Category: Nebraska Stories

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Understanding Ramadan

Hello, I’m Amany Al-Barakat, a Muslim who has been observing Ramadan for the last couple of years. Ramadan is not just a month on the Islamic calendar; it is a profound spiritual journey that holds deep significance for Muslims worldwide. In this blog post, I’d like to share with you the essence of Ramadan, its practices, and its transformative impact on the lives of those who observe it.

What is Ramadan?
Ramadan is the ninth month of the Islamic lunar calendar and is considered the holiest month for Muslims. It is a time of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community. The fast, known as Sawm, begins at dawn (Suhoor) and ends at sunset (Iftar). During this period, Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, smoking, and engaging in sinful behaviors.

The Meaning and Significance of Ramadan:
Ramadan holds a special place in the hearts of Muslims as it commemorates the revelation of the Quran to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). It is a month of spiritual purification, self-discipline, and increased devotion to God. Fasting during Ramadan is not merely about refraining from physical needs but is also about cultivating inner qualities such as patience, gratitude, and empathy towards others.

What Do Muslims Do During Ramadan?
During Ramadan, Muslims engage in various acts of worship and good deeds to draw closer to God and seek His forgiveness. Apart from fasting, Muslims also increase their recitation of the Quran, engage in extra prayers, and give to charity (Zakat and Sadaqah). The atmosphere is filled with a sense of community and solidarity as families and friends gather to break their fasts together and share meals (Iftar).

Laylat al-Qadr: The Night of Power
One of the most significant events during Ramadan is Laylat al-Qadr, often referred to as the “Night of Power.” It is believed to be the night when the Quran was first revealed to Prophet Muhammad (peace be upon him). The exact date of Laylat al-Qadr is uncertain, but it is most commonly observed on the odd nights during the last ten days of Ramadan. 

Laylat al-Qadr is a night of immense blessings, forgiveness, and spiritual enlightenment. Muslims spend the night in prayer, supplication, and recitation of the Quran, seeking God’s mercy and guidance. It is a time of deep reflection and introspection, as Muslims strive to maximize their worship and good deeds on this auspicious night, believing that the rewards are multiplied manifold.

Support friends, colleagues and neighbors during Ramadan:
As Ramadan is a significant time for Muslims, showing support and understanding can mean a lot to those observing this sacred month. One of the best ways to show support is by being curious and learning more about Ramadan. Educating oneself about the practices and significance of Ramadan can foster understanding and respect. Additionally, sharing well wishes such as ‘Ramadan Kareem’ (Noble Ramadan) and showing grace and patience to Muslim colleagues and friends during this time is important. Your kindness and consideration will be greatly appreciated and will help create a supportive and inclusive environment for everyone during this special time.

Eid al-Fitr: The Festival of Breaking the Fast
After a month of fasting, prayer, and self-reflection, Ramadan culminates in the celebration of Eid al-Fitr, the Festival of Breaking the Fast. It is a joyous occasion that marks the end of Ramadan and the beginning of Shawwal, the next month in the Islamic calendar.

Eid al-Fitr is a time of celebration, gratitude, and unity. Muslims gather in mosques or open spaces to perform the special Eid prayer, followed by festive meals, gatherings with family and friends and the exchange of gifts. It is a day to express gratitude to God for His blessings and to rejoice in the spiritual growth achieved during Ramadan.

In conclusion, Ramadan is a sacred month that offers Muslims an opportunity for spiritual rejuvenation, self-improvement, and increased devotion to God. It is a time of fasting, prayer, reflection, and community, culminating in the celebration of Eid al-Fitr. Ramadan Kareem to all!

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Embracing Diversity: Lincoln Community Unites at School Board Meeting for Inclusive Education

As we all are actively creating opportunities for immigrant community members to engage with local governments, we wanted to share this recent example with you.

In a powerful display of unity and advocacy, a diverse group of community members – hailing from various backgrounds including immigrants, refugees, and indigenous people – came together at a recent Lincoln school board meeting to champion the cause of inclusive education. 

The meeting served as a platform for these passionate individuals to share their stories, voice concerns, and urge the school board to adopt policies that celebrate diversity and foster a more inclusive learning environment, where every student and their families can belong.

