ering Violent Extremism from the Department of State, Senior Policy Advisor Haris Tarin from the Department of Homeland Security,  and leading researcher Alejandro Beutal with START.  Limited seating. RSVP  – 4 Events listed below

At American Muslim Institution, we recognize that our media, policy makers and fellow Americans  do not have a full picture about us, so we are committed to providing them the right information and hope to nurture goodwill. We have to create a world where no one has to live in apprehension or fear of the other.  Our programs are designed to strengthen our relations with fellow beings who subscribe to different faiths and are from different places, races and ethnicities. We have to stand up for each other for a safe and secure America.

Aug 18, 2016 – State of the Muslims – Monthly Speaker Series
Aug 20, 2016 – Symposium on Countering Violent Extremism
Aug 27, 2016 – Muslim Speakers Training
Sep 05, 2016 – Understanding the essence of Religion – Atheism to Zoroastrianism
Sep 11, 2016 – In the planning
Sep 15, 2016 – State of the Muslims – Monthly Speaker Series
Sep 18, 2016 – Symposium on Coexistence among faiths

State of Muslims – This is a monthly conversation series to update fellow Muslims and fellow Americans about the current issues and possible solutions about the issues facing Muslims. Members of the community, clergy, politicians, officers from the Departments of State, Homeland Security and other departments will share the current issues and issues coming up.

This month is one of the most hectic months to report with what is going on with the Muslim community.

Theme: Myths and perceptions about America
Date: Thursday, August 18, 2016 | 11-1 PM
Place: United Methodist Building, Conference Room 4
Address: 100 Maryland Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Presenters:    Khalid Al-Maeena will be presenting from the international point of view
The Second Speaker will be talking about Trump Politics

Lunch:  Working brown bag lunch and soft drinks will be provided
RSVP: http://americanmusliminstitution.org/events/ or

Khalid Al-Maeena is a speaker on foreign affairs, and the editor of Saudi Gazette, Arab News and other news papers.  He is an advocate of peace and human rights and an activist for social change.  He is the former editor of the esteemed.

Moderator:  Mike Ghouse, Executive Director of American Muslim Institution committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

AMI is committed to be a proactive voice for American Muslims, and our actions, writings and talks are geared to achieve the ultimate goal;  where fellow “Americans  will see Muslims as their neighbors and fellow citizens, committed to fighting against violent extremism and protecting the homeland. ” Our vision is “An America in which all religious and ethnic communities contribute to her success while living in peace and harmony, free from prejudice and discrimination.”

Please RSVP – https://www.eventbrite.com/e/state-of-the-muslims-in-america-tickets-26823034418

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Symposium on Countering Violent Extremism on August 20,Mr. Khizr and Mrs. Ghazala Khan are our honored guests. 

Saturday, August 20, 2016 between 2:00 and 4:00 PM
Place: Universities at Shady Grove, 9630 Gudelsky Dr, Rockville, MD 20850

Seating is limited, RSVP at  https://www.eventbrite.com/e/countering-violent-extremism-in-america-tickets-26822611152

Countering violent extremism by American Muslim Institution – Key Note speaker, Congressman Andre’ Carson, member of the Intelligence committee – Panelists include Irfan Saeed, Director of countering violent Extremism globally and Haris Tarin, Senior Policy Advisor at the Department of Homeland Security and Alejandro J. Beutel, researcher in the field.

KEY NOTE SPEAKER: CONGRESSMAN CARSON
Congressman Andre’ Carson is from Indiana’s 7th Congressional District. Now in his 4th full term in the U.S. House of Representatives,. Additionally, Carson was selected for membership on the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence (HPSCI) which oversees the intelligence and intelligence-related activities of the US Intelligence Community.  Congressman Carson is also a rising member of House leadership.  During the 114th Congress, Carson serves as a Senior Whip for the House Democratic Caucus, sits on the powerful Democratic Steering and Policy Committee, and is a member of the Congressional Black Caucus’ Executive Leadership Team. (HPSCI)

Congressman Carson is a proud Indianapolis native, having grown up on the city’s east side. He is a graduate of Arsenal Tech High School, and he holds a Bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice Management from Concordia University-Wisconsin and a Master’s in Business Management from Indiana Wesleyan University.

Irfan Saeed is the Director for Countering Violent Extremism (CVE), Bureau of Counterterrorism, at the US Department of State.  Mr. Saeed manages an office that leads strategy and policy formulation for international CVE efforts of the United States.  Previously, Mr. Saeed served in the US Embassy in Islamabad, Pakistan, where he developed the Community Engagement Office, the first of its kind in U.S. Embassies worldwide, to use traditional public diplomacy tools to counter violent extremism (CVE) in Pakistan. Prior to joining the US Department of State, Mr. Saeed was a Senior Policy Advisor at the US Department of Homeland Security, Office for Civil Rights and Civil Liberties, where he developed and coordinated activities relating to countering violent extremism. Prior to joining Homeland Security, Mr. Saeed worked as a criminal prosecutor, at the state and federal levels. Mr. Saeed worked as an Assistant United States Attorney, US Department of Justice, in the Eastern District of Louisiana, as well as an Assistant District Attorney, in New Orleans, Louisiana. He served as the Resident Legal Advisor at US Embassies in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan.

