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Project Nur's Second Annual National Student Leadership Conference:
"Creating a National Movement through Unity & Empowerment"
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WELCOME DINNER TO COMMENCE:
PROJECT NUR’S SECOND ANNUAL NATIONAL STUDENT LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE
Friday, April 3, 2009, 7 p.m., Washington, DC
BY INVITATION ONLY
WITH KEYNOTE SPEAKER:
REZA
Philanthropist, idealist, humanist, architect and extraordinary photographer, Reza (as he is known) lives to shoot another day, sometimes under fire, often under pressure in dangerous situations. Reza has shot winning image after winning image, bringing to life scenes never before seen.
World famous for his intrepid explorer's style of photographing the world's most exotic places, Reza has covered most of the globe for the National Geographic Magazine. National Geographic Television has produced several films on Reza's work, one of them receiving an Emmy award in 2002, another production that traced the history of his life was nominated for the award as well. Reza was the creative director for National Geographic's most viewed documentary, “Inside Mecca.” In May 2008, National Geographic, as part of its “Exceptional Journeys” series, released a DVD that follows Reza’s extensive photographic career and travels, with special features highlighting his work as a humanitarian.
Reza’s award-winning images are iconic. But there's far more to the man than his camera. He is the founder of Aina (The Mirror), an international non-profit organization dedicated to the education and empowerment of children and women through the use of media and communication. His aim is for them to develop skills that can contribute to the building of a free and open society by supporting sustainable development, promoting human rights, and strengthening national unity. For more information on Aina, click here or see www.ainaworld.org.
In 1991 Reza acted as a consultant to the United Nations in Afghanistan, helping to distribute food to populations in war-torn parts of the country. For his exemplary dedication to such humanitarian causes and because of his work with Aina in Afghanistan, National Geographic awarded him the prestigious title of National Geographic Explorers Fellow in 2006. The Explorer’s Program embodies the National Geographic Society’s continued quest for knowledge through exploration.
Reza is deeply committed to the education of future generations. He spends much of his time as a lecturer, trainer, and visiting professor, giving presentations and running workshops on global issues, his humanitarian work and photojournalism, in international institutions and universities such as George Washington University, Stanford University, Beijing University and the Sorbonne in Paris.
Reza's photographs have been displayed in major cities throughout the world. Few examples include: “War+Peace” (2009) at the Caen Memorial (Peace Muesum) in Normandy which portrayed thirty years of his photographic journey in search of human stories. “One World, One Tribe” (2006), was the first National Geographic Museum outdoor exhibition in Washington DC, and "Crossing Destinies" (2003), his landmark exhibition in Paris, drew a million visitors.
Over the last three decades, Reza’s photographs have graced many of National Geographic Magazine’s most noted covers and been published in major international publications. Author of 12 books, his latest book “War & Peace,” is the first book in the new National Geographic series “Master of Photography.”
In 1996 Reza won the Hope Prize for his contribution to a joined project with UNICEF: “Lost children Portrait” in Rwanda. He was awarded the ‘Chevalier de l’Ordre National du Mérite’, France’s highest civilian honour, in November 2005, for his philanthropic work in children’s education and the empowerment of women in the media. In 2006, Spain’s Crown Prince Felipe presented him with the Prince of Asturias Humanitarian Medal. The same year, he also received the “Honor Medal” from the University of Missouri – Columbia School of Journalism “in recognition of his lifelong contributions, through brilliant photojournalism, to justice, and dignity for the world’s citizens” and an “award of Recognition on his humanitarian service to the Global community and all citizens of the world” from the Chicago University.
In 2008 he was offered the title of Senior Fellow of Ashoka Foundation and has been nominated to receive an honorary degree (honoris causa) in Human Letters from the American University of Paris.
PROJECT NUR’S SECOND ANNUAL NATIONAL STUDENT
LEADERSHIP CONFERENCE AGENDA:
“Creating a National Movement through
Unity & Empowerment”
April 4-5th, 2009, Washington, DC
BY INVITATION ONLY
Saturday, April 4th
8:00-9:00
9:00-11:00
- Building Unity Within: Team building session (Christina Thomas & Shane Stryzinski, World Learning)
11:00-11:15
11:15-12:15
- Break Out Session 1
- The first step in the road to making a difference in your community and beyond: Self-empowerment (Hazami Barmada, Independent Consultant/Progressive Muslim Network & Nasser Weddady, American Islamic Congress: HAMSA)
- Cross-cultural exchange through study abroad: Empowering future leaders (Michelle Jeffress, The Fund for American Studies)
12:15-1:00
- “Empowerment” Lunch (Special Performance by Hazami Barmada)
1:00-2:00
- Reza Deghati (Aina/Parvaz): Empowering Afghan women and children in the hopes of building a free and open society
2:00-3:00
- Break Out Session 2
- Empowerment through self-reflection: Exploring identity and perception (Adam Strom, Facing History and Ourselves)
- Empowering the voiceless: Honor killings (Ahmad Ghashmary, American Islamic Congress)
3:00-3:15
3:15-5:15
- Building Unity Within: A cross-chapter discussion on Project Nur successes, challenges, and the road ahead
7:00-7:15
- Project Nur Officers/Students meet in hotel lobby
7:30
- Project Nur Officers’/Students’ dinner out on the town
Sunday, April 5th
11:00-2:00:
- Farewell Brunch: Closing Remarks
Narrative: A tool for self-empowerment and building unity beyond (Hind Makki, Interfaith Youth Core)
SPEAKER BIOS
Christina Thomas & Shane Stryzinski, World Learning
World Learning is a 75-year-old global non-profit organization operating international education and development programs in more than 70 countries worldwide. Through its international education programs – The Experiment in International Living, SIT Study Abroad, and SIT Graduate Institute – World Learning fosters global citizenship by connecting over 3,000 young ambassadors annually across cultural differences and social barriers.