Kicking off the public comment portion of the Lincoln Board of Education meeting on November 28, 2023, Lisa Guill, Lincoln’s Welcoming Communities Coordinator, presented recommendations from the Lincoln / Lancaster County Welcoming & Belonging Strategic Plan. The room buzzed with a palpable energy as individuals from different walks of life united in their commitment to creating a more inclusive and equitable school system. Suggestions ranged from incorporating diverse perspectives into the curriculum to providing training for educators on culturally responsive teaching methods.

Nyabuoy Chan, who works with the Asian Community and Cultural Center as the Family Resource Program Coordinator, spoke as someone who came to the community as a refugee, a parent of 5 children who attend LPS, and as a community advocate, urging, “I would love to see all of our lovely teachers to be educated about cultural competency.” Chan shared examples of unfortunate incidents that occurred within LPS that she says could be prevented if faculty receive training on cultural competency.

The school board listened attentively as community leaders presented evidence-based proposals for implementing inclusive practices. Community leaders made a compelling case for the school board to lead the way in creating a safe, welcoming, and inclusive space for all students.

Steve Laravie Jr., who is the Executive Director of the Lincoln Indian Center, raised a concern that the community has about “the aspects of American Indian history and culture being interwoven into the curriculum.” The request from the community that he relayed is to ensure that there is an indigenous voice in the development of the curriculum, “as we do not want to lose another five years of misinformation concerning our history.” Leravie expressed that he felt an obligation to be present at the meeting as a representative of the original peoples of this land.

Haroon Al Hayder, speaking as an immigrant and community advocate, acknowledged the transformative power of education in fostering a profound sense of belonging in Lincoln. His testimony focused on what he defined as one key pillar in achieving the vision for a more accessible, inclusive, and equitable education system: diversity in school faculty and administrators. He presented a well-researched fact that diverse educators offer a wealth of experiences and perspectives to the classroom, which “strengthens cultural understanding among students and creates an environment where everyone’s story is acknowledged and respected.” Additionally, diverse staff can serve as role models for the youth, as well as “break down stereotypes, open doors, and encourage students of New Americans to pursue their dreams regardless of their backgrounds.”

Community members emphasized the importance of continuous professional development for teachers and staff, incorporating training on implicit bias, institutional racism, and cultural competency – coupled with policy changes to attract and retain diverse administrators and educators – all while utilizing targeted data to address educational disparities.

As the meeting concluded, there was a shared sense of optimism and determination among attendees. The call for inclusivity had been sounded, and community members left the school board meeting with a renewed sense of purpose, knowing that they had planted the seeds for a more inclusive and equitable future in education. The community members that I spoke to reflected that this is just the beginning for them, and they are eager to continue advocating for inclusion locally. You can watch the video of the meeting here (public comment begins at the 23:00 minute mark).

Local school boards are a great place for community members to become involved in local decision making, and it’s vital for local school board members to hear from many voices in the community. School boards approve curriculum, which guides what students learn and talk about in the classroom, and they develop a budget for teacher pay as well as building or playground spaces that may be used for the whole community.

We encourage you to think about getting involved in your local school board or other decision making space – if you’d like ideas of where to start, please reach out!

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Photos + Videos from Your Welcoming Week!

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Growing Up as a Black Woman in White America

This is a guest blog post by Nebraska Appleseed Immigrants & Communities Program Intern Kenzie Spigner

I remember one Spring day my junior year of high school, I was sitting in the back of my math class. I asked Michael, the boy that I had a crush on at the time, for help on an assignment, and I will never forget the words he said to me next. He said “only if you give me $5 and pick my cotton”. Not only did he have the audacity to throw centuries of my people’s oppression and enslavement in my face, but he did so in the same breath that he asked for $5 that just as easily could have been found in the street.

You might be wondering what I said next. Did I raise Hell and scream at him with every fiber in my body? Did I take to social media and try to cancel him in front of all our peers? Or did I report him to the office? Well, I did none of this. I sat there in shock and horror as the rest of my class turned their attention to me. I can still feel the stares of everyone in the room waiting for my next move, but to both their surprise and mine, there wasn’t one. All I could do was look at my teacher for some sign of empathy or justice. I had hoped she would say something to him and immediately send him to the office for one of the most egregious things he could have possibly said to me. Instead, she immediately broke eye contact with me and looked down at her papers as though she had heard nothing. I turned back to my assignment, still confused and choking back tears at the sheer embarrassment of what had just transpired. It was at that moment, that I knew I was utterly alone.

