Future of US-Muslim World Relations Conference Oct. 4

PRESS RELEASE AND MEDIA INVITE

For Immediate Release: September 26, 2008

The Future of US-Muslim World Relations

A Hope Not Hate Leadership Retreat at Northwestern University


Evanston, IL – On Saturday, October 4th Americans for Informed Democracy presents a Hope Not Hate youth leadership retreat at Northwestern University. The retreat will bring together special guest speakers and young leaders for a day of discussions and leadership workshops focused on the ways to improve US-Muslim World relations. Young people from across the region are invited to attend to learn how they can encourage international cooperation and influence US foreign policy.

The one day retreat will feature a panel discussion led by local experts Ray Hanania, award winning syndicated columnist, author, and host of Radioland Chicago; Noreen S. Ahmed-Ullah, a journalist with the Chicago Tribune and their correspondent for Afghanistan; and Ahmed Rehab, Executive Director of the Chicago Office of the Council on American-Islamic Relations.

The event, which will be held in Harris Room 107, is free and open to all, and free refreshments will be served.

Americans for Informed Democracy is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that empowers young people in the United States to address global challenges such as poverty, disease, climate change, and conflict through awareness and action. We promote just and sustainable solutions at the campus, community and national level. The Hope Not Hate is an annual series of conferences and international videoconference dialogues on the future of U.S.-Muslim World relations that has engaged tens of thousands of students and citizens in hundreds of communities since its inception in 2003. The series was called by The Boston Globe editorial board “a victory of knowledge and inquiry over fear and blind pledges of revenge”.

The conference series is supported by a coalition of non-profit organizations, including Americans for Informed Democracy, the Doris Duke Foundation for Islamic Art, the Rockefeller Brothers Fund, and the United Nations Foundation, as part of a broader initiative called The People Speak.

For more information or to register for the conference, please visit our website at
http://www.aidemocracy.org/conferences/hnh/evanston08.php

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"HOPING NOT HATING: A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR ACRASSICAUDA"
The leadership retreat will be followed by a benefit concert for Acrassicauda, a heavy metal band on the run that formed and practiced in Baghdad, Iraq during the height of the Iraq war. The concert will bring together two bands from the Great Lakes region, AL-THAWRA and NATIVE to stand in solidarity with Acrassicauda and raise some funds for them to continue their creative work in Turkey
The concert is $2 for Conference Attendees and $6 for Non-Conference Attendees. All proceeds from this event will go straight to Acrassicauda. For more information on Acrassicauda and the benefit check out Heavy Metal In Baghdad. For any questions regarding the concert please contact Arya Zarrinkelk, Program Associate for Global Peace and Security
Press Contacts: Americans for Informed Democracy: Northwestern University
(410) 962-8773 Stephanie Chang
Vicente Garcia Kerri Metcalf
Director, Peace and Security Program Co-Presidents
Vicente@aidemocracy.org AID Campus Chapter
Arya Zarrinkelk schang13@gmail.com
Program Associate k-metcalf@northwestern.edu
Arya@aidemocracy.org
Laura Kavanaugh
Program Fellow
Laura@aidemocracy.org
Marceline White
President
marceline@aidemocracy.org

We invite all members of the press to attend this event. If you would like to send a
correspondent, please contact Laura, Arya, or Vicente with details and requests. Further
information and a complete schedule can be found on the retreat website at
http://www.aidemocracy.org/conferences/hnh/evanston08.php