HBCU MSA Conference April 2016
Donation protected
As Salaam Alaikum, my name is Bilal Hassan and I'm an alumnus of The Lincoln University, PA the nation's first degree granting HBCU. While attending LU the Muslim Student Association was not active even though there were plenty of Muslims on campus. I was astounded and taken back when I discovered this. As a result, I took the initiative to charter and establish the MSA on campus.
After graduating in 2014 several alums reached out to me brothers Jamil (LU alumnus), Kashief (CU alumnus) and Tariq (CU alumnus) who expressed the need to start a charter for all MSA's at HBCU's that is able to advocate, advise and provide resources to build stronger and sustainable MSA's at HBCU's nationwide. There is a lot of reasons why HBCUs should have an active MSA on campus:
1. Provides a safe place for Muslim students to pray and fulfill other Islamic obligations
2. To give dawah on campus via social interaction and educational programs that gives students, staff, faculty and administration an opportunity to learn more about what Al Islam is. This element is important in today's heightened Islamphobia climate
3. To provide solutions and advocacy on issues that affect all of humanity like social justice, education reform, envrionmental issues, hunger and poverty and economic reform.
In addition, more Muslim alums will be connected back to the various HBCUs to help mentor and offer jobs for graduating seniors.
Last year in April 2015 we launched our first HBCU MSA conference at the Philadelphia Masjid in West Philadelphia. The conference was a success as we connected various HBCU MSAs together to undergo a SWOT (Strengths, Weakeness, Opportunities and Threats) analysis of each MSA. We also had a breakout workshop where we discussed How to Maintain One's Muslim Identity on campus. This year we are proud to annouce that our 2nd Annual HBCU MSA Conference will be at Howard University from April 8-10. The takeaway for this year conference is to give Muslim students the tools to start our sustain their MSAs on campus. Our network has now expanded to include MSAs from North Carolina A&T and Fisk University. Other HBCU MSAs who belong to the network are: The Lincoln Univeristy, Cheyney University, Howard University, Florida A&M University and Delaware State University.
We are asking alums from the above mentioned partcipating HBCU MSAs to each give $20 to offset the costs for hotel and travel accomodations for those traveling from a far, food and supplies.
Here's a rough breakdown of costs for the conference:
$1,500-2,000 to secure two houses (one for brothers and sisters) via airbnb
$250- For Pizza & Wings for Friday Game Night
$1,000- For catered breakfast and lunch for Saturday (we are expecting to have a minimal of 50 participants)
Rest will be for honorariums for guest speakers and supplies.
Your $20 donation will guranatee you admissions to participate in the conference. Donations from our non-Muslim friends are welcome as well.
Below are some pictures from last year conference:
After graduating in 2014 several alums reached out to me brothers Jamil (LU alumnus), Kashief (CU alumnus) and Tariq (CU alumnus) who expressed the need to start a charter for all MSA's at HBCU's that is able to advocate, advise and provide resources to build stronger and sustainable MSA's at HBCU's nationwide. There is a lot of reasons why HBCUs should have an active MSA on campus:
1. Provides a safe place for Muslim students to pray and fulfill other Islamic obligations
2. To give dawah on campus via social interaction and educational programs that gives students, staff, faculty and administration an opportunity to learn more about what Al Islam is. This element is important in today's heightened Islamphobia climate
3. To provide solutions and advocacy on issues that affect all of humanity like social justice, education reform, envrionmental issues, hunger and poverty and economic reform.
In addition, more Muslim alums will be connected back to the various HBCUs to help mentor and offer jobs for graduating seniors.
Last year in April 2015 we launched our first HBCU MSA conference at the Philadelphia Masjid in West Philadelphia. The conference was a success as we connected various HBCU MSAs together to undergo a SWOT (Strengths, Weakeness, Opportunities and Threats) analysis of each MSA. We also had a breakout workshop where we discussed How to Maintain One's Muslim Identity on campus. This year we are proud to annouce that our 2nd Annual HBCU MSA Conference will be at Howard University from April 8-10. The takeaway for this year conference is to give Muslim students the tools to start our sustain their MSAs on campus. Our network has now expanded to include MSAs from North Carolina A&T and Fisk University. Other HBCU MSAs who belong to the network are: The Lincoln Univeristy, Cheyney University, Howard University, Florida A&M University and Delaware State University.
We are asking alums from the above mentioned partcipating HBCU MSAs to each give $20 to offset the costs for hotel and travel accomodations for those traveling from a far, food and supplies.
Here's a rough breakdown of costs for the conference:
$1,500-2,000 to secure two houses (one for brothers and sisters) via airbnb
$250- For Pizza & Wings for Friday Game Night
$1,000- For catered breakfast and lunch for Saturday (we are expecting to have a minimal of 50 participants)
Rest will be for honorariums for guest speakers and supplies.
Your $20 donation will guranatee you admissions to participate in the conference. Donations from our non-Muslim friends are welcome as well.
Below are some pictures from last year conference:
Organizer and beneficiary
Bilal Hassan
Organizer
134th Street, NY
Kevin Kashief Smith
Beneficiary
