New Muslim Cool Crossover Conversations Event Planning Toolkit

Crossover Conversations Event Planning Toolkit For organizations, campuses, and community groups

Brought to you by

Photo Credits: Kauthar Umar (cover), Carolyn Lambert (above)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Click on any of the page numbers below to jump to the relevant section. INTRODUCTION ..............................................................................................................................2 About the Film ...............................................................................................................................2 About New Muslim Cool Crossover Conversations .......................................................................2 Our Partners..................................................................................................................................2 PLANNING YOUR EVENT IN FIVE EASY STEPS ...........................................................................3 #1: Define Your Objectives............................................................................................................3 #2: Identify Your Target Audience .................................................................................................3 #3: Recruit Partner Organizations .................................................................................................4 #4: Get the Word Out ....................................................................................................................5 #5: Set the Agenda .......................................................................................................................6 PLANNING CHECKLIST..................................................................................................................7 FACILITATING DISCUSSIONS OF NEW MUSLIM COOL...............................................................8 Tips for A Successful Panel ..........................................................................................................8 Creating A Safe Space................................................................................................................10 Activity: Building Our Skills for Crossover Conversations............................................................10 Activities for Interfaith Groups .....................................................................................................12 WHAT YOU CAN DO......................................................................................................................15 RESOURCES .................................................................................................................................16 For Crossover Conversations and Interfaith Learning .................................................................16 On Muslim Culture.......................................................................................................................16 New Muslim Cool Crossover Conversations Toolkit

1

INTRODUCTION About the Film With an estimated two to eight million Muslims in the United States, the look of Islam in America has many faces. New Muslim Cool shows us just how diverse the American Muslim community can be through the story of Hamza Pérez, a young Puerto Rican American hip hop artist who converted to Islam at age 21, pulling himself off the streets to become a community activist, family man and rising star. Hamza uses hiphop culture to take his religious message to the streets, slums, and jail cells of urban America, forging unlikely friendships with a Jewish poet, a prison chaplain, and many others along his surprising spiritual journey. Hamza faces life with a message of redemption and hope, finding his balance in a world that never stops changing. About New Muslim Cool Crossover Conversations As religious, racial, and cultural diversity in the United States continue to grow, many groups remain divided, uncertain about how to open conversations across boundaries and forge a sense of shared purpose. Hamza’s multi-faceted identity – as a Latino, youth organizer, person of faith, prison educator, family man, and artist – presents a unique opportunity to bring together people from all walks of life. Starting in Spring 2009, people throughout the country will have the opportunity to host community screenings of New Muslim Cool in community centers, places of worship, cultural institutions, civic groups, campuses, and homes across America, guided by this discussion and planning toolkit. Events will open critical conversations about faith, race, class and culture; inspire new community and civic engagement; and help to strengthen coalitions across identity lines. Our Partners The New Muslim Cool Campaign is brought to you by Active Voice and Specific Pictures, in partnership with P.O.V. and: • The Center for Asian-American Media • The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network • The Inner City Muslim Action Network • The Interfaith Youth Core • Islamic Networks Group • Latino Public Broadcasting • The National Coalition-Building Institute • The Pluralism Project • Rights Working Group • Voto Latino • Words, Beats & Life IMPORTANT NOTE ON SOME LEGAL STUFF: DO NOT COPY OR SHARE YOUR DVD! Active Voice and Specific Pictures are distributing a limited number of preview copies of New Muslim Cool as part of the Crossover Conversations Community Engagement Campaign. You are authorized to use the DVD only as described on your application. Please do not copy or share your preview DVD, and please mail it back to Active Voice when your event is over. We will be happy to send your organization one free copy of the official New Muslim Cool DVD after its release this summer, for use in any subsequent events. New Muslim Cool will be released on home video for individual and group purchase in June 2009. Visit www.NewMuslimCool.com for updates! Return your preview DVD to: Active Voice, 600 Townsend St. # 140 West, San Francisco, CA, 94103 New Muslim Cool Crossover Conversations Toolkit

