2024 Mayors' Ramadan Unity Dinner Program

Andy Schor, Mayor

GeorgeBrookover,Mayor

Master of Ceremonies

Welcome

Welcome

evening program

Dr. Farhan Bhatti, M.D.

CEO, Care Free Medical

Mayor Andy Schor City of Lansing

Mayor George Brookover City of East Lansing

Poem Mona Eldashoury Michigan State University Graduate Student

Prayer

Recognition of Sponsors

Ramadan Video

Our Work as a Community

Introduction of Keynote Speaker

Keynote Speaker

Closing Remarks

Greater Lansing Food Bank

Buffet Dinner Served

Reverend Kenny Craig

Union Missionary Baptist Church

Dr. Farhan Bhatti, M.D.

Dr. Farhan Bhatti, M.D.

Thasin Sardar Islamic Center of East Lansing

Areesha Shah

Imam Sohail Chaudhry Islamic Center of East Lansing

Dr. Farhan Bhatti, M.D.

Michelle Lantz

CEO, Greater Lansing Food Bank

mayors’ welcome note

We are so grateful to have you here to join us at the 16th Annual Mayors’ Ramadan Unity Dinner. The purpose of this dinner is to celebrate the importance of diversity and unifying as one to help those who face hunger or food insecurity. This year, the theme is “Tradition of Sharing,” which embodies the fact that this ongoing effort takes the selfless act of giving by many. And on that note, I’d like to express our gratitude towards both sponsors and attendees who have done just that This event supports the Greater Lansing Food Bank (GLFB) and helps individuals, families and communities by providing them with food and resources right here in the Greater Lansing Area Supporting the GLFB increases its capacity to reach out and do more throughout the entire capital region Please enjoy tonight's event, and thank you again for your support!

We welcome all of you who have joined us tonight for the 16th Annual Mayors’ Ramadan Unity Dinner. Our theme this year is a “Tradition of Sharing.” Once again, the funds raised by your participation will help support the Greater Lansing Food Bank (GLFB). The Food Bank is a vital element in our region’s continuing quest to provide vital resources to those who go hungry. Thank you for your participation in this important work It is only through our efforts together that we can continue in a tradition of sharing and respect for all people in the Greater Lansing community

committee members

Mayor Andy Schor

Mayor George Brookover City of Lansing City of East Lansing

Dr. Farhan Bhatti, M.D.

Brady Broderick

Dawn Carowitz

Akua Ekye-Addai

Natalie Hufnagel

Thasin Sardar

Jackson Mills

Tammy Verchereau

keynote speaker

Imam Sohail Chaudhry, is the Resident Imam of the Islamic Ce Lansing. He lives in East Lansing with his wife and two sons. I has a bachelor's degree in Computer Engineering from We University and a bachelor’s and master’s degree in Islamic S International Open University He has taught Islamic courses at W University and Alma College He served as an Imam of the Islam Morgantown, West Virginia, from 2005-2014 He has also offered an Imam at Federal and State Prisons since 2002 in West Vir Kentucky, Pennsylvania, and Michigan Imam Sohail was a recip President's Gold Volunteer Award in 2006. Imam Sohail is a grad Federal Bureau of Investigation's Citizens Academy. He is also c Mental Health First Responder by the Smile and Khalil Center.

Aside from leading prayers, Imam Sohail performs marriages and offers monthly Islam 101 classes, grief support, guidance and counseling services, and welcomes dialogs and one-on-one conversations, as well.

IMAM SOHAIL CHAUDHRY background on the ramadan dinner

The first Mayors' Ramadan Unity Dinner was proposed and organized by Sadia G Covert, Esq in 2007 It started with approximately 100 attendees at the Cooley Temple Conference Center of Cooley Law School, raising over $1,000 its first year. Since then, the Mayors' Ramadan Unity Dinner has grown to reach an audience of more than 500 attendees and has provided thousands of meals to children and families through the proceeds that have been raised for the Greater Lansing Area Food Bank.

Covert is the founder of the nonprofit, Uniting Through Cultural Awareness and Regional Education (UCARE), whose mission is to counter hate and bigotry through diversity education and community empowerment Covert is also an attorney, owner and partner of Covert & Covert, LLP , who wrote a hate crimes law that gives victims more ways to seek restitution and damages and requires education of offenders about the specific community or group they targeted As a state-certified instructor for enforcement, she also was the first female Muslim to develop a fourhouse state-certified curriculum on Islamic Cultural Awareness in the state of Illinois and has trained hundreds of police officers and other law enforcement officials on the subject

Given her extensive background, experience and dedication in uniting communities together to positively impact the narrative of underrepresented groups of people, Ms. Covert was awarded former U.S. President Barack Obama's Volunteer Service Award in 2016. Former Lansing Mayor Virg Bernero presented Sadia with a special recognition award in 2013 for establishing Lansing's annual Mayors' Ramadan Unity Dinner while she volunteered as a mayoral intern. Her mission for the dinner remains the same: to alleviate hunger while embracing religious diversity and interfaith understanding

sponsors

We extend our sincere thanks and gratitude to all of those who sponsored the 2024 Mayors' Ramadan Unity Dinner

Because of your generosity, we are able to carry on the tradition of sharing to those in need within our community

PLATINUM LEVEL SPONSORS

GOLD LEVEL SPOnsors

GOLD LEVEL SPONSORS

GOLD LEVEL SPOnsors