Sacramento Mayor Holds Muslim-American Community Dinner
By Ras H. Siddiqui
Sacramento City Mayor, The Honorable Darrell Steinberg, through his Civic Engagement Office held an official Muslim-American Community Dinner outside the City Hall on Monday, June 18, 2018, with close to a 100 key individuals present.
It was the second such event held by his office during which the contributions of followers of the Islamic faith in California’s Capital city were recognized and appreciated. Muslims in the region are a very diverse group with the oldest community being the South Asian (now) Pakistani-Punjabis and Hindko speakers, some of whom arrived in the Sacramento Valley over a hundred years ago. Today there are reported to be over 50,000 Muslims in the region with the addition of various other ethnicities including African-Americans, Arab-Americans, Iranians, and many more. And from amongst them, various local organizations, individuals and families have emerged, who through their contributions have made Sacramento proud.
Four such organizations and three families plus one individual were recognized here by the City with the Mayor presenting them with Certificates of Recognition. One additional (and very special) recognition was a big surprise which we will save till the end here as it warrants a separate article.
The Mayor’s invitation stated: “Friends, As Ramadan comes to a close, it is my pleasure to invite you to a community dinner celebrating the important contributions of Sacramento’s Muslim-American community to our civic culture. In this uncertain time for our country, it is incredibly important to honor the enormous contributions the Muslim community makes to Sacramento through their philanthropy, leadership and commitment to service.” And not only were we honored to receive this invite, but would like to thank him, Vice Mayor-Councilmember Rick Jennings, II (along with his wife Cassandra) and many others for making us feel welcome here. State Assemblymember Jim Cooper was also present as the evening kicked off with a fine Mediterranean dinner for all to enjoy.
The formalities began with an invocation by DrMetwalliAmer, the founder of the area SALAM organization and an established leader in the Sacramento Muslim community. Mayor Steinberg next welcomed everyone to this second annual gathering of the Muslim leadership in Sacramento. He introduced other elected officials present (or their representatives) and also thanked members of his own team for their support. He also elaborated on the developing deep interfaith relations in Sacramento over the past 25 years (especially since 9/11). He said that relationships get stronger when you have shared adverse experiences together. He added that we have all (collectively) fought for Sacramento, what we aspire it to be, integrated and welcoming. This is the Sacramento that he was proud to be the Mayor of, he said. The Mayor also spoke about Zakat and community service and how important it is. He said that this (event) is year two, and hoped that as long as he is in office and into the future that this tradition that has been established will continue for many years to come.
Next Mayor Steinberg proceeded to recognize four area Muslim organizations and one other, who have shown by their work by caring for not just their own community but Sacramento as a whole. These were 1) Shifa Community Clinic, for providing free medical services over many years. The Clinic located next to the Downtown V Street Mosque now partners with the UC Davis Medical Center and provides services in many languages. 2) The Ar-Razzaq Food Bank, which has been working for many years, distributing food to those in need both within the Muslim community and beyond. They have been doing this since 2009 and have only increased their impact by helping the most vulnerable in the Sacramento Area. 3) The Refugee Enrichment & Development Association (REDA), for supporting new arrivals in Sacramento who have many barriers to overcome to adjust to their new lives in the area. Many of these new immigrants have fled poverty or war and are seeking peaceful lives. 4) The Muslim American Society-Social Services Foundation (MAS-SSF) which provides counselling and much more to a diverse local community in over 10 languages. Mental health services have become essential in the area immigrant community in a language that they understand. And last but not least, 5) Build for Unity, an offshoot of the local Habitat For Humanity effort, which has built homes in the Sacramento area for those who would otherwise have difficulty in affording them. Besides raising funds, a volunteer work force from across many faiths has worked on building these homes and continues to do so as the effort expands to other cities in America as well.
Following the groups, three families and one individual from the local Muslim Community also received their well-deserved recognition from the city. The Mayor presented certificates to 1) The Mohanna family for their support for area non-profits and organizations that assist the homeless. Moe Mohanna and the Mohanna Foundation have become a symbol of philanthropy and volunteerism in the Sacramento area for many years. 2) The Sharif Family of Sharif Jewelers fame has supported numerous local and national organizations who continue to benefit the Sacramento community. The Sharifs have also supported interfaith cooperation and unity in this area for a very long time. 3) The Rahimian Family was recognized for both their business acumen and their philanthropy. Amongst many other pursuits, they have contributed significantly to the Iranian and Middle Eastern Studies Center (IMESC) Program at UC Davis and the Engineering Department at Sacramento State University. 4) Kais Menoufy was also recognized for his local philanthropic contributions, youth empowerment and many local community initiatives. Kais has also been a major source of support for greater interfaith understanding in the Sacramento region.
And last but not least was a big surprise as Rashid Ahmad was given the key to the City of Sacramento. Rashid Sahib, as he is known, has inspired many others in California’s Capital City with his multiple talents. This humble retired engineer from the State of California, originally from Pakistan, is a quiet pillar amongst area Muslims and his imprint on many worthy local causes was recognized by the Mayor’s office in a wonderful way here (a separate article on Br Rashid is in the works). He took the opportunity to introduce teenage Muslim female golfing sensation Noor Ahmed at this event.
To close, it is a credit to Muslim immigrants and their families that they have become successful and contributed significantly to make the USA a better place to live. And that credit goes to America too, where a Jewish Mayor (Steinberg) of a major city takes the opportunity to officially recognize groups and members of the Islamic faith from Iranian, Palestinian, Egyptian and Pakistani backgrounds in such a wonderful manner. And if this is not a great early Fourth of July story, I don’t know what is?
Happy American Independence Day to our readers. Let us all celebrate together.
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