ISNA PRESS RELEASE
50th Annual ISNA Convention – August 30 – September 2, 2013 Washington DC
PLAINFIELD, INDIANA
The Islamic Society of North America (ISNA) is marking the 50th year of its founding with a Convention being held on Labor Day weekend in the nation’s capital at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center. ISNA Conventions are largest Muslim gatherings in the United States and Canada, where you can meet Muslims and guests from other faith communities over the course of the weekend.
ISNA was founded in 1963, the year that another unforgettable landmark event occurred in the nation’s capital – Dr. Martin Luther King’s declaration that “I Have a Dream.” Considering the occasion, the organizers are gearing toward staging a memorable 50th Convention.
ISNA has invited a rich list of speakers, scholars, community leaders, and public servants. The likes of Dr. Tariq Ramadan, Dr. Seyyed Hossein Nasr, Shaykh Hamza Yusuf, Imam Zaid Shakir, Dr. Ingrid Mattson, Dr. Jamal Badawi, Hassan Al Qazwani and Dr. Muzammil Siddiqi will join Rep. Keith Ellison (D-Minn.) and social activists such as Rami Nashashibi and NFL player Husain Abdullah.
This year’s Convention theme “Envisioning a More Perfect Union: Building the Beloved Community” is drawn from the Quranic verse 59:13 that directs Muslims to build an inclusive community that surpasses worldly considerations, and instead seek service and gratitude to the Creator. And it was 150 years ago that President Abraham Lincoln issued his call for a more perfect union.
The program embraces all ages and interests from discussions on family issues, finances, civic service, spirituality, civil rights, youth development, and interfaith relations.
Complementing the main ISNA offering of programs, there are equally valuable conferences being hosted by the Muslim Students Association of the U.S. & Canada (MSA National) and the Muslim Youth of North America (MYNA).
The 2,300,000 sq. ft. Convention Center, besides offering spacious conference rooms and meeting centers, also caters to vast prayer gatherings and the ever-popular ISNA Bazaar (Trade Show) with 550 booths.
And it is not just a world of people to meet at the Convention, but also the wide range of offerings at the Bazaar from clothes to hand-woven carpets, from halal investment opportunities to civil and human rights organizations, and from jewelry to handicrafts and folk craft.
The Convention will be buzzing with activities for every age and interest group. For the active set and youth there is the annual basketball tournament being held in collaboration with the National Muslim Basketball Tournament (NMBT), which continues to grow. There you can join former NBA star, Mahmoud Abdul-Rauf.
The organizers have recruited a team of dedicated volunteers to afford a most memorable experience to the attendees,” says Basharat Saleem, director of the ISNA Conventions Department.
For questions and comments contact:
Rabia Khan, Registration Coordinator
Phone: (317) 838 8129
Email: [email protected]
