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Celebrating Unseen Strength on International Women’s Day
When you think of the word “strong,” who do you think of? A muscular man, lifting weights … fixing a road with heavy machinery … carrying bricks to build a big wall? That’s physical strength, yes. But so often, strength looks like this: It’s Mina Bibi, cleaning a clinic in Pakistan for $10 a month to support her four daughters after losing her husband. And then an earthquake destroys her house, and she has to pick up the pieces for them, all alone. That’s strength. Strength is Naza, surviving World War II and the war in Bosnia, losing her husband, seeing her village burned down, then starting over in a…
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Just a Day at the Masjid With Obama
This is the story of how Naeem Muhammad, IRUSA Community Outreach Manager, didn’t quite get to emcee for President Obama, but had an amazing day at an historic event in his home city of Baltimore. Story as told to IRUSA writer Lina Hashem. I got the call on Tuesday, early morning. A good friend from Baltimore called me and asked, “Where are you?” My friends know I travel a lot for Native Deen or for relief work. I said, “I’m home, I just got back from Flint, and I’m going to the office.” He said, “They’re looking for you — they want you to emcee the event tomorrow. The White…
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Flint Water Poisons Americans, Neighbors Come To Rescue
You know what’s not worth saving money? Giving children brain damage. When news broke that high levels of lead had been poisoning the residents of Flint, MI, since April 2014, it was already too late. How did this happen in the first place and how do we fix it?
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How Electrocuting Cold Can Make You Selfish
Drop the whimsical holiday songs and chunky sweater ads – The force of frozen air on my face this December morning was electrocuting. I think I saw a fox huddling over a manhole cover like it was a radiator (Public Service Announcement: From now until March, please check under your tires for curled up kittens).
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A Guy Like You, On the Warmer Side Of Winter
Nada: Saba, thanks for taking the time to talk with us more about your involvement in Islamic Relief USA’s winter campaign. As you know the campaign has taken a non-traditional approach to help raise funds for brothers and sisters around the world who’ll be struggling to keep warm this winter, especially refugees. What were your initial thoughts about getting involvCan you share your warmth this winter?ed in this campaign? Did you think it was a good idea?
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Arab Idol Star Mohammad Assaf Talks Hope And Help in Gaza
“Let me explain to you that, living the life of a Gazan is a life of simplicity,” started the young Arab Idol star and UNRWA Goodwill Ambassador Mohammad Assaf, “Where the biggest worry is to find security for your children throughout the day.”
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Faucets With Clean Water Just in Time In Gaza
“Water is the life of everything. I tell you, we can live without electricity, but we can’t live without water,” said Sabah. She lives in one of the most densely populated places on Earth with three young children and an older son: She lives in Gaza.
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The Yellow Brick Road That’s Getting Americans To Financial Goals
You may have met her. She attends classes at the university. She drives to work after class. She goes to parent-teacher conferences to make sure her child is doing well in school. She goes about her daily life just as you do.
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‘The Wiz’: How To Live With Perspective, Even in Oz
With NBC’s powerful premier of ‘The Wiz Live!’, talk about The Wiz’s revival is everywhere. But we need to stop focusing The Wizard of Oz and The Wiz comparisons on race.
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Going Giving … On a Tuesday
1 December 2015 -- After Black Friday, and Cyber Monday and perhaps a little too much pie, you've done a lot of getting on days that are essentially made up. So why not officially make up a day for giving? It's about balance. And although giving should be a part of our every day lives, it doesn't hurt to counter all the getting we're doing with a reminder to give.