Haris Tarin is a Senior Policy Advisor at the Department of Homeland Security. In this role he advises senior leadership on policy issues ranging from Immigration, Civil Rights and Civil Liberties and Countering all forms of Violent Extremism.  He previously served as the Director of the Washington DC Office of the Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC). In both capacities he has engaged and advised various agencies including the White House, Departments of Justice, State and Homeland Security and offices on Capitol Hill. He was among three leading young Americans called by President Obama in a one-of-a-kind discussion on public policy issues; the President met on several occasions with Mr. Tarin specifically to discuss policies pertaining to national security, ideological violence, the American Muslim community and civic engagement. Mr. Tarin is Ariane de Rothschild Cambridge Fellow and USC/Georgetown AMCLI Fellow. HE is the Author if “Intro to Muslim America” and co-author of, “Rethinking the Red Line: Free Speech, Religious Freedom and Social Change”

:Alejandro J. Beutel is Researcher for Countering Violent Extremism at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). Prior to START, Beutel was the Policy and Research Engagement Fellow at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), an applied research think-tank specializing in the study and promotion of evidence-based development strategies for positive civic, social, and political engagement outcomes for American Muslim communities. He was also an independent research consultant to several non-profits, private corporations, and think-tanks.

Moderator:  Mike Ghouse, Executive Director of American Muslim Institution committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

As individuals and citizens, it is our duty to support law and order, and faithfully guard the safety of every citizen.  Violent Extremism is one of the many sources of disrupting peace in a society and it is our duty to track down the source of such extremism and work on mitigating it. We have an obligation to maintain a functional society.

Please RSVP- 
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/countering-violent-extremism-in-america-tickets-26822611152

Quarterly Speaker Training: training Muslims to speak at public events, media and other places of worship. Of the many reasons Muslims are misunderstood is a dearth of Muslim speakers who can communicate about Islam in simple terms that fellow Americans can relate with. Our goal at AMI is to train Muslims to speak about Islam in Churches, Synagogues, Gurdwaras, Temples, Schools, Colleges and the Media and for that we are developing a standard curriculum that goes beyond the five pillars of Islam or responding to questions about Jihad. We will share the values of Islam that contribute to building a cohesive America.    Program is not limited to Muslims, all are welcome to learn and understand and share the truth.

Dr. Tarek Elgawhary is an entrepreneur, teacher, and philanthropist. He currently is the CEO and co-founder of the Coexist Corporation, a business enterprise stemming from the Coexist Foundation. Coexist Corp. works directly with farmers in post-conflict zones, linking them to wider distribution channels around the world. Through this, Coexist Corp. strives to bring people together across their divides and help offer consumers ethical and traceable products in as many retail categories as possible.

Dr. Elgawhary is also the Director of Religious Studies at WORDE were he teaches and conducts research in the space of countering violence and extremism.

Mike Ghouse is a Muslim Speaker, thinker, writer, organizer and an activist committed to building cohesive societies with a belief that what is good for Muslims has got to be good for the world and vice versa to sustain peace, harmony and prosperity.

Mike has appeared in over 300 shows on TV and Radio, and about 150 times on Fox News and over 100 times with Sean Hannity.  He has published over 3000 articles and about a 1/3^rd on Pluralism, a third on Islam and the rest on a variety of topics. Bulk of the writings is published by Dallas Morning News, Huffington Post, Op-ed News and others. Mike’s Mission is to work for a world of co-existence through inclusiveness and participation. www.MuslimSpeaker.com

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The Center for Pluralism is committed to promoting understanding between peoples of different religious affiliations, and we appreciate the American Muslim Institution and the Church of Scientology to join us.

The Church of Scientology has expressed an interest in promoting Pluralism, and we appreciate them for sponsoring this series of event with their facility and light lunch.

We believe knowledge leads to understanding and understanding to acceptance and appreciation of another point of view.

By the end of 2020, there will not be a major city in America, and perhaps in the world, where you will not find people of different faiths, cultures, ethnicities, races, nationalities and social backgrounds working, eating, playing, marrying, and doing things together. It will create conflicts and through a joint venture of Center for Pluralism, AMI and Church of Scientology, we will be preparing men and women to  smoothly sail through the social changes.

All the Major Religions will be covered.

If you attend all the 12 workshops, you will be awarded a certificate as a Pluralist, meaning someone who has learned to respect other faiths, as much as your own.

If we can learn to respect the otherness of others and accept the God given uniqueness of each one of us, then conflicts fade and solutions emerge.

Details at – http://centerforpluralism.com/workshops/

Mike Ghouse
Expert in Pluralism and Interfaith.

