Mayor Daley presented Zarzour with the 2009 Arab Heritage Month Award for Outstanding Contributions to Chicago’s Arab Community and commended him for his exceptional community service. “I am truly honored to receive this recognition on behalf of a dignified community from a city I am proud to serve," said Zarzour.

CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham and Staff Attorney Kevin Vodak presented on the state of civil rights in post 9-11 America at an event entitled "The War on Terror and the Rights of Muslims," sponsored by the American Constitutional Society (ACS).

“Change” is the word that still lingers the minds and hearts of over 400 Chicagoans who gathered on November 3 at the Spertus Institute and Grant Park to commemorate the election of President Barack Obama. And they wanted to make sure that the word remained important to Obama as well.

The event provided an introspective observation of several leading contenders for Governor of Illinois. This particular forum exclusively featured the prominent Republican candidates, namely Adam Andrzejewki, Bill Brady, Kirk Dillard, Dan Proft, and Bob Schillerstrom.

Ahmad congratulated officials at the 2009 Illinois Committee for Honest Government’s (ICHG) Distinguished Service Awards Reception, saying their service to the people of this state “is to be commended and emulated by us all.” She also encouraged elected officials to approach their Muslim constituents who are becoming increasingly involved in the political arena and are actively serving their local communities.

Sharif engaged the class in a discussion on misperceptions of Islam and how extreme images of Muslims in pop culture and mainstream media often feed into ignorance and intolerance.

CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham delivered a lecture at a DePaul University multiculturalism seminar. Abraham discussed the political climate in the United States against Arabs and Muslims post-911.

"Surely Senator Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) did not intend on peeling the scab off of a healing wound when he spoke last Thursday at a conference in Washington D.C., but his comment, drawing a contrast between being Muslim and being 'good,' has done just that." -Gov. Affairs Coordinator Reema Ahmad. Read the rest of Reema's article on her blog, The Mobilizer.

The Pew Research Center released a comprehensive demographic study of more than 200 countries this week. It found that there are 1.57 billion Muslims living in the world today, representing 23% of an estimated world population of 6.8 billion. It also found that many Muslim populations live in places they had not expected.

CAIR-Chicago's Executive Director today attended a private reception for Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed at DePaul University in advance of the Somali President's speech at the Chicago Council on Global Affairs. About 20 academics and civic leaders were in attendance.

CAIR-Chicago joined ICIRR at a press conference to introduce a letter calling on President Barack Obama to move forward on comprehensive immigration reform (CIR) this year. U.S. Representatives Luis V. Gutierrez, Danny K. Davis, and Mike Quigley also attended to show their continued support for CIR.

CAIR-Chicago’s Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson recently presented at the 5th Annual Muslim Youth Leadership Program (MYLP) in Sacramento, much of which took place in the California State Capitol building.

CAIR-Chicago joined hundreds of police officers, family, and friends to honor the 540 fallen officers who died in the line of duty, and to recognize the 15,520 members of the Chicago Police Department (CPD), the nation’s second largest police force.

Naim Zaita is now a United States citizen after attempting to gain his citizenship for nearly 4 years. Zaita, a Palestinian, applied for citizenship in 2005, but was forced to endure delays and complications

The Muslim Youth Leadership Symposium (MYLS) is a founding member of the Chicago Youth Exchange 2009 Summer Program, which took place this past August 12-13.

This September, CAIR-Chicago is joining immigrant rights advocates from across Chicago, every Tuesday, to hold peaceful vigils outside Congressman Mark Kirk’s office in Skokie, Illinois.

Sharif delivered a workshop entitled “How to be an Effective Media Spokesperson.” The seminar offered practical tips on how to communicate with media and produce stories that positively relate to American Muslims.

See pictures of CAIR-Chicago's first annual "Taste of Ramadan" Potluck Iftar and Cook-off. You can also read the full menu which details which country each dish came from.