Christina Thomas is a Program Officer / Youth Programs Coordinator for World Learning. She joined World Learning in May 2003, and is part of a team whose responsibilities include implementing projects for adult and youth exchange programs under the U.S. Department of State's International Visitor Program and Citizen Exchange Division. She has helped to develop programs for professionals and youth from all over the world, with themes that include youth leadership, education, U.S. political systems, journalism, religious diversity, local governance, the role of NGOS and volunteerism in the U.S., economics and English as a second language.
Shane Stryzinski joined World Learning as an Intern in March 2007. He was hired as a Program Associate in June 2007 to assist with the design and implementation of International Visitor Leadership Program projects. He has worked on programs for professionals representing many countries of the world, with such themes as interfaith dialogue, law and security issues, and children at-risk. Mr. Stryzinski’s responsibilities also include designing and implementing youth leadership and development programs for young leaders around the globe.
Hazami Barmada, Independent Consultant and Progressive Muslim Network
Hazami Barmada is an Independent Consultant and Contractor in Public and Cultural Diplomacy and Interreligious Relations. She maintains expertise on a broad range of issues revolving around citizen diplomacy, civic engagement, communications, community and leadership development, cultural relations and international affairs. Ms. Barmada consults with a diverse array of profit and non-for-profit organizations, private corporations and institutions.
Ms. Barmada plays a visible and active role in grassroots and community organizing promoting collaborations within interfaith and intercultural communities. She is the Founding President and Director of the Progressive Muslim Network (PMN), an apolitical organization that hosts an array of social, educational and volunteer initiatives that aims to promote intra/interfaith understanding and dialogue in the DC vicinity. She is also an active member of Muslim Women in the Arts. Ms. Barmada will be performing a piece she authored called “Freedom Faith and Family--A Muslim Perspective in America” at lunch on Saturday.
Nasser Weddady, American Islamic Congress: HAMSA
Nasser Weddady directs outreach for HAMSA. HAMSA is an international civil rights initiative of the American Islamic Congress. HAMSA works to bridge activist efforts in America and the Middle East, partnering with indigenous civic groups. It was established to address two areas often overlooked in the debate over reform in the Middle East: (1) focus on civil rights - not democracy and (2) focus on grassroots reform efforts - not US government policy. HAMSA presents an annual “Dream Deferred” Essay Contest on civil rights in the Middle East.
A native of Mauritania, Mr. Weddady grew up in Libya and Syria, travelling extensively through the Middle East. A long-time activist in the struggle to end slavery in his homeland, he has organized conferences for young activists across the Middle East.
Michelle Jeffress, The Fund for American Studies
Michelle Jeffress is the Director of International Programs at The Fund for American Studies (TFAS). TFAS was founded in 1967 with the goal of preparing young people for honorable leadership by educating them in the theory, practice and benefits of a free society. Today, in partnership with Georgetown University, TFAS hosts numerous academic and internship programs in the United States and around the world. More than 10,000 students from more than 100 countries have gone through TFAS programs.
Ms. Jeffress has worked with the International Programs division of TFAS since 1998, overseeing program development and expansion in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America.
Adam Strom, Facing History and Ourselves
Adam Strom is the Director of Research and Development at Facing History and Ourselves. Facing History and Ourselves delivers classroom strategies, resources and lessons that inspire young people to take responsibility for their world. It is Facing History’s belief that students are moral philosophers who are able and willing to think about tough moral and ethical dilemmas in surprisingly sophisticated ways.
Mr. Strom is the principal author and editor of numerous Facing History publications that are distributed in print, online and through new media tools, to educators across the globe. From the organization’s worldwide headquarters in Boston, he directs a team that plans, writes, researches and develops resource books, study guides, and lesson planning resources. He has two recent publications that he will be discussing: 1) Stories of Identity: Religion, Migration, and Belonging in a Changing World and 2) What do we do with a Difference: France and the Debate over Headscarves in Schools.
Ahmad Ghashmary, American Islamic Congress
Ahmad Ghashmary is a Regional Researcher for the American Islamic Congress (AIC) and a 2007 winner of AIC’s HAMSA “Dream Deferred Essay Contest.” He is a 24-year old women's rights activist, blogger, translator and writer from Jordan. He grew up in a quite conservative society in the north of Jordan, where he witnessed that most women are denied their equal rights. In 2006, he started a campaign called "LAHA" which aims to mobilize grassroots activists against honor killings in Jordan.
Hind Makki, Interfaith Youth Core
Hind Makki joined the Interfaith Youth Core as a Program Associate in the Outreach Education & Training program area in 2007; travelling to college campuses, congregations and conferences in the United States and Western Europe, leading workshops on social cohesion through meaningful interfaith and intercultural dialogue. Interfaith Youth Core builds mutual respect and pluralism among young people from different religious traditions by empowering them to work together to serve others.
The daughter of African Muslim immigrants, Ms. Makki has always been interested in understanding the impact of migration, race, religion and identity and how the intersection of multiple identities shapes the development of American Muslim identity. Born and raised in the American Midwest, Ms. Makki works with the Chicago Muslim community on matters regarding civic integration into American society, interfaith dialogue, sustainable leadership and youth empowerment.
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