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New Annual Event Arrives In The U.S. Story & Photos By Annie Ghazi It was expected to be an event like no other; a turning point in Muslim organizations’ practice of gathering the national community for the sake of sharing knowledge. And unlike many regional and national conferences, America’s first taste of ‘Reviving the Islamic Spirit’ (RIS) was articulated by the up and coming generation of young adults. Although the course of topics and overall setup was similar to ISNA’s
annual convention the event addressed the need for appropriate technological faculties, simplified program design, and gathering various philosophical thoughts under one roof. This was RIS’s first imprint on U.S. soil. For eight years it revived the spirit of Toronto Muslims, which not only allowed its organizers to fine tune its vision, but create a level of excitement that resonated beyond the Canada border. As a result, over 5,000 people gathered during the Memorial
Day weekend near the pier at the Long Beach Convention Center. The streets, local restaurants, and stairwell of the center glimmered with participants. Inside, the one-hall, one schedule forum was partnered with a lively bazaar, where vendors like veteran Islamic Relief to newest hijab retailer Vela Scarves kept registrants engaged between sessions and during breaks. Other booths had special book and
audio signing segments, with world renowned scholar Hamza Yusuf and musical entertainers such as Native Deen. The tone of the conference revolved around “Remembering the Days of Allah” which was touched upon by many speakers, who delivered generic, but inspiring talks. Imam Suhaib Webb, who had taken a break from his studies in Egypt, >> Continues on P. 05
Interview With Child Prodigy Artist, Haris Imtiyaz Khan By Kena Sosa Haris Imtiyaz Khan, now twelve years old, developed his talent without taking art classes. His name has been bounced around the art world for several years, earning the respect and attention of the art community as well as politicians, film celebrities and other leaders. He has been featured in exhibitions all over India as well as in other countries (online). He is a very humble, yet inspirational child prodigy, who can teach us all about life, its meanings, and how to make good use of the time we have without living in a hurry.
I began to draw at age 3. I taught myself and learnt mostly through my own keen observation and study. My mother says when I was 3 years old I sketched a lion very beautifully. She was surprised that a tendered aged boy was able to make a portrait like that. By the grace of God my work improved by and by.
KS: Tell the readers about your background and how you began to paint.
KS: What are the main messages of your work?
H.I.K: I was born in Bhopal (INDIA) on 3rd of March, 1998, in to a theisticallycultured Muslim family, steeped with the values of humanity. Before moving to Pune I lived with my large extended family in the small town of Burhanpur. I was very close to my Grandfather then. He was a great inspiration to me. He always told me about the story of freedom fighters like Mahatma Gandhi and others. That’s why I have drawn so many portraits of Mahatma Gandhi.
H.I.K: As I create all types of art like portraits, landscapes, seascapes etc., but my favorite is my conceptual art. Through this medium I can express my thoughts and show the reality of human life. My work is inspired by the aspects of life we can’t avoid. If you are breathing and you are a human being, these things will walk with you like your shadow. These are feelings that know no borders. >> Continues on P. 11
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COMMUNITY REPORT
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IMMIGRATION
A PLEA FOR REASON Comment By Komal Khan After reading only 6 pages into Arizona’s (AZ) senate bill 1070 my temples began to throb out of complete frustration. My frustration did not stem from a polarized belief, rather from the inability of this bill to differentiate between inappropriate and appropriate immigration restraint. Eventually after powering through all 17 pages I came to the conclusion that I would not be fazed by deceptive rhetoric. Perhaps as an idealist, I wish for a clear and fair definition of “reasonable suspicion”, but as a minority and a resident of Texas I feel threatened by the lack of merit presented behind the tactics of immigration restraint. The bill echoes similar themes from the Patriot Act of 2001, where many men and women were unjustly detained and uncomfortably searched. While the Patriot Act may have legitimately called for the preservation of national security it resulted in the violation of human rights. Similarly, while AZ’s senate bill 1070 may call for economic and social security its vagueness inherently results in racial profiling. One does not have to be a resident of AZ to see or feel the plight of social injustice. Lawmakers of Texas have had their fair share of immigration reform, fortunately they have not succumb to the same vexatious laws of AZ yet. Despite the evident flaw of “reasonable suspicion”, there is the very valid point of human trafficking in the U.S. Human trafficking in this context could be defined as prostitution or forced labor. According to the Polaris Project “14,500 -17,500” foreign nationals are “trafficked into the U.S. every year”. Though this assessment is disheartening, such a number is astoundingly low. A significant portion of illegal immigrants do
not come to the U.S. to partake in murderous and violent crimes, instead most come to seek a livelihood and to feed their families back home. The only real crime being committed by immigrants are their high numbers. Aside from accepting the classic plea for refuge and hope, one can develop a better understanding by evaluating U.S relations with neighboring countries. Though the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA) advocates prosperity among nations, there is no North American organization that allows free migration. The free migration of people plays a key role in uniting and stabilizing economies. Famous French economic minister Jean Monnet suggested that in order to prevent the outbreak of wars, countries must intertwine their economies together. His idea would give birth to the European Economic Community (EEC) which would later evolve into the European Union (EU). The success of his idea is apparent in the lack of violent confrontations among European Nations. This could arguably work for NAFTA, yet the likelihood of the U.S. expanding economic ties to Latin American countries is slim. The inability of the U.S. to address illegal immigration from a global perspective is crippling and leads our country to domestically conduct socially barbaric practices. To AZ lawmakers free migration does not belong in the realm of reasonability, instead unjust searches and seizures do. As a Texas resident I worry about the potential for my state to do the same. The practice of illegal immigration is a problem, but so are socially stagnating laws. It’s imperative for those who wish to see states like Arizona and Texas socially evolve to vocalize their discontent. “Prejudices are what fools use for reason” (Voltaire).
