CAIR-Chicago is indebted to the hard work and dedication of our dynamic team of interns and law clerks. Read about them HERE

CAIR-Chicago would like to thank its community of supporters for joining us at our 6th Annual Banquet this past weekend. The hugely successful event was a milestone for our organization and the Chicago Muslim community.

On April 22, 2010, Muslim youth, leaders, and activists from all over Illinois will join in Springfield to lobby members of the Illinois General Assembly. This event, organized by the Council of Islamic Organization of Greater Chicago and sponsored by CAIR-Chicago and Zakat Foundation, is expected to bring together hundreds of Muslim Americans and advocates of the community. Last year, there were over 450 participants, and organizers are hoping for even more this year.

CAIR-Chicago will be running Annual Banquet ads with our partners at WCPT all this month. Listen for it at 820 AM, or 92.5 FM in the west suburbs, 92.7 FM in the north, and 99.9 FM in the south. or hear it HERE

CAIR-Chicago participated in the Honored Star Case Ceremony held at the Chicago Police Headquarters Building on Tuesday, March 2. The ceremony, which was hosted by the Chicago Police Superintendent Jody Weis, honored 11 fallen officers who died in the line of duty.

Communications Coordinator Amina Sharif presented to a DePaul University class on multiculturalism and democracy. Sharif’s presentation aimed to give students a broad understanding of the Muslim-American community in terms of its ethnic diversity, socioeconomic levels and political beliefs.

Outreach Coordinator Gerald Hankerson presented a workshop to a Jewish Youth Group at Beth Emet the Free Synagogue in Evanston. Hankerson provided and introduction to the concepts of Islam and a profile of the Muslim-American community. The workshop served as the kick off to an educational and interfaith program between the synagogue and the Muslim Educational Center (MEC) in Morton Grove.

CAIR-Chicago is pleased to announce that Professor Tariq Ramadan will be the keynote speaker at our 6th Annual Banquet. This will be his first event in the U.S. in nearly six years, since the Bush Administration's ban. Ramadan was chosen as one of the world's 100 most influential human beings by TIME magazine and currently teaches at Oxford University.

On February 4 CAIR-Chicago co-hosted Cafe Finjan, an interfaith arts and culture event coordinated by the Jewish-Muslim Community Building Initiative (JMCBI). The event aims to bring together Jews and Muslims from across Chicago. Outreach Coordinator, Gerald Hankerson, performed spoken word poetry and facilitated group discussions on religion and identity. Watch Gerald's Performance HERE

Due to the high number of Muslim constituents in Bridgeview, the Police Department is working to develop more cultural sensitivity by gaining a better understanding of Islam and Muslims. CAIR-Chicago believes more training like this will serve to eliminate racial profiling and future injustices directed towards Muslims in Chicago and across the country.

CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham gave a "Know Your Rights" presentation to members of the Islamic Society of the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago (ISNS).

CAIR-Chicago Civil Rights Director Christina Abraham gave a "Know Your Rights" presentation to members of the Islamic Society of the Northwest Suburbs of Chicago (ISNS).

In a panel discussion hosted by the University of Chicago’s School of Social Service Administration(SSA), CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator, Amina Sharif, talked to masters students about CAIR-Chicago’s advocacy work and the services it provides to the Muslim-American community.

Tuesday, February 2nd, is your chance to have your voice heard by our representatives. Click here to read a lists of some of the candidates running for office. If you are in need of a ride to your polling site contact CAIR-Chicago to coordinate transportation.

CAIR-Chicago would like to announce that Dr. Mazen Kudaimi has accepted the position of Chairman of CAIR-Chicago's Board of Directors. Read more about Dr. Kudaimi HERE. CAIR-Chicago also says goodbye to its former Chairman, Safaa Zarzour, who will now be serving as the Secretary General of the Islamic Society of North America (ISNA). He will be missed.

According to Gallup, more than 4 in 10 Americans (43%) admit to feeling at least "a little" prejudice toward Muslims. This is more than twice the number who say the same about Christians (18%), and almost three times more than that of Jews (15%) and Buddhists (14%). The poll questioned Americans about knowledge of Islam, to which 63% of Americans said they have "very little" knowledge or "none at all."

“The American Muslim community stands with other Americans in a collective commitment to support the Haitian people during their time of crisis with money, supplies, and prayers,” said Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of CAIR-Chicago. The Coalition also demanded Temporary Protected Status for Haitian immigrants in the US.

CAIR-Chicago is proud to announce that Ian Bushner has joined its team as a Public Interest Law Initiative (PILI) Fellow. Ian graduated with honors from the University of Chicago Law School and following his Fellowship will work as an associate with the law firm Jenner & Block LLP. To read more about Ian click here

Sharif discussed CAIR-Chicago’s work to combat religious discrimination and promote religious tolerance, and explained how media plays a critical role in that effort. She also described how CAIR-Chicago serves as a resource to journalists and news producers by offering them support and expert analysis as they develop their news reports.

After a 4-year wait, a divorce, and two passed citizenship tests, a man was sworn in as a citizen of the United States.