Participants Wanted for US Study Tour on Islam in the United States

May-June 2007

The National Peace Foundation, USA (NPF) and the Islamic Society of North America
(ISNA) are soliciting applications from qualified individuals to participate in a 3 week study
tour in the United States focused on Islam in America. The program is “Religion and
Society: A Dialogue”.

The Program:

The NPF/ ISNA program is “Islam in America: New Dimensions in Activism, Pluralism and
Thought”. It is a citizen exchange program focusing on building a dialogue of Muslim
thinkers, practitioners, writers, and activists from Arab countries with Muslims in America
who are active in religious and cultural Islamic work in the US and with representatives of
other major religions. The goals are;

to create and sustain a mutually beneficial relationship where both groups learn from
each about their experience and thinking in all its forms and practices

to discuss the compatibility of religious practice and democratic social and political
values and structures

to discuss the benefits produced by coexistence among religious communities, and the
practice of Islam in a multi-cultural, multi-religious context.

Participants will attend workshops, meetings, seminars and experiential events related to
themes such as:
Islam in Practice in America - Day-to-Day
Experience of America’s Religious Pluralism
Successful Experience of Women: Muslims and Others
Building Religious and Social Communities
Scholarship of Religious Study

Examples of these events can include:

a) a meeting with leaders in an American mosque or Islamic center such as
the board of directors, the Imam, and members to discuss topics such as elections,
discuss use of facilities and approaches to resolving disputes

b) interfaith discussions held at a church.

c) observe American Muslims involvement in local and national politics, and many
Muslim political affairs organizations who work to address the positive public image
of Islam

d) visit Muslim schools in the US to observe their challenges in

e) curriculum building and teaching Arabic and Quran

f) participate in seminars related to ideas of Islam and Democracy.

Itinerary:

The tour is approximately 17 days. The group will be composed of 14 individuals who will
travel by air from their countries to Washington, DC. They will continue their study tour in
Chicago and nearby towns and return to Washington, DC before returning home. All expenses
including air travel, hotels, meals and J-1 visa fees are paid by the National Peace Foundation,
USA.

We are looking for candidates who:

We are looking for individuals with an interest in the discussion of Islam who are engaged in
important leadership roles in the countries they live in. They should be involved in
scholarship, writing, oration, administration of religious institutes, political discourse,
activism, civil society building, and other areas related which reflect on Islamic life.
Applicants can be individuals who have backgrounds related to Islam, the Quran, Islamic
Law, Islamic History, Islam and Democracy or are engaged in the dialogue of religion and
civil society. They can be Muslim Imams, university professors, high school teachers,
teachers of Arabic, writers and thinkers, activists or members of organizations involved in
civil society building, and others who are independent thinkers.

Applicants are invited to submit the enclosed application who:

1) reside or hold citizenship in Egypt, Jordan, Syria and Saudi Arabia

2) men and women

Knowledge of the English language is not a requirement however it is helpful. Applications
will be accepted from self nominations as well as nominations from organizations.

Application Instructions:

To apply:
1) submit attached application form in Arabic or English
2) submit a copy of your passport
3) submit at least 1 letter of reference from a person who can attest to your character and
background. This can be a colleague from your work or study or a manager or someone who
can write about your experience and expertise.

Application may be obtained at http://www.isna.net/fileadmin/NPF_ISNA_E.pdf