Arizona’s New Rigid Immigration Law By Noaman Azhar, Attorney at Law Arizona Senate Bill 1070 was passed and signed into law last month. The bill will permit the state police to: 1. Stop a person if there is a “reasonable suspicion” the person is an illegal alien; 2. Arrest a person if there is probable cause that the person is an alien not in possession of required immigration documents; 3. Detain arrested persons until proof is given of their legal status; and 4. Punish an individual, as a misdemeanor or felony, for transporting a person while either knowingly or “recklessly disregarding” the person’s immigration status. Senate Bill 1070 has been criticized on multiple fronts. The most significant concerns about the bill deal with whether state law enforcement officers in Arizona, as opposed to federal officers, should be able to possess the power to arrest US citizens, simply because they do not carry with them proof of their citizenship. Also, with respect to holding suspected illegal aliens in detention facilities (which are similar or worse than prisons), state law enforcement officers in Arizona now possess broad discretionary power. Senate Bill 1070 has been further criticized for targeting the growing Hispanic population in Arizona and for legalizing racial and ethnic profiling, threatening to make such acts commonplace. The passage of Senate Bill 1070 has drawn national media attention, as well as highlighted the dire need for immigration reform. In fact, even before the Governor of Arizona signed the new bill into law, President Obama openly expressed his disdain for it. President Obama criticized the law as
violating the American values of basic fairness, as well as creating unnecessary suspicion and mistrust between communities and law enforcement. Congressional leaders have also responded to the bill’s passage by indicating their preparation to tackle immigration reform in the near future. Similarly, the law’s passage has spurred vast opposition in both popular culture and amongst common citizens. Recently, the Phoenix Suns, an NBA basketball team, took a public stance against the bill during the NBA Playoffs, wearing jerseys with the logo “Los Suns” in honor of the Latino community in Arizona. In Dallas, like other cities across the country, a crowd of over 25,000 collected in downtown on May 1st in opposition to Senate Bill 1070. Unsurprisingly, support for Senate Bill 1070 has been unpopular even amongst Arizona residents, with most of the callers to the Arizona governor’s office expressing their opposition to the bill’s passage. Lawmakers in Oklahoma and Texas have already stated they will propose similar bills. Whether Senate Bill 1070 will survive legal challenges remains to be seen, however, the silver lining to the Arizona law is that it has further emphasized to Americans, as well as our nation’s leaders, that we must confront the need for immigration reform. Noaman is an attorney and managing partner at Azhar & Azhar, PLLC. The information provided in this article is not immigration advice and should not be interpreted as immigration advice. This article is not intended to establish an attorney-client relationship. As always, readers should consult with an experienced immigration attorney before making any immigration decisions on their case.
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ADVERTISEMENTS
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NEW ANNUAL EVENT ARRIVES IN U.S.
