ISLAMIC SOCIETY OF NORTH AMERICA (ISNA)
President Dr. Sayyid Syeed stated, “…Emir Abdelkader represents the values and attributes that we want to inculcate in our American Muslim sons and daughters. We want his life to be celebrated in our mosques, in our Sunday schools and in our Friday sermons. We see in him a bridge of compassion and humanity connecting us with our brothers and sisters of other faiths and faith communities.”
ISLAMIC HORIZONS MAGAZINE (Jan-Feb 2019) featured “Emir Abdelkader: A Hero for Humanity,” and can be found at www.abdelkaderproject.org/aep-in-the-news. Pages 20-27 tell about: the Emir, Elkader (Iowa), and Commander of the Faithful… as added value for educators. Check out ISNA’s 3 minute video shared at the 2019 convention in Houston.
UNIVERSITIES IN ALGERIA AND IRAN. John Kiser met with Political Science and Foreign Relations faculty at the University of Algiers. He presented his thoughts on Abdelkader’s importance as a faith-based international role model, exemplifying spiritual humility among many other virtues. At the University of Mascara he spoke on “The Progress of AEP in the USA.” John also spoke at Ferdowsi University in Iran with Eastern Mennonite University.
ABDELKADER PRIZE FOR EDUCATORS engaged middle and high school teachers, and college and university faculty to adapt and use AEP’s educational resources in their classrooms. AEP curricula suits learning objectives in history, social studies, geography, military, religion, biography, or leadership classrooms. The following winners implemented 3 lessons about the life story and legacy of Emir Abdelkader, including contemporary connections and offered feedback on the experience: Christina Cone Smithtown, New York; Jennifer Larson, Decorah, Iowa; and Jennifer Blanchard Sayed, Irving, Texas.
ELKADER (IOWA) PUBLIC LIBRARY hosted Kathy Garms’ presentations titled, “The Man Behind Elkader’s Name.” Enthusiastic audiences learned more about Emir Abdelkader’s legacy with significance for today and AEP’s educational initiatives.
AEP BLOG LAUNCHED
Student voices address Abdelkader’s importance including courage, humility, and justice. One blog was titled, “Tolerance: Drawing inspiration from the Emir in the modern world,” while another student reflected on her Algerian heritage and culture. Another blogger wrote “Gaining Understanding through Education,” yet another addressed Abdelkader’s statement, “Collect as precious pearls the words of the wise and virtuous.”
ABDELKADER AMBASSADOR PROGRAM, NASHVILLE, TN
Faith and Culture Center introduced their Abdelkader Ambassador Program. This program ignited a new generation of bridge-builders in the spirit of 19th century commander and humanitarian Emir Abdelkader. It equips rising leaders with relationships, skills, and resources needed to create diverse and inclusive programs in the communities they represent.
ABDELKADER INTRODUCED AT SABEEL CENTER
The Sabeel Center in Des Plaines, Illinois, hosted the exhibit “America to Zanzibar: Muslim Cultures Near and Far” September through December 2019. In October, Kathy Garms, AEP Co-Founder, was invited to speak about Emir Abdelkader’s impact in America, along with Shadab Zeest Hashmi who shared her poetry. |
