Day: May 4, 2023

Join CAIR-Ohio and the Ohio Education Association for “A Summer Celebration of Diverse Readers” event on Saturday, May 20th at Warehouse 839 (3691 Main Street, Hilliard, OH 43026). 

Our goal is to put books featuring diverse characters, written by diverse authors, into the hands of 9,000 children in grades PreK-6th. It is imperative to provide culturally relevant and responsive content for all students, including Muslims, so that they feel included and represented. 

This event will include a Readers’ Corner, and also activities such as face painting and a selfie station! RSVP for the event here.

Interested in becoming a volunteer? Click here to sign up.

(COLUMBUS, OH, 5/4/23) – On Tuesday, May 2, CAIR-Ohio Government Affairs Director Anisa Liban presented testimony to the House Constitutional Resolutions Committee in opposition to Senate Joint Resolution (S.J.R.) 2. 

S.J.R. 2 will require a vote of at least 60%, as opposed to a simple majority of 50% plus 1, of the electors to approve any constitutional amendment and to modify the procedures for an initiative petition proposing a constitutional amendment. This will pose barriers for Ohioans to pass citizen-led ballot initiatives to amend the state constitution and will leave a harmful impact on not only voting rights, but healthcare access, access to education, civil and economic justice, and much more. 

“If an amendment is going to apply to every Ohioan, we at CAIR-Ohio believe then every community should have a say in putting that potential constitution amendment on the ballot,” said Liban. 

View Anisa’s full testimony here. 

(HILLIARD, OH, 5/4/23) – On April 27, CAIR-Ohio spoke at an info session event held in collaboration with a coalition of organizations that are part of the “Educating for Ohio’s Future” campaign. This campaign led by OPAWL is a collective effort to advocate for an updated social studies curriculum that reflects the diverse backgrounds and histories of Ohioans, including Muslims. 

The speakers highlighted the fact that some students in Ohio feel invisible, alone, and unheard in their classrooms, and that outdated histories do nothing to prepare our kids for the world they’re about to enter. There is an immense need for a curriculum that fully reflects Ohioans’ backgrounds and histories and provides all students with a comprehensive and accurate understanding of the world they live in. 

Muslims have a rich history in Ohio and have contributed to the state’s culture, economy, and society in significant ways. It’s crucial that the curriculum reflects this history and the positive contributions of Muslims to Ohio. 

Furthermore, the Muslim community in Ohio, like many other communities, has faced challenges related to education equity.  

“We have received reports from many Muslim students who are experiencing bullying and discrimination in schools, which can negatively impact their academic performance and overall well-being,” said CAIR-Ohio Government Affairs Director Anisa Liban. “By updating the social studies curriculum to include a more diverse and inclusive history, we can help create a more welcoming and inclusive learning environment for all students, including Muslim students.” 

The event was a call to action for the community to come together and support educational equity by building a truly multiracial, diverse, and representative coalition. 

Interested in getting updates about this campaign? Sign up here. 

Contact CAIR-Ohio Outreach Director Victoria Hickcox at vhickcox@cair.com if you have any questions or would like to get involved. 

(CINCINNATI, OH, 5/4/23) – On Thursday, April 27, CAIR-Ohio joined a luncheon organized by Housing Opportunities Made Equal (HOME) to celebrate the 55th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, which prohibits housing discrimination based on race, color, national origin, religion, sex, disability, and family status. 

CAIR-Ohio Executive Director Amina Barhumi, and speakers from the Jewish and Sikh community, participated in a panel discussion about religious discrimination. Mayor Aftab Pureval, Cincinnati’s first Asian American mayor, was in attendance and spoke about ways the city is working to address the housing inequities in Cincinnati. 

Barhumi talked about how religious discrimination affects housing for Muslims, which is the most racially diverse faith group in the U.S., and that a lack of knowledge of Islam is what causes discrimination. 

“The Muslim community is diverse, and the legacy and experiences of each community are unique. It is important to note that many Muslim families choose to rent, rather than take out a mortgage, due to a lack of options for homeowners who are unable to pay interest due to their religious beliefs, which further limits housing opportunities for our community,” said Barhumi.  

“It is also critical that landlords & real estate agents both understand the impact of redlining & its lasting effects on marginalized communities—particularly the Black community.”