From P. 01 >>> ended one address with a very moving message relating to the inclusion of youth in our Mosques. He pointed out the growing issue of youth marriage, self-identity, and proper social development often neglected by our Islamic organizations. This causation has turned more and more youth away from relying on Muslim leaders and community centers and shifted their reliance on rather negative influences. In the end Imam Suhaib proclaimed, “They shouldn’t have to go to Sheikh Oprah or Sheikh Phil, but to Sheikh Masjid!” The crises in our local Islamic communities continued to be highlighted by scholars.
and loyal individual, whose prayers were like lullabies for her and her siblings when they were young. Her immaculate speech touched everyone in the room and mirrored
The eldest daughter of Malcolm X, Ms. Shabaaz described her father as
a compassionate and loyal individual, whose prayers were like lullabies for her and her siblings when they were young.
her father’s character. Another character, who shined from the panel of speakers that day, was Egyptian talk-show host and now PhD. Ustadh Amr Khalid. Also claimed to be the Arab world’s Oprah, Ustadh Amr made a seemingly grand entrance and powerful speech, which unfortunately only Arabic speaking individuals could appreciate. Due to time constraints and other technical difficulties, the lack of translation turned off many attendees and created less interest to
preciated speakers and scholars: Imam Suhaib Webb, Zaid Shakir and Sheikh Hamza Yusuf who delved into the meaning of the theme, ‘Remembering the Days of Allah’. But before the speakers could address their audience, a particularly good surprise from among a few not-sogood surprises was shared on stage. Describing it as a consistent blessing during RIS conferences, the moderator announced that an attendee had decided to take her shahada and revert to Islam at this public forum. Kentucky native Sister Dana stood with her husband and lecturer Dr. Yasir Qadhi on stage and recited the Kalima with tears flowing down her cheeks. The room resonated with Takbir in support of their new Muslim sister. By the time Imam Zaid approached the podium, a few other unwanted surprises were touched upon, including the attack on a humanitarian aiding ship that attempted to provide food and supplies to the desperate Palestinians who have been jailed within the strip of Gaza. Imam Zaid compelled his listeners to use their minds and their efforts to make a lasting impact on this ongoing conflict by way of media involvement and governance rather than protests and shouting. He emphasized that being emotional was a weakness that our Ummah has to let go of, and alternatively develop an understanding of the legislative
an introduction to RIS and what it has to offer American Muslims and non-Muslims alike. Regrettably it did not stand out incredibly from its competitors in substance due to keynote speakers often straying from the topic or speaking to the audience
as if they had no background on the matter at hand. Perhaps the future of RIS would
hold an elaboration of the concerns posed by speakers with more specific skill-based workshops or representation from organizations who have established services that the audience may learn from and/or join. The key to RIS organizers’ success is the ability
Sheikh Hamza, who had also traveled back from overseas, discussed the disintegration of human dignity – by way of dress, language, and genuine relation
attend his forum the following day. Despite the absence in Amr Khaled’s session, the main session, which followed after Maghrib prayers overflowed with attendees to hear three of the most ap-
with others. He also commemorated the life of Malik Shabaaz (aka Malcolm X) with speaker Ms. Attallah Shabaaz. As the eldest daughter of Malcolm X, Ms. Shabaaz described her father as a compassionate
process or engage in organizations that are involved in such affairs. He empathized with the situation the Palestinians faced and forcefully stated that the oppressors had already failed by displaying such a reaction to the aide. As the conference neared the end on Monday, the panel of speakers closed with the topic of ‘Where to Go From Here’ which marked a continuation and hope to bring RIS back to the U.S. In sum, the event demonstrated a wealth of skills in terms of the management of the conference, but left an impression that this was simply
to stay consistent in their approach, which other national organizations have somewhat failed in as their events have transformed into a more social atmosphere for people to mingle in. Consequently, RIS has ensured that there is an outlet for individuals to feel secure as Muslims and value the path of Allah by reviving our faith in Islam.
