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MAS report - March 30, 2005
Former vice president Walter Mondale and over 2,100
attend MAS Minnesota convention
Former vice president Walter Mondale, along with state and municipal officials, and over 2,100 attendees converged on the Minneapolis Convention Center to participate in the Second Annual MAS (Muslim American Society) Minnesota Convention over the weekend.
The conference, with this year’s theme as “Nurturing A Muslim American Generation,” included a who’s-who in Minnesota politics.
The session “Citizenship Rights, Roles and Responsibilities” was chaired by former vice president Mondale, and was joined by Minnesota Attorney General Mike Hatch, State House Minority Leader Matt Entenzai, Minnesota’s only Muslim State House Representative Keith Ellison, Mayor of Minneapolis R.T. Rybal, and Hennepin County District Attorney Amy Klobuchar, who were themselves joined by MAS President Dr. Esam Omeish, Minnesota MAS President Hesham Hussein, MAS Freedom Executive Director Mahdi Bray, MAS political activist Asad Zaman and MAS Minnesota Freedom Foundation Director Hassan Jamee.
The convention featured 37 lecture sessions, eight film screenings, delicious food, a bazaar, and one wildly successful entertainment session. Sessions were eloquently delivered in English, Arabic, Somali and Oromo. Topics ranged from financial planning to political participation, with concurrent sessions designed with topics of interest for the youth and women. Speakers discussed spirituality, youth issues, politics and cooperation.
Muslim youth participation at the conference was tremendous, and included Muslim youth workshops and athletic activities.
The event was highlighted by an interfaith session discussing how our different faith communities can effectively cooperate and build relations.
The evening's entertainment session featured a film made by local brothers, a comedy show by Preacher Moss of the "Allah Made Me Funny" comedy tour, and an amusing and enlightening play performed by fifth graders from the Tarek Ibn Ziyad Academy.
Also active at the conference was a growing Minnesota Muslim business association called the United Chamber of Commerce.
The conference concluded with a reminder of a MAS saying reminding the attendees that: “Work begins when the program ends,” and encouraging them to get involved in their local communities, and to also join MAS Minnesota for the April 13, 2005, “Muslim Day at the Capital”.
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