of Chicago Law School and following his Fellowship will work as an associate with the law firm Jenner & Block LLP. To read more about Ian click here

Sharif discussed CAIR-Chicago’s work to combat religious discrimination and promote religious tolerance, and explained how media plays a critical role in that effort. She also described how CAIR-Chicago serves as a resource to journalists and news producers by offering them support and expert analysis as they develop their news reports.

CAIR-Chicago has recently resolved the cases of four Muslim men whose bids for citizenship faced long delays and complications.

CAIR-Chicago recently settled a discrimination suit in favor of a Muslim woman fired for not attending an annual company event.

Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson describes his experience on an intercultural and friendship tour in Turkey. The trip was organized by the Niagra Foundation and its international partner in Turkey, BAKIAD.

CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator Amina Sharif, and Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham were invited to speak at a meeting hosted by the Illinois Society for International Development on November 10th which took place at DePaul University.

Current Governor Patrick Quinn and State Comptroller Daniel Hynes stopped at the Union League Club of Chicago on Wednesday, Nov. 18 for a gubernatorial rally, the first of two such events scheduled for the day.

“In the past, journalists only studied writing,” Sharif explained. “In this age of globalization, journalists need to know how to research and accurately report on other cultures that they may not be familiar with.”

A critical mind is a terrible thing to waste according to CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab, who spoke at the American Islamic College on November 19. As a speaker for the event “Islamic Intellectualism: Promoting a Critical Mind,” he clarified to participants that Islam strongly encourages intellectual inquisitiveness and creative problem solving.

Mayor Daley presented Zarzour with the 2009 Arab Heritage Month Award for Outstanding Contributions to Chicago’s Arab Community and commended him for his exceptional community service. “I am truly honored to receive this recognition on behalf of a dignified community from a city I am proud to serve," said Zarzour.

“Change” is the word that still lingers the minds and hearts of over 400 Chicagoans who gathered on November 3 at the Spertus Institute and Grant Park to commemorate the election of President Barack Obama. And they wanted to make sure that the word remained important to Obama as well.

The event provided an introspective observation of several leading contenders for Governor of Illinois. This particular forum exclusively featured the prominent Republican candidates, namely Adam Andrzejewki, Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, Dan Proft, and Bob Schillerstrom.

Ahmad congratulated officials at the 2009 Illinois Committee for Honest Government’s (ICHG) Distinguished Service Awards Reception, saying their service to the people of this state “is to be commended and emulated by us all.” She also encouraged elected officials to approach their Muslim constituents who are becoming increasingly involved in the political arena and are actively serving their local communities.

Sharif engaged the class in a discussion on misperceptions of Islam and how extreme images of Muslims in pop culture and mainstream media often feed into ignorance and intolerance.

"Surely Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) did not intend on peeling the scab off of a healing wound when he spoke last Thursday at a conference in Washington D.C., but his comment, drawing a contrast between being Muslim and being 'good,' has done just that." -Gov. Affairs Coordinator Reema Ahmad. Read the rest of Reema's article on her blog, The Mobilizer.

The Pew Research Center released a comprehensive demographic study of more than 200 countries this week. It found that there are 1.57 billion Muslims living in the world today, representing 23% of an estimated world population of 6.8 billion. It also found that many Muslim populations live in places they had not expected.

CAIR-Chicago's Executive Director today attended a private reception for Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed at DePaul University in advance of the Somali President's speech at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. About 20 academics and civic leaders were in attendance.

CAIR-Chicago joined ICIRR at a press conference to introduce a letter calling on President Barack Obama to move forward on comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) this year. U.S. Representatives Luis V. Gutierrez, Danny K. Davis, and Mike Quigley also attended to show their continued support for CIR.

CAIR-Chicago’s Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson recently presented at the 5th Annual Muslim Youth Leadership Program (MYLP) in Sacramento, much of which took place in the California State Capitol building.

CAIR-Chicago joined hundreds of police officers, family, and friends to honor the 540 fallen officers who died in the line of duty, and to recognize the 15,520 members of the Chicago Police Department (CPD), the nation’s second largest police force.