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COMMUNITY REPORT
SUPPORT VICTIMS OF HAITI EARTHQUAKE
UMMAH RELIEF IS ALSO HELPING NEEDY FELLOW CITIZENS IN HAITI
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COMMUNITY REPORT
CHECK OUT MAS YOUTH CENTER THIS SUMMER By Komal Khan The Muslim American Society Youth division offers many programs that allow young people to be informed and involved in the Islamic community. The division’s purpose is “to move young people to strive for godconsciousness, social justice, and to convey Islam in the utmost clarity” (MAS Youth Mission Statement). Unlike other youth centers that may limit their facilities to only Muslim youth, MAS youth acknowledges their audience as simply “young people who reside in the United States of America (citizens, immigrants, workers, students, etc) regardless of ethnicity, place of origin and religion”. Aside from its openness, what makes this organization a significant community contributor is the amount of cultural and intellectual impact is makes on young
people. After evaluating three of its main departments, one finds that MAS Youth Centers offer a healthy forum for political and interfaith discussion along with a newly introduced nationwide Quran Institute. One of its developing programs is known as MAS Youth Freedom, which will post news and encourage political discussions. While MAS Youth Freedom may appear to be relative to each community, it informs young people about current events and societal disturbances. This part of MAS Youth should be distinctly noted because it addresses and tackles the core issue of ignorance among young people. Additionally, by allowing young people to partake in healthy discussions, it inspires them to play a more active role. For instance, The MAS Freedom department of Dallas Fort Worth led a “successful voter education event”
Sun, Fun, and the Summer Reading Program By Kena Sosa Nothing beats summer days in the park, the pool, or the backyard. But summer is more than just getting to run as fast as your legs can take you or to see who can climb the highest tree. Your imagination needs to run free as well. Your local public library is the perfect place to let your hands explore new crafts and start great projects, listen to enchanting storytellers, and dive into cool, shiny-covered books. For kids, Summer Reading Programs at the public library offer all this and more. They offer a safe place to be yourself and to be entertained without TV, video games, and out of the blazing summer sun. Coretta Scott King Award Honor illustrator Gregory Christie reflects on how the library was his haven during the summer days of his childhood. “I was a latch key kid that after school spent most of my time in the library rather than ( ) watching cartoons. Eventually a routine was worked out between my mother and I, where she picked me up on her way home from work rather than me walking home. Needless to say I got plenty of books in my system during those days.” If it weren’t for all those fascinating books, who knows if Gregory Christie’s illustrations in books such as in Only Passing Through: The Story of Sojourner Truth, Brothers in Hope: The Story of the Lost Boys of Sudan, and The Palm of my Heart: Poetry by African-American Children would be here to dance for us today. Parents should also be motivated to bring in their kids for academic reasons. Arne Duncan, United States Secretary of Education stated the following in Education Daily on March 25th, 2009: What I worry about a lot is summer reading loss…[Y]ou get kids to a certain point in June, and when they come back in September, they’re further behind than when they left you three months ago. It’s heartbreaking. Simply continuing to read and keep your children involved in stories and storytelling will help to keep up what they learned over the school year. So, what is happening at libraries around the Red River? Stillwater, Oklahoma libraries encourage families to come in and take a break from the heat in their refreshing summer programs. This library is just one of a few locations in Stillwater that aids people in getting out of the heat. They have reading
clubs, where kids can read to earn prizes like T-shirts, gift cards and Sonic coupons. This library has summer entertainment even for adults with discussions on Oklahoma day trips and mysteries, even movie times for families. For dates and themes visit http://library.stillwater.org. Meanwhile, North Texas libraries offer programs especially created for toddlers through teens, which even include bilingual programs. In Frisco, the Public Library provides fun for toddlers through teens. Teens can even participate in an Anime Club the third Thursday of every month from 6-7pm. Terrific Tuesdays, Thursdays and Fridays bring in all ages for story time. Little ones won’t be left out. Toddlers can get excited about books at story time with a different theme each week as well as pre-schoolers and even babies. See www.friscolibrary.com for themes and other details. Dallas Public Library branches offer story time at different locations each day of the week, as well as arts and crafts projects like painting. DPL also offers workshops for parents and other caregivers on child literacy to make sure Every Child (is)Ready To Read @ Dallas. www.dallaslibrary.org. Will this be your first time taking your family to the local library? Try reading a few books about the library to warm your family up before your visit. Then take advantage of all the library offers, that’s what it is there for like free Internet access, videos and DVD’s, audiobooks, playaway digital books and magazines. One of the best parts about being a library visitor is that almost all resources, activities and presentations are free! The best things about life and the summer usually are. Recommended books about libraries: * Richard Wright and the Library Card by William Miller, Illustrated by Gregory Christie; Lee & Low Books, New York, 1997. * Tomas and the Library Lady by Pat Mora, Illustrated by Raul Colon; Dragonfly Books, New York, 1997. * I Took My Frog To The Library by Eric Kimmel, Illustrated by Blanche Sims Our Librarian Won’t Tell Us Anything by Toni Buzzeo, Illustrated by Sachiko Yoshikawa, Fort Atkinson, Wis., Upstart Books, 2006. * Library Lion by Michelle Knudsen, Illustrated by Kevin Hawkes, Cambridge, Mass.: Candlewick Press, 2006.