Being on the other side of prejudice is not a great feeling. That’s something nearly everyone can agree on, but what people don’t know is how lonely it truly is. I grew up in the affluent, white suburbia of West Omaha. As a child, I was afforded many opportunities through my education. I was fortunate enough to grow up with parents that supported my every ambition. Yet, as I made my way through high school, the evils of the world that my parents tried to shield me from as a child started rearing their ugly heads.

I learned quickly how I was perceived in this world. I was either the token Black girl who made the school seem diverse, or I was the helpless Black girl who was probably uneducated and wouldn’t succeed in high school on her own, or I was the angry Black girl who was quick tempered and aggressive. So, I didn’t know where I fit into the puzzle at school, but even at home, I never felt Black enough. Throughout high school, I constantly struggled with my identity, something most teenagers are probably familiar with. However, my own identity crisis was exacerbated by the fact that I didn’t know how a key part of my identity, one that I couldn’t change, fit into who I was. I constantly searched for what it meant to be Black, but growing up in such a predominantly white environment, I didn’t have much to reference. I, of course, had my parents, but I didn’t see them as Black, I saw them as my parents. I didn’t have much to refer to in the media. I didn’t get to grow up with a mentor that looked like me, who could help explain why the color of my skin made me so different compared to my peers. Further, I didn’t have a mentor who could explain why that difference made some people so angry.

When I got to college, I started being able to forge my own experience. The pressures I felt suddenly lifted as I made a conscious decision to pursue endeavors that made me happy. While being Black is a huge part of my identity, one that I could never separate from myself, I am far more diverse than just that. I’m a musician who can play beautiful chords on the violin. I am an athlete who, even after ending her official athletic career, still brings back that fervor and competitiveness in friendly games of spike ball. I am an older sister who is a mentor for her younger sister. I am my mom’s best friend. I am someone who enjoys servicing the community, and making people smile in whatever way I can.

Being Black is not just about the color of my skin, or about the music that we produce. It isn’t just the fact that this entire country was built on our backs. It is about the experiences that we collectively share.

The story that I just shared is not a unique one. In fact, it is more common than I would like to admit, but what’s more important is what this story means to little Black boys and girls across the nation.

What Michael said to me was not just a racist comment he threw out there to be funny, it was an attack on my identity. It was the fact that he was the physical manifestation of every microaggression, every insecurity, every humiliation that I experienced in regards to my Blackness. That day happened nearly 5 years ago, but it is still something I carry with me to this day. In fact, this is a moment I will surely carry with me for the rest of my life. That moment, that feeling of both embarrassment and isolation, I vowed to never feel that way again. I promised myself that I would be a better advocate for both myself and the Black community.

After being able to look outside of my experience and reflect on the isolation and solitude I felt, I realized that it was important for me to share my story. Being able to tell people my own experience was empowering in and of itself, but it is also educational for bystanders and white allies that don’t truly understand what it means to be discriminated against or face prejudice. So, I hope for this Black History Month, I was able to give you more perspective on what it is like to grow up as a Black woman in white America.

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As Black History Month concludes but our learning continues, here are some additional resources the author suggests:

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Celebrating Immigrants! June Is Immigrant Heritage Month

Celebrating Immigrants! June Is Immigrant Heritage Month

This is a guest blog post by Zeke Rouse, Appleseed’s Immigrants and Communities Welcoming Intern.

Two Muslim women holding up prints of the “We the People” series.

June is an opportunity to share stories and recognize the impact that different immigrant Nebraskans have in shaping our communities. Storytelling gives us an opportunity to celebrate the diversity of experiences, perspectives, and people that call Nebraska home. 

Since June of 2014, Immigrant Heritage Month has given people across the United States an opportunity to annually explore their own heritage and celebrate the shared diversity that forms the unique story of America.

Continue reading “Celebrating Immigrants! June Is Immigrant Heritage Month”