American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month: Dublin City Council

At 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 16, the Dublin City Council joins communities throughout the State of California in recognizing the month of August 2022 as Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month. Sr. Eman Tai will accept the Proclamation on behalf of Tri-Valley Muslims.

The MCC encourages all congregation members to attend in person, watch the live stream, and express our community’s appreciation for this and other upcoming Proclamations:

• – Livermore at 7 p.m. on Monday, July 25: https://mcceastbay.org/event/livermore-city-council
• – Dublin at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 16: https://mcceastbay.org/event/dublin-city-council
• – Pleasanton at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 16: https://mcceastbay.org/event/pleasanton-city-council
  
• – San Ramon at 7 p.m. on Thursday, August 25: https://mcceastbay.org/event/san-ramon-council

The MCC encourages all congregation members to attend in person, watch the livestream, and express our community’s appreciation. We especially encourage residents who live and/or work in the City of Dublin.

To join in person, virtually, and/or to leave a comment: https://www.dublin.ca.gov/82/City-Council-Meetings

This is the third year the Dublin City Council has had this Proclamation. These are the Tri-Valley City Council commemorations in 2021: https://youtu.be/u5xITaHl37A

This Proclamation acknowledges the rich history and guiding virtues of American Muslims, and commends Muslim communities in California for the lasting positive impact they have made, and continue to make, toward the advancement of the state and the nation.

The Dublin City Council follows in the steps of other City Councils in the San Francisco Bay Area, like Santa Clara, Pleasanton, Hayward, San Ramon, Livermore, Union City, Oakland, San Jose, and Redwood City. The Proclamation is likely the first agenda item so please be on time at 7 p.m. for the virtual meeting.

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

Our community’s sincere gratitude to Sister Sameena Usman at CAIR – San Francisco Bay Area. For several years, she has facilitated these Proclamations in the Bay Area.

• – More CAIR-cosponsored events: https://mcceastbay.org/cair

These city Proclamations commemorate the California Assembly designation of August as American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month. For the past seven years, Assemblymember Bill Quirk has introduced this resolution to commemorate American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness month. The ceremonies take place during the first few minutes of the city’s council meeting.

Questions? events@mcceastbay.org

American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month
City of Dublin

WHEREAS, enriched by the unparalleled diversity of its residents, the City of Dublin takes great pride in supporting individual religious freedoms and is strengthened by the many varied religious, political, and cultural traditions and contributions of its diverse populations, including those that practice Islam; and
WHEREAS, Muslims have been part of U.S. history from the beginning and have contributed to the production of wealth and construction of the nation; they are also part of the rich history of the civil rights movement; and
WHEREAS, over 90,000 Muslims live in Alameda County 1 , and make innumerable contributions to the cultural, political, and economic fabric and well-being of California and the United States; and
WHEREAS, the shelter-in-place order due to the COVID-19 outbreak forced the temporary closure of Muslim nonprofits, community centers, mosques, schools, businesses, and other establishments. Mosques and community organizations provided online programming and sermons along with small group prayers outside. They have answered the call for help by donating funds iii , distributing food, or by sewing masks to help those on the front line; and they have educated their congregations about social distancing guidelines and practices to keep the community safe; and WHEREAS, in addition to prayer services, Islamic classes, and interfaith work, the Muslim Community Center (MCC–East Bay) has been at the forefront to provide assistance to people in need.
They have housed a food pantry since 2010 2 , provided assistance with living expenses through the Islamic practice of Zakat to 50 East Bay families per month, and continued their weekly food donation drive to 150 families weekly with 25,000 pounds of food delivered to 13 East Bay cities. They host a quarterly blood drive, facilitate hundreds of car donations between congregation members and community members, and an annual backpack drive for hundreds of schoolchildren (sponsored by Girl Scouts Troop 30875). They also provide rental assistance, refugee support, burial services, financial counseling, voter registration, free Covid testing, mental health counseling and therapy, and support for the victims of domestic violence through a partnership with North American Islamic Shelter for the Abused and Tri-Valley Haven. The East Bay is home to one of the largest Afghan communities in the United States, and MCC East Bay stepped up to help settle these families during this difficult time in relation to the evacuation; and
WHEREAS, throughout the pandemic, the Islamic Center of Zahra (ICZ) has served its community members by holding virtual youth events, spiritual workshops, children's learning programs, and volunteering opportunities. ICZ has partnered with Prosper International to support vulnerable families overseas unemployment by creating a program 5 that allows community members to volunteer to assist the vulnerable elderly in running errands and by adapting their annual Ramadan Giving 6 campaign to a virtual format that encouraged community members to sponsor a months’ worth of food supplies for 10 families
and aid non-profit agencies involved in feeding the needy; and
WHEREAS, it is appropriate to acknowledge and promote awareness of the myriad of invaluable contributions of Muslims in California and across the country, and provide them the respect and acknowledgment every person deserves.

Now, therefore, be it resolved, the City of Dublin does hereby recognize the California State Designation of August 2022 as American Muslim Appreciation and Awareness Month to acknowledge the rich history, contributions, and guiding virtues of Muslims and to commend all Muslim communities in California for the lasting positive impact they have made toward the advancement of our city and country.

1. ICZ relief fund 4 supports community members in need of assistance and facing 1 Senzai , Farid , and Hatem Bazian. “The Bay Area Muslim Study: Establishing Identity and Community.” Institute for Social Policy and Understanding. One Nation Bay Area Project, 01 May 2013. Page 9.

2. “Muslim Community Center Serves Many”, Retrieved July 8, 2022, from https://www.hacienda.org/news-
events/hacienda-online/pulse/2022/company/muslim-community-center-serves-many

3. “Help Fight COVID-19 [Support Prosper International].” All-In-One Integrated Marketing Platform for Small
Business, mailchi.mp/iczsa.org/proper?fbclid=IwAR0To-bYhP-_eU0n4JOcLuZGzyGu56OaFNjU-RiHf-
ShWk2NVjXvR3TFLTM

4. “ICZ Relief Fund 2020 & Helping Hands.” All-In-One Integrated Marketing Platform for Small Business,
mailchi.mp/iczsa.org/iczrelieffund?fbclid=IwAR39GF7OdT6P_bGtA7gvjM8tASWOy4p5ROJ_jRvemx4cs1rW7V
Mkx7hGHKs

5. “Lending a Helping Hand to Our Community.” All-In-One Integrated Marketing Platform for Small Business,
mailchi.mp/iczsa.org/march10-
1337205?fbclid=IwAR0dTyF6o9YgbEtQLvi2eIYz2IOlKvd_6DYzYS4MguV5WEZg1YMGC4Qr7PU

6. “Ramadan Giving – Iftar Sponsorships [UPDATED Sign-Up Instructions].” All-In-One Integrated Marketing
Platform for Small Business, mailchi.mp/iczsa.org/ramadan-giving-iftar-sponsorships-
1349702?fbclid=IwAR0SVADUVFgnpl6enEC7a8Ug6Wm7juvgNpm_PLGGYWBJULqItgssFcjNrFk