addressing the beer and wine campaign in Irving. MAS Youth’s Freedom department allows young adults to participate and voice their opinions on current events. In addition to the political forum presented in its Freedom department, MAS Youth also includes an Outreach department. The Outreach department’s mission is to “to channel the Muslim community’s contribution to the welfare of the society at large (regardless of faith, non-Muslims and Muslims)”. Furthermore, it gives young adults the opportunity to both learn from and educate others by holding interfaith discussion among Churches, Synagogues, and Masjids. By encouraging discussion among different faiths, MAS Youth asserts the individuals (Muslim or non-Muslims) can effectively contribute to society once they understand each other. In summarization, the Outreach department allows young people to understand the significance in community involvement and religious education. Finally, the newly introduced nationwide Quran Institutes provides plenty
of educational material regarding Islam. The MAS Youth’s Quran Institute provides quality classes, teachers, and educational articles. Originally based in Michigan, the Quran Institutes’ educational objectives include but are not limited to Quranic memorization (within one year for ages 10-18), the teachings of the Holy Quran (meaning), and Tajweed. To register for classes or to learn more about the Quran Institute and its unique programs please visit www.MASdfwquran.org. There is no doubt that MAS Youth Centers all over the United States have a spiritual, intellectual, and cultural impact on our youth; however, something to also note is that MAS is an organization that embraces and encourages youth. Aside from its Quran institute, Outreach, and Freedom departments it also sponsors many other activities such as a basketball league and Tai Chi classes. It’s important to understand that MAS Youth is not a stiff community organization rather it’s one that welcomes curiosity and provides activities for everyone.
ISNA Establishes Special Fund, Urges Donations To Revitalize Neighborhoods With Green Reentry Project (Plainfield, IN 05/15/2010) - The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) is proud to announce our partnership with the InnerCity Muslim Network (IMAN) on the first home of their Green Reentry Project. The Project is designed to revitalize long-neglected neighborhoods by converting vacant, foreclosed and vandalized properties on Chicago’s South Side into vibrant, environmentally sustainable housing. The renovation project will provide on-the-job-training for formerly incarcerated Muslims and subsequently provide them with transitional housing. The Project was one of eight recipients of the “Community Green Jobs” funding from the City of Chicago’s Department of Environment. IMAN, an organization that works closely on issues of criminal justice, believes that with the right resources and opportunities, previously incarcerated individuals can become not only productive members of society, but also leaders capable of restoring their neighborhoods to healthy, stable, and safe communities of life. While IMAN’s work has always been rooted in its local community, its vision to create models of change is geographically boundless. Rami Nashashibi, the Executive Director of IMAN, sees the collaboration as a practical approach to many problems plaguing urban areas in many of our cities. “We are tremendously excited about the possibilities of this collaboration not for only this particular home, but for the larger community,” says
Nashashibi. “Not only will this project have a direct impact on this community, but it will also serve as a strong model for addressing the most pressing and relevant issues facing low income communities.” “It was natural for us to enter into this partnership with IMAN because it afforded us the opportunity to translate our strategic priority of community building and our need to connect with our grassroots into reality,” said Imam Mohamed Magid, Vice President of ISNA. Safaa Zarzour, Secretary General of ISNA, expressed his deep appreciation for IMAN’s leadership in improving lives and infrastructures in Chicago’s inner city, and hoped that “Chicago is only the beginning for such a pioneering effort.” ISNA has committed to raising $160,000 to fully renovate the first house by its 47th Annual Convention. “This project is the embodiment of the theme of our convention, Nurturing Compassionate Communities: Connecting Faith and Service, so it is only fitting to inaugurate the completed first home during our annual convention,” said ISNA President Ingrid Mattson. ISNA urges its supporters and members of the Muslim community at large to donate generously to this most worthy project. Donors of the project will have the opportunity to witness firsthand the fruits of their support. Prearranged buses will be present at the convention to transport donors to the renovated house located on Chicago’s South Side.
