Meetup Ratings and Featured Comments
Number: 3 recent ratings
Average:
"Do you have members 50+?"
"Friendly atmosphere with all chiming in with their suggestions."
"Great to get to know each other better during these iftars"
"Insha Allah I hope we can continue having meet ups during Ramadan- doesn't have to be a big group."
"First impressions are the most lasting and I had an enjoyable first impression. I look forward to participating in more meet ups in the future inshallah. Anyone interested in coming to the open house sessions we have at my Masjid (Al-Sadiq Masjid) on the south side of Chicago is more than welcome! (4448 S Wabash) WS"
Our mission is as follows:
"To create a progressive American Muslim community through self-education and activism in the areas of social justice, tolerance, inclusiveness, and spiritual development. In this manner, we aspire to become closer to God while contributing to the betterment of society and the world."
Our activities are in the form of:
1) Regular meetings and discussions in members' homes or at local cafes
2) Community efforts, such as discussion forums, book clubs, and iftars
3) Activism and volunteering, such as Darfur awareness, and food drives
Along the way, we have had monthly speakers on a variety of topics. Among them:
> Author Asra Nomani
> Jason DeRose (NPR)
> Prof. Aminah McCloud
> Dr. Umar Faruq Abd-Allah, Nawawi Foundation
> Sarah Eltantawi (formerly of the PMU)
> members of the Inter-faith Youth Corps
We have sought to expand our spiritual development as Muslims, most notably through spiritual retreats held during Ramadan in 2004 and 2005. We have also worked to bring attention to issues of injustice within the Muslim community; in July of 2005, for example, we organized a forum at DePaul University on women's rights and Muslim communities. In addition, we are active in various interfaith cultural exchanges with other Chicagoland faith groups.
Finally, we have sought to work for the benefit of others in need, Muslim or not, by encouraging volunteerism. Many AMAL members volunteer with groups such as the Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) and the Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC). AMAL is the key organizer of the 2005-2007 Muslim Turkey Drive which provided free Thanksgiving turkeys to needy families on the South Side.
We are now organized as a 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization, and are eager to continue the progressive dialogue! More information about us is available at our website:
http://www.myspace.co...
In addition, our listserv is a forum for progressive discussion within the Chicago Muslim community:
http://groups.yahoo.c...
We look forward to hearing from progressives in the Muslim community!
Peace,
American Muslims for Activism and Learning (AMAL/Chicago Progressive Muslim Meetup)