Zaynab Mohamed became the winner in the race to represent State Senate District 63, making history as the youngest woman and one of the first Black women elected to the Minnesota Senate.

In Illinois, Democrats Abdelnasser Rashid won the race to represent State House Districts 21, receiving more than 65% of the votes.

Nabeela Syed also won the race to represent State House Districts 51. They both became the first Muslims elected to the Illinois State Legislature.

Nabilah Islam who prevailed in the race to represent Georgia State Senate District 7, joined incumbent State Senator Sheikh Rahman, the lone Muslim in the State Legislature, who didn’t have a challenger for the District 5 seat.

Nabilah Islam is the first Muslim woman elected to the State Senate while Romman is the first Muslim woman elected to the State House of Representatives and became the winner to represent District 97.

Democrat Munira Abdullahi, who didn’t have a challenger in the general election for Ohio State House District 9, became the first Muslim elected to the Ohio State Legislature.

Abdullahi, a 26-year-old youth director, is also the first Muslim woman to win a seat in the Ohio Legislature.

Ismail Mohamed, one of the city’s first Somali-born attorneys licensed to practice in the state, defeated his opponent Republican J. Josiah Lanning, winning 80% to 20% of the vote.

Democrat 26-year-old Mana Abdi made history in Maine when she was elected to represent State House District 95.

Abdi was unopposed in the general election after her Republican challenger withdrew from the race after posting on Facebook that Muslims “should not be allowed to hold public office.”

South Portland Mayor Deqa Dhalac joined her in the State House of Representatives after getting elected to represent the Maine House of Representatives District 120.

Source: AboutIslam.net

Institutions can become CERIS members with an annual membership fee of $250.

The Consortium is committed to focusing attention on Islamic Studies rather than Islam or Middle East Studies. Islamic Studies extends from the seventh century to the present and across broad geographical areas of the world. It encompasses many languages, literature, and disciplines, including law, economics, music, and architecture. Members of the Consortium for Educational Resources on Islamic Studies are committed to capitalizing on the existing strengths and capabilities at their institutions, rather than duplicating competencies. Such an approach will benefit the region’s students, faculty, schools, and the communities they serve.

A long term goal is to develop a certificate program in Islamic Studies where students from participating schools could complete coursework at various institutions within the Consortium. The certificate would combine language acquisition, area studies expertise, and area and global studies research and methodological competencies, somewhat similar to the model established by the existing Area Studies and Global Studies certificate programs offered by the University Center for International Studies at the University of Pittsburgh.

Accomplishments

• Consists of numerous member institutions

• Significantly enhanced curriculum at CERIS member institutions and K-12 schools through curriculum development grants for faculty, book discussions and CERIS lead study tours abroad

• Hosted numerous Fulbright Scholars and awarded multiple Fulbright Hays Group Projects Abroad for Educators

• Initiated educational programming and provided resources to Upward Bound, Elderhostel, World Affairs Council of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Ethnic Heritage Studies Program, Frick Art Museum, Andy Warhol Museum, Carnegie Library System, Bottleworks Ethnic Arts Gallery, intermediate units throughout the region, and to our member institutions

• Sponsored numerous guest speakers at CERIS member institutions

Since the formation of CERIS, representatives of member institutions have met on a regular basis and have adopted operational procedures to facilitate the smooth functioning and growth of this unique consortium.

• Received grants from Pittsburgh Foundation for Islamic calligraphy exhibit and NAFSA for Global Generation Y

• Collaborated on proposal development for CIES, FYPSE, Rockefeller Foundation, U.S. Department of Education, Social Science Research Center, American Library Association, CAIR –Pittsburgh Chapter and Three Rivers Community Foundation

• Disseminated countless announcements about funding, study abroad, and programming opportunities available to students, staff, faculty, and the community

• Developed a library assessment to encourage resource sharing among CERIS member institutions

• Established a website with extensive resources for secondary and tertiary educators, and for the public and a calendar with current listing of events taking place in the tri-state area.

Website: https://www.cerisnet.pitt.edu/