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FAMILY
Gathering Food and Family By Kena Sosa Wholesome family activities do not have to be limited to board games and family reunions. We can do more with food than just cook and eat. Food can be used to teach appreciation as well. Outside the possible experience of visiting a farm on a field trip or a small home garden, many children today do not understand the great deal of effort it takes to create the food we eat. One way of remedying this would be to give children the experience of gathering their own food. There are many farms in Texas as well as other states, which, despite being family-run, functioning farms, allow visitors to come and pick their own fruits and vegetables. You will pay for the fruits and vegetables based on the amount you pick. Children will appreciate these foods and be excited to sample them. Some farms that welcome visitors to pick fruits in Dallas are the Merry Berry Farm and the Sunnyvale Pecan Orchard. The Merry Berry Farm in Balch Springs has blackberry bushes abundant in ripe, juicy, organic berries for snacks and desserts. Just remember to protect yourself from the thorns. For those who don’t want to brave the thorny berry bushes, you can also take your children to gather pecans in Sunnyvale, Texas. Or you can visit a farm which offers variety like Gnismer Farms in Arlington. Gnismer Farms offers mostly strawberries this time of year, but also asparagus, lettuce and other delicious natural foods. Spring strawberries get picked out fast, so make sure to show up early in the morning for the ripest berries. Henrietta Creek Orchard, in Roa-
noke, Texas gives families a place to pick their own apples (10 varieties), peaches (6 varieties), black-eyed peas, squash, and okra, plums, and tomatoes. They even offer seasonal vegetables such as pumpkins in the fall, making carving your own jack-o-latern an even more personal and special. Visit a farm and create your own recipes at home with your children. Once they have warmed up to this activity, they may even want to help with a family garden, growing the fruits, vegetables or flowers of their choice. Regardless of what they choose to help grow, we all know that whatever is on the table when grown and cooked with love is all the more delicious. North Texas Area Pick-Your-Own Farms * The Merry Berry Farm 4608 Shepherd Lane, Balch Springs, TX 75180. Phone: 972-286-2287. Email: merryberryfarm@sbcglobal.net. * Sunnyvale Pecan Orchard 137 Rebecca Road, Sunnyvale, Texas, 75182. Phone: (972) 226-7243 or Phone: 972-226-1251. Email: rustysage@gmail. com * Gnismer Farms 3010 S. Bowen Rd. Dalworthington, TX 76016; 817-469-8704; Gnismer@sbcglobal. net. Online: www.gnismer.com * Henrietta Creek Orchard 14255 Old Denton Road, Roanoke, TX 76262. Phone: 817-439-3202. Email: ssapple@juno.com. *More like these can be found at www. pickyourown.org/TX.htm.
GIRL SCOUTS HELP START A LIBRARY FOR REFUGEE CHILDREN
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MONEY & FINANCE
Q: How to teach kids about the value of money? A: Pay them! It is better to teach them about money before kids reach their teen years. Distractions and ambitions may cause your teenager to not learn about being responsible with finances. At such a young age giving your kids small amounts of money helps them prepare for the day when the amount gets bigger. So when is the right time to start the allowance? A child should be old enough to count money and recognize the bills. It is crucial to clearly state the purpose of the allowance. For example, they should know that the money they receive as an allowance is for specific purposes such as: clothes, books, or snacks and cannot be used for any other purpose. Ask your kids to always save a portion of their earnings. Children under the age of ten should not have to pay for their meals at school. A creative option is to link allowance money to household chores. The argument against this arrangement is that kids should help out around the house without expecting to get paid for it. One should always help their family member regardless of money. Proponents believe that small chores, such as car washes and cleaning, need to be done any ways. So it is better to keep the money in the family and have someone in the house do it. Children may complain that their allowance is not enough to meet their needs. The main purpose of the pocket money is to teach them to live within their means. On the other hand, a child is also learning the skills of negotiation. Instead of saying no right away, engage them in a conversation. Ask them what they plan to do with their raise? Why is it important to get it now? Remember that getting a raise just to match the amount their friends get is a bad idea. Kids must learn that they have to live within their means
MARKETING WITH A LOW BUDGET Part 1: Learning about your customers By Melanz, LLC It has never been easier to run a business project out of your residence. Technological advancements have made it a lot easier to operate a company from the comfort of your home. In the United States people are running a wide variety of businesses from their houses. Especially women with children find it to be a better alternative to working outside. But a home-based company requires similar amount of discipline and planning as any other venture to market its product or services. Marketing your product or service is the key to boost sales. For a home-based or small business, a marketing budget is always an important issue. We have developed this multiple part series to help small businesses succeed. It is very possible to sell more by efficiently managing your marketing budget. The first step is to learn about your consumers. The more you learn about them, the better you will be able to fulfill their needs with your products. Based on this knowledge, you will be able to design your advertising message. An example of customers is like a classroom. All the children in a classroom want the same thing, that is, to move on to the next grade. But for the teacher and parents it takes different types of strategies to help them. In every class room one will find children that need few reminders to keep up with their work. Others require a different tone. A good number of children need constant reminders and a combination of messages to get them through the class. If the teacher does not have the knowledge about each student, she will not be very successful in helping them with their studies. Remember, your customers are those same children that are now grownups. To motivate them to buy your products, you will have to think like a teacher. Imagine putting an ad in Spanish in the India Journal, or promoting lunch specials during Ramadan to Muslim consumers. Business owners make similar mistakes by not learning enough about the customer.
