Minnesota City to Hold Cross Cultural Luncheon to Know Women’s Role in Islam
The community center and VINE Faith in Action teamed up on a similar event last fall for stakeholders in the business, school, health and governmental realms, Mankato Free Press reported.
It drew enough interest to prompt organizers to hold another event open to all community members. This time the focus will be on women’s role in Islam, with speakers presenting on their experiences growing up in Egypt and Somalia.
"Our hope is that people can find common ground with each other,” said Tami Skinner, director of St. Peter Community Education. "We want to provide opportunities for people to get to know one another and learn about each other’s cultures.”
Julie Hawker, VINE’s diversity coordinator, said events like the luncheon are needed, as there remain misunderstandings about Islam.
"We want to show how many things we have in common instead of the differences we have,” she said. "That’s how you build friendships.”
One of the presenters, Safaa Sallam, said southern Minnesota has been a good home for her and others in the Egyptian community. At the same time, she said her own neighbors don’t always have a great understanding of the teachings of Islam, or even why she wears a hijab.
"Even in the neighborhood I live in they don’t know about Muslims,” she said.
Sallam has spoken on her experience as an Egyptian Muslim at past educational events, and said she’s excited for this next opportunity. Other speakers, including Kawthar Abdi from VINE, and two women from the Islamic Resource Group in the Twin Cities, will offer a Somali perspective.
Skinner said strong interest in the event could lead to more in the future.
"I’m really excited to be able to provide this,” she said. "We hope to continue to do these on a quarterly basis.”
