What: The University YMCA hosts a Friday Forum talk by Alia Bilal of “Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN),” Fighting for Social Justice in Marginalized Chicago Neighborhoods.
When: February 15th, 12 noon
Where: University YMCA, Latzer Hall, 1001 S. Wright Street, Champaign
Details: At Friday Forum, Alia Bilal, a University of Illinois alumnae, will be highlighting the work IMAN does, emphasizing the importance of connecting Chicago’s many racial and religious groups, including communities that have had very little history of working with each other. Bilal will further discuss the importance of confronting spiritual, social, and and political hypocrisy to challenge narratives that we’ve internalized about each other.
Background: The Inner-City Muslim Action Network (IMAN) began in 1995 when students, residents and community leaders united around the need to address violence, poverty, and decay in Chicago Lawn (Marquette Park) on Chicago’s Southwest Side. Driven by their values of service, compassion and social justice, they began a community assessment and examined alternative strategies to address these conditions. Soon they gathered the attention of community leaders, residents and others across greater Chicago who shared their commitment to social change. They incorporated IMAN as a 501(c) (3) in 1997.
Over 15 years, our work has evolved in many areas: a free community health clinic; after- school programming and leadership development for youth; and arts and culture programming. Through the combined efforts of Muslims and others working not only in Chicago, but across urban America, IMAN has emerged as a influential force in making connections and creating comprehensive social justice campaigns that tackle cross-cutting issues such as food deserts, violence, foreclosures, racial profiling and immigration rights.
“Inner-City Muslim Action Network” is a part of the Friday Forum Spring 2013 lecture series, “Faith in Action.” The series will feature speakers from across the spectrum of faith traditions who are compelled by their faith to engage in bold and creative forms of action.
Additional Information: The views expressed by the speakers do not necessarily reflect the views of the University YMCA, co-sponsors, or the Friday Forum committee. A sign language interpreter is available with a 72 hours notice (contact Carol Nunn at 217-337-1500). All forums are radio broadcast at 6:00 p.m. on WEFT 90.1 the Monday following the lecture.
For more information, please see www.universityymca.org/friday_forum