7 minute read
Religion
Masjid Muhammad Hosts 18th Annual ‘A Time to Be Grateful’ Confab
Denise Rolark Barnes WI Publisher
Members of Masjid Muhammad, the Nation’s Mosque, hosted a three-day conference and the 18th Annual “A Time to Be Grateful” awards dinner celebrating the Masjid Muhammad’s 85th anniversary and the Muslim Journal’s 47th anniversary.
The event was also held in conjunction with the anniversary of the United Nations’ Universal Declaration of Human Rights issued on December 10, 1948, the date that the Nation’s Mosque was built in the nation’s capital in 1960.
Imam Talib M. Shareef, President of Masjid Muhammad, welcomed more than 400 attendees who traveled across the country to attend the awards dinner and participate in workshops addressing an array of social and justice issues, including youth violence.
In his message to the participants, Imam Shareef shared, “This year’s event comes at a time when America has been blessed to weather the storm of challenges to itself, to our Democracy, and is moving towards closing this year a little brighter than the previous— focusing on the excellence of family, our collective life, and our inherent goodness as human beings. It is truly a time to be grateful.”
He cited record-breaking voter turnout, the confirmation of the first African American female appointed to the Supreme Court and numerous Muslims appointed to the Biden Administration as a reflection of the event’s theme: “Shared Freedom Space, Created Equal with Inalienable Rights.”
The Muslim Journal, in its 47th year of continuous publishing was originally founded by several Muslim ministers and followers of the Honorable Elijah Muhammed. Included among them was Malcolm X.
Ambassador Rashad Hussain, International Religious Freedom, U.S. Department of State, who represented the Biden Administration, urged in his keynote address the Muslim teachings of no person is superior to another, and expressed gratitude to the teachers who set the tradition of equality in the U.S.
“I am so grateful to be in a country that allows us to practice our faith freely. And we work hard to defend the right of all Americans who practice their faith or who don’t express any faith to practice their religion,” Hussain said.
When Muslims are suffering around the world, and face genocide, Hussain explained, “We have to act on it here in the U.S. and around the world.”
“We have to protect international religious freedom, …particularly religious minorities,” he added.
Honorees at the awards ceremony included Anwar Saleem, president of H Street Merchants and Professional Association and executive director of H Street Main Street, who urged attendees to take back their communities. He cited efforts along the once riot-torn H Street corridor that turned the area into a vibrant business corridor with desirable places to live.
Muslim Journal International Editor Ayesha K. Mustafaa encouraged attendees to support Black-owned media, “the voice for
5 Ambassador Rashad Hussain. (D.R. Barnes/ The Washington Informer) 5 Anwar Saleem, (3rd right) receives an award from Muslim Journal International Editor Ayesha K. Mustafaa, Anwar, program host Ibrahim Mumin, and Masjid Muhammad Imam Talib M. Shareef. (D.R. Barnes/ The Washington Informer)
Black America.”
The program was hosted by Ibrahim Mumin and comedian Sylvia Traymore, who kept the room laughing with her jokes and impersonations of Michelle Obama, and artists including Whoopi Goldberg and songstress Dinah Washington, to name a few. WI
Last weekend, at the Key to the Kingdom Church in Clinton, Maryland, my sorority sisters and I were elated to install five new members in our precious Delta Pi Chapter of the Eastern Region of Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Incorporated. This year, after more than 41 years of membership, I’m back, elected to serve in a role I had not held for years.
One of the five newly installed was my daughter, Tanika Briggs Belis, plus there were three of my close cousins, Sandra Gourdine, Shand Simmons and Courtney Ward. With another member which made five in this pledge group, her name is Jennelle Thomas, another beautiful soul, a very professional young woman that worked extremely well with my family. They called themselves The Dynasty Five.
Over the past few weeks, new members have been added to The Eastern Region of Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Incorporated, growing in record numbers throughout the country. Chapters that added members in our region are: Members-At-Large; Alpha Gamma Nu Chapter - Egg Harbor Township, N.J.; Alpha Omicron Chapter - Washington, D.C.; my chapter - Delta Pi Chapter - Silver Spring, Md.; Epsilon Alpha Chapter - Union, N.J.; Epsilon Iota Chapter - Trenton, N.J.; Epsilon Kappa Chapter - Buffalo, N.Y.; Epsilon Pi Chapter - Delaware County, Pa. – Inducted a brand new chapter for the state of Delaware. Congratulations to each and every chapter for your growth, but a special shout out to our newest chapter in the Eastern Region, Epsilon Pi chapter.
Our National President Lenor R. Reese has done and continues to do a Herculean job. Our region is led by our Regional Director Mary Porter, an award winner. Phyllis Vessels, our regional membership chair is responsible for membership and growth of our region, she keeps membership moving and growing. All are from the Mu Omicron Chapter of Northern Virginia.
Appointed to serve as the regional historian/chair by our director, Mary Porter, it gives me great joy to give a brief history of our sorority for your understanding of the work we do throughout the country, as we help others.
Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Incorporated was started in 1943 by two sisters, led by Elizabeth Garner. It all happened in Detroit in February 1943, 79 years ago. Our headquarters is located across the street from Hitsville, USA, formerly the home of Berry Gordy’s Motown at 2657 West Grand Boulevard. This was the building where all of the hits just kept on coming. In fact, our Headquarters was once owned by Berry Gordy. Professionals taught Motown singers how to do dance moves in sync, they learned how to move smoothly; they were taught how to dress to be ready for the world, right inside our headquarters. In fact, as I look back over the two organizations, they are very similar in some of our goals. In our own way, Gamma teaches young women who were recruited to become members of Gamma Phi Delta Sorority, Incorporated, just as they did for the Motown singers.
Blessed to stay together for nearly eight decades and still growing says a lot about how this organization has been run. We continue to help our young people, in particular, this sorority has given hundreds of thousands of dollars in scholarships to help students go to college throughout the 79 years.
We help the needy at Thanksgiving and Christmas time, providing new clothing, toys and meals for those who may not have gotten anything for Christmas. Our programs are held in the month of March when we bring some joy to senior citizens who are living in assisted living homes and senior buildings.
Our youth talent shows showcase the talent of our youth and young adults. In fact, the late Grammy Award winner Marvin Gaye performed in our annual talent show for youth. We call it our Artist of Tomorrow, when our youth show off their talent — singers, dancers, poetry readings, those who play instruments, all types of talent is showcased.
Delighted to be a part of an organization that continues to live by biblical principles of helping others. WI
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