The University of Richmond Chaplaincy, KARAMAH: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, and The Council for America’s First Freedom are working together to prevent bias against the Muslim, Arab, and South Asian communities in Richmond through a joint endeavor called “A More Perfect Union.”
Funded by the ChevronTexaco Foundation and administered by the National Conference for Community and Justice (NCCJ), the one-year grant aims to increase regional leaders’ awareness and understanding of those communities that have been victims of an increase in bias since the events of September 11, 2001. From July 2003 through July 2004, a series of initiatives will take place for the Metropolitan Richmond area that will encourage regional leaders to examine their conscious and unconscious attitudes regarding Muslims, Arabs, and South Asians.
An Inter-Religious Community Breakfast took place on the morning of September 11, 2003 to introduce the project to invited regional leaders in the civic, religious, corporate, and non-profit communities. Following that kick off, intensive and ongoing workshops, retreats, and symposiums will take place that aim to increase leaders knowledge about Muslims, Arabs, and South Asians, while also providing opportunities to explore the ways in which individual, institutional, and systemic bias are formed. Collaborative programming will take place during the month of Ramadan that educates about and celebrates this holy time for Muslims. A series of print, radio, and television advertisements will be created in partnership with Siddall, Inc., a local advertising agency. The entire year of programming will be filmed and compiled into a documentary, also with the assistance of local partners.
The Rev. Dr. David D. Burhans, Chaplain to the University of Richmond, and Dr. Azizah al-Hibri, University of Richmond Professor of Law and founder and President of KARAMAH: Muslim Women Lawyers for Human Rights, will co-chair the project’s steering committee. An advisory board has also been formed that represents a cross-section of regional leaders, with specific focus on members of those groups affected by bias since September 11. Jonathan C. Zur, a 2003 University of Richmond graduate who worked with both the Virginia and New Jersey regions of the NCCJ as a Bonner Scholar at the University, serves as director of the grant.
FOR MORE INFORMATION:
A More Perfect Union
Office of the Chaplaincy
University of Richmond, VA 23173
Wilton Center, Room 104
Phone: (804) 289-8997 Fax: (804) 287-6501
Jonathan C. Zur, Director
jzur@richmond.edu
For more on KARAMAH’s partners in this subject, see:
http://oncampus.richmond.edu/chaplaincy
http://www.firstfreedom.org/