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO KNOW MORE ABOUT CUSTOMERS?
Consumers have different feelings towards a product based on their gender, age, personality, need, income, environment, and education. Take the example of toothpaste and its relationship to the consumer mind. People buy toothpastes based on the packaging. A lot of the products are similar, but under different type of packaging in order to reach a larger number of customers. Consumers with bad breath problems are likely to pick up toothpaste with the “Mint Freshness” label. Smokers and coffee drinkers go for a “Bright Smile” label. The products might be similar, but the packaging is designed to appeal the maximum number of buyers. A toothpaste with the label of “Best toothpaste” will not sell much in the market since it does not relate to the needs of any group.
HOW TO LEARN ABOUT YOUR CUSTOMERS? Someone wise once said, “If you don’t ask, the answer is no.” To learn about the customers you as a business owner have to ask questions. Remember another wise person said, “It’s not important what you ask, it’s how you ask for it.” This logic is valid for consumer surveys and questions. Design economical and creative ways to learn about the need in the market for your product. There are certain things that you will have to learn about your customers: * How much they spend on similar products per year * How often do they buy * Their income level * Gender / Education * And more The information obtained is extremely valuable since it reduces any wastage of marketing dollars. If you are armed with customer information, your advertising campaigns will be more effective and you can save a lot more money. Good luck and check out our next issue for Part 2 of this series. Melanz, LLC is a marketing communications and design consultation firm.
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ARTIST HARIS KHAN
From page 01 >> KS: Do you sometimes feel that you have more to prove with your work since you are still a child? Do you think you must work harder to prove yourself to be successful? H.I.K: Yes, of course I have to work much harder to prove myself because in art, the age of the artist is no concern. I am not only working hard observing as much as I can of what is going around me. Then, I can show all this through my work.
KS: What are your long-term goals? H.I.K: God gave me many gifts. One is the unique talent of drawing a live charcoal portrait of someone in 25 minutes. I’ve been doing this since the age of 9 and I think maybe God wants me to take on a special kind of work and that it should be to help humanity. INSHAALLAH I will achieve my goal because this way is chosen for me
by the God. KS: What is your favorite painting (your own work) and why?
H.I.K: I want to tell you about a piece of my conceptual artwork called “Prison of Life” which I like most…..This painting shows the sorrow, pain and wounds of life. It is based on the great Urdu poet, Mirza Ghalib’s work. The message here is that it is necessary to face the facts of life until your last breath. Once you are free from life (death), you will be free from all your sorrow and pain. So this painting shows that “while you are alive you have to accept the bright and dark sides of life.” Of course I like my own work, but if you are talking about my favorite painting, I haven’t painted it just yet.
things. I like him very much. However, the great Urdu poet, Mirza Ghalib, is the one who most inspired my creativity. He really was a master and philosopher of life. He narrated as it is but did so very beautifully and faced whatever life served him until his last breath.
KS: What projects are you currently working on? H.I.K: I am working on several projects that help others such as those that help save the tigers, global warming, and working toward world peace. I am trying to express my views about said projects through my paintings. I am very keen to doing something for poor people, especially children, under my registered organization, HARIS ART FOUNDATION. I also want to create a platform to promote those artists who believe in the full meaning of art instead of tricky and puzzling art like some modern art. KS: Who is your favorite artist/biggest influence? H.I.K: My favorite artist is Leonardo da Vinci. I like his Mona Lisa and Last Supper. He was a great artist as well as many other
KS: What do you think other children should know about you? How can you inspire others?
H.I.K: Yes, I do want other children and adults to know about me, but I can inspire them only when I arrive at such a place in my life where people feel that they should follow me. And for that I have to work hard.
