A R C H I V E S
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board
| new intl. cultural group (D.C.) - talks on Islam |
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| eastwest03 |
| 11/07/02 at 18:49:01 |
| I'm sending this notice for the leader of D.C. International Connection, a new and fast-growing international cultural and social group in the Washington, D.C. area. The most recent (Nov. 2) meeting provided a very interesting presentation on Islam, and there were about 75 attendees (college age, and on up) - many of whom are from countries such as Morocco, Iran, Azerbaijan, Turkey, China, Pakistan, and India. Here's the description of the group: ---------------- Do you enjoy socials, cultural events, and meeting new people from around the world? Are you new to the D.C. area from another country, and want to meet safe people? Are you interested in getting connected with some of the city's most popular singles activities? Then consider getting connected with D.C. International Connection! D.C. International Connection is a fast-growing new cultural connection group that reaches out to first-generation Americans and non-Americans; newcomers to Washington, D.C.; and anyone who enjoys meeting international people or hosting events. (Many of us in the group who are Americans have had the privilege of traveling and living overseas.) We are connected to some of the most popular singles activities in the city. Our focus is hospitality to non-Americans who could use sincere friendship while adjusting to the fast-paced U.S./D.C. lifestyle. Our main bond is travel, culture, and hospitality. Our only agenda is cultural exchange. We share perspectives and experiences in a respectful context, and all social events publicized through the group must be generally moral in nature. (Both serious events - such as presentations on various religions - and social events have been publicized on the list.) Cross-cultural dialogue is particularly important at this time. For example, many American Muslims are being openly discriminated against, and we all agree this is wrong. An invitation to the group is being offered to people from all cultures, but we would be particularly honored to meet individuals from Muslim backgrounds. We would be grateful for you to help us better understand your plight and experiences here. As Americans with knowledge and direct experience of other cultures, the group's organizers feel that this is our chance to reciprocate the hospitality that was so generously given to us by many internationals from all over the world. Please join us to tell us about your life in your homeland, and your experiences – both good and bad – in America. The most recent meeting was a presentation on Islam (see details below); as mentioned above, there were about 75 attendees, and the meeting went very well. There was a good range of people in terms of religious faith (people who are Muslim, Jewish, Hindu, Christian, secular, or atheist); age (college-student age to single professionals in their late 20s to mid 40s); and ethnic/racial diversity. The group was just formed in April of this year, and it's growing quite quickly. Please note that the next meeting on Saturday, Nov. 16 will focus on Iran. These meetings are designed to be an informative, yet also fun and down-to-earth, cultural exchange. These cultural evenings occur the 1st and 3rd Saturday nights of each month at Common Grounds Cafe, from 7:30 p.m. - 11:00 p.m. (on the second floor of the cafe, which has a large meeting room). The cafe is at 3211 Wilson Boulevard on the corner of Wilson Boulevard and Washington Boulevard. The Clarendon Metro is virtually across the street, so metro is a good option as well. For more information, call Tony Young-Prencipe at 703-475-8328 or email him at east_west_connection@hotmail.com. To join the mailing list publicizing meetings and social events, you can send him an email introducing yourself and asking to be subscribed to the list. To give you an idea of the types of talks presented, here's the notice that went out to publicize the meeting that took place Nov. 2: "The talk was so good last time that we are very happy to have a Harvard professor to lead our discussion and social this Sat at Common Grounds Cafe. 2 November from 8 PM to 11 PM. Please be advised that these socials are freely catered with excellent sandwiches, teas, coffees, and deserts. The only requirement is an open heart to learn about perspectives not your own, and a willingness to reach out to others. Our speaker should be good. All questions are welcome. We are very grateful to anyone from Muslim nations to help us better understand the 1.3 billion Muslims in the world. The diversity and richness of this religion and cultures are fascinating. "It will be this Saturday, 2 Nov from 8 to 11 PM at the Common Grounds Cafe. 3211 Wilson Blvd, at the cross roads of Wilson and Washington Blvd across from Silver Diner and the Clarendon Metro. If you have enjoyed these events in the past and partaken of the free beverages and food, I am humbly asking you to try to pass this info on to any and all of your friends that have traveled or are from abroad. We are always particularly happy to welcome folks from the perspectives we are talking about. (We will be talking about Iran on the 16th of Nov, so please note this for the future.)" By the way, Tony Prencipe-Young, the group's organizer, would like to say blessed Ramadan to all Muslims! Hope to see you at the next meeting of East-West Connection. |
Madinat al-Muslimeen Islamic Message Board |