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State of Muslims – we have set in motion a monthly conversation series to update fellow Muslims and fellow Americans about the current issues and possible solutions. Members of the community, clergy, politicians, officers from the Departments of State, Homeland Security and other departments will share the current issues and issues coming up.

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CO-EXISTENCE IN THE SCRIPTURES
September 18, 2016 – Sunday  2-4 PM 

What can Rabbis, Pastors and Imams do to promoting co-existence?  What do their scriptures say and what do they teach in their respective Synagogues, Churches and Mosques? Join us for the Panel discussion.

Charles M. Feinberg was a congregational rabbi for 42 years.  He served and led congregations in Wisconsin, New York, British Columbia, and Washington, DC.   He served as a rabbi at Adas Israel Congregation in Washington, DC from 2006 to 2015.  Adas Israel is the largest Conservative Congregation in the metropolitan area.  Rabbi Feinberg has served as the chairperson of the Social Action Committee of the Rabbinical Assembly.  He has also been co-chairperson of T’ruah: The Rabbinic Call for Human Rights.  During his career, Rabbi Feinberg has been an advocate for Central American Refugees, the poor and the homeless, for interfaith dialogue and cooperation, and for respecting the human rights of both Palestinians and Israelis.  Rabbi Feinberg received his rabbinical ordination from the Jewish Theological Seminary of America.  Rabbi Feinberg recently began his second year as Executive Director of Interfaith Action for Human Rights.

The Reverend N. J. L’Heureux, Jr., is Executive Director of the Queens Federation of Churches since 1978, and, for the past two years, also serves as Executive Director of the Council of Churches of the City of New York. He has coordinated the work of the Committee on Religious Liberty since 2000. Rev. L’Heureux  holds degrees from Ohio Wesleyan University and from Boston University School of Theology where his studies focused on sociology of religion and social ethics. A special focus of his ecumenical ministry has been the prophetic role of the church in the social order. His work emphasizes the inclusiveness of God’s Covenant across the boundaries of race, nationality, or class. He is an advocate of the right of religious people to exercise their Faith freely, to proclaim their message, and to seek their adherents without the impediment of government-enforced sanction.

Dr. Tarek Elgawhary is an entrepreneur, teacher, and philanthropist. He currently is the CEO and co-founder of the Coexist Corporation, a business enterprise stemming from the Coexist Foundation. Coexist Corp. works directly with farmers in post-conflict zones, linking them to wider distribution channels around the world. Through this, Coexist Corp. strives to bring people together across their divides and help offer consumers ethical and traceable products in as many retail categories as possible.

Dr. Elgawhary is also the Director of Religious Studies at WORDE were he teaches and conducts research in the space of countering violence and extremism.

Moderator:  Mike Ghouse, Executive Director of American Muslim Institution committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

Speakers:  Rabbi Charles Feinberg |Rev. Skip L’Heureux |  Imam Tarek Elgawhary  | Mike Ghouse
Details will at www.AmericanMuslimInstitution.com/events

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STATE OF MUSLIMS
Monthly Talk Series

To keep up with what is going on with Muslims in America on a monthly basis; we have set in motion a monthly conversation series to update fellow Muslims and fellow Americans about the current issues and possible solutions.

Theme: When Islamophobia turns violent
Date: Thursday, July 21, 2016 | 11-2 PM
Place: United Methodist Building, Conference Room 4
Address: 100 Maryland Avenue, NE, Washington, DC 20002
Presenters: Two experts on what is going on with Muslims
Lunch:  Working brown bag lunch and soft drinks will be provided
RSVP: http://americanmusliminstitution.org/events/
“Georgetown University’s Bridge Initiative, a multi-year research project, released a report demonstrating the violent effects of anti-Muslim rhetoric during the 2016 election season. The report explores Islamophobic statements by each presidential candidate and contextualizes them nationally and internationally. Among its key findings: During the course of 2015, there were 174 reported incidents of anti-Muslim violence, an increase from 154 hate crimes in 2014.” And there is a whole lot more to it.

Alejandro J. Beutel is Researcher for Countering Violent Extremism at the National Consortium for the Study of Terrorism and Responses to Terrorism (START). Prior to START, Beutel was the Policy and Research Engagement Fellow at the Institute for Social Policy and Understanding (ISPU), an applied research think-tank specializing in the study and promotion of evidence-based development strategies for positive civic, social, and political engagement outcomes for American Muslim communities. He was also an independent research consultant to several non-profits, private corporations, and think-tanks.

Moderator:  Mike Ghouse, Executive Director of American Muslim Institution committed to building cohesive societies and offers pluralistic solutions on issues of the day.

AMI is committed to be a proactive voice for American Muslims, and our actions, writings and talks are geared to achieve the ultimate goal;  where fellow “Americans  will see Muslims as their neighbors and fellow citizens, committed to fighting against violent extremism and protecting the homeland. ” Our vision is “An America in which all religious and ethnic communities contribute to her success while living in peace and harmony, free from prejudice and discrimination.”

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