Learn more about him and see more of his work at his website, www.harisimtiazkhan. com. Haris.imtiyaz@gmail.com
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SAN ANTONIO --PURO PARTY! Story & Photos By R. “Ruqayyah” Khalifa With a population of over 1.3 million, San Antonio (AKA Alamo City) is the seventhlargest city in the United States and the second-largest city in Texas. It is Texas’ center for tourism and Tejano culture with the majority of the locals being bilingual in English and Spanish; well…Tex/Mex. I had to take two years of Spanish in high school to learn how to speak, read, and write it the proper way. A native San Antonian myself, I recall the many fun times I had with my family and friends growing up. There is always something to do for fun or a place to
go just to hang out and enjoy good company. One of the city’s biggest celebrations is Fiesta San Antonio, a festival that takes place annually around mid April. It lasts for approximately nine days and consists of: three parades (River, Battle of Flowers and Flambeau Parades) with over 40 floats and over 30 bands; a Night in Old San Antonio (NIOSA – four days long); a carnival with many rides and games; a big contest for El Rey Feo (the ugly king) and Miss Fiesta San Antonio; lots of dancing to live bands throughout the downtown area; all kinds of Mexican and Tex Mex food; and several other balls and parties that take place within and around downtown San Antonio. Local San Antonians/vendors do not waste time in getting a piece of the action during this big money making period. They reserve their booths a year or so in advance to make sure they do not miss out. During this time, the economic impact brings in well over $250 million to the Alamo City.
This annual celebration started back in the early 1890s when some local women started to decorate carriages, baby buggies, and bicycles with live flowers and threw them at one another when they met in front of the Alamo. This marked the beginning of the first Battle of Flowers Parade and the birth of this event which has been ongoing for approximately 119 years. This is a giant party for all ages, young and old alike with something for everyone to enjoy. Party goers keep going well into the wee morning hours too. Tourists as well as employees of all categories and different companies from the Alamo City take some vacation time off so they are able to take pleasure participating in the festivities. In addition, when all the party goers are out and about, you cannot help but see a massive array of so many different colors covering the different areas. You see men, women, kids, babies, dressed up in bright summery outfits and hats. Party goers like to make it more fun by wearing necklaces, bracelets, rings, and hat pins that either glow in the dark or flash off and on. It was cool back then when I was in my teens and early twenties, but now I am satisfied with reminiscing about it. The San Antonio River Walk
people wave at you. An additional big event of the year in the Alamo City is the winter holiday season. On Friday, the day after Thanksgiving, the city’s mayor participates in the River Parade along with an invited celebrity to countdown for the lighting along the River Walk. In the past, the celebrities have
been anywhere from a Spur’s basketball player, an actor/actress, a singing artist, or politician. A speech is given by the mayor shortly before the countdown and once the lights are lit, they stay on until the first of January the following year. It is such a beautiful and romantic site to see and experience. San Antonio is also known as the city of romance and where many couples go for a honeymoon. And many a times, when
from all over the world. San Antonio is also home to five military bases with two others in the outskirts of the city, and the fourtime NBA champions, San Antonio Spurs. As if this were not enough, other places of interest include Sea World, Fiesta Texas, the hill country of Westin/La Cantera Resort, the Spanish Missions, Tower of the Americas, Market Square/El Mercado, the Alamo Bowl, the Botanical Gardens, the Arnason River Theatre, La Villita, and much more. Yes, those were some good old days growing up in the Alamo City. There was never a dull moment. Sundays use to
be the ‘show off your car’ day at the city’s most popular Brackenridge Park. People, mostly guys, would drive in circles around the park with their souped up Sting Rays, Camaros, Firebirds, Chevy trucks, classic restored 50s cars, and oh yes, the famous ‘Low Rider’ to see who installed the baddest hydraulics. It is so popular among the Tejanos that a song was composed by a group called “War” in 1975 and later recorded by Carlos Santana titled ‘Low Rider’---of course. These kind of wheels were not my thing back then or now. For me having good transportation from a vehicle not leaving me stranded on any road
(AKA, Paseo del Rio) is a must see and one of the Alamo City’s many attractions for tourists and locals alike. With a network of walkways along the banks, there are a variety of restaurants, shops, and bars lined along it. The ambiance of the outside cafés and restaurants makes such a relaxing experience to sit and eat or sip on a latte and watch as the barges go by and see the
they return to their hometown, they find out shortly thereafter that they have a ‘bun in the oven’ conceived during their trip to the Alamo City. Another added attraction is the most famous Alamo. It was once known as the ‘Mission San Antonio de Valero’ and was previously a Roman Catholic mission and fortress compound. It is where the Battle of the Alamo took place in 1836, but is now a museum visited by millions of tourist
makes me a happy camper. A fun ride I did like was the paddle boats you can rent to go along the river and the train ride throughout the park. Provided by the park are barbeque grills and picnic tables for a cookout as well. Sunday was a day you saw people of all ages enjoy playing baseball, soccer, football, riding their bikes, walking, or just chilling on their day off. Yes indeed…. never a boring moment in the Alamo City.