2

PLANNING YOUR EVENT IN FIVE EASY STEPS #1: Define Your Objectives Figuring out your objectives is the first step in planning a great event. This is a great opportunity to think about how your event like can support your current programming and/or your longer-term objectives. Are you interested in sparking dialogue among youth of different faiths? Do you want to heighten your organization’s profile and build new partnerships? Do you feel strongly about the surveillance and profiling of Muslim Americans since 9-11? Having a sense of what you’d like people to take away from their evening with New Muslim Cool will help you plan and set the tone. Here are some possible objectives (not a definitive list – get creative!): •

Foster public awareness about profiling of religious, ethnic and racial minorities. If your main objective is public education, plan to set aside at least half an hour for Q&A with the audience, and have fact sheets handy.

•

Raise the visibility of your organization. If your goal is to showcase your organization’s work, invite people who can raise the profile of your event, including performers, press, potential funders, and other influential decision makers.

•

Spark interfaith or interethnic conversations. If you aim to bring together people of different faiths and backgrounds, it’s a good idea to hold your event in a neutral, safe space so that everyone feels welcome. If you have a panel discussion, make sure to include panelists of varying perspectives and backgrounds.

•

Highlight ongoing community-building efforts and connect motivated audiences with ways to get involved. For an action-oriented event, prompt panelists and participants to focus on what needs to be done and how audience members can contribute. Provide them with immediate actions they can take, even if it’s as simple as signing up to participate in future event. See “What You Can Do” for some ideas.

•

Build coalitions with new allies who are “beyond the choir.” If this is your goal, be sure to recruit co-sponsors for your event, and think outside the box! For example, if you’re a faith-based organization, you could try working with a secular community service organization, or ask a local hiphop artist to perform at your event.

•

Identify new community leaders, particularly among Muslims, Latinos and other communities of color. A screening of this type might help to build visibility for an existing leadership program, or invite audience members to volunteer as mentors.

#2: Identify Your Target Audience Once you define your objectives, you’ll have a better sense of who your target audience is. Do you hope to engage people who are motivated around the issues and ready to get more involved? Would you like to reach “beyond the choir,” and introduce the issues to new audiences? Even if your organization does not have direct connections to your target audiences, you can partner with organizations that do. See the next section for suggestions. Get Connected With New Muslim Cool Online! Network with other New Muslim Cool fans on Facebook (just log into www.Facebook.com and search for “New Muslim Cool,” or click here). Chat with other NMC fans, post updates about your event, upload photos from your screening, and more! You can also sign up on the New Muslim Cool website to check out the latest activities and receive email updates. Visit www.NewMuslimCool.com.

New Muslim Cool Crossover Conversations Toolkit

3

#3: Recruit Partner Organizations It’s always good to invite other groups and organizations to partner with you on your event. Partner organizations not only help broaden your reach, but they can also lend credibility and contribute to your event planning. In some instances, event-based partnerships can even pave the way for longer-term relationships that will benefit your mutual efforts. Partners can get involved in a range of ways, depending on their interest and capacity. At the very least, they can help get the word out about the event on their listservs or websites, but some partners might be able to get more actively involved and contribute ideas, time, resources, and/or panelists for the event. For New Muslim Cool, you might consider the following groups as potential partners: o o o o

Hip-hop or spoken word collectives Youth-focused organizations Civil rights law firms Universities and colleges

o o o

Faith-based or interfaith organizations Libraries, museums, and media/film centers Community foundations

To really broaden your reach, try contacting an organization you’ve never worked with before that will share an interest in New Muslim Cool. This will help you reach new potential supporters and bring your messages to new audiences “beyond the choir.” Some tips for reaching out to groups you’ve never worked with before: o Send along a link to the New Muslim Cool YouTube channel and a brief description of the film and national campaign so they can see what it’s all about. You can use language from the beginning of this guide or download a one-page PDF here (password “fitnafree”). o Highlight elements of the film that are most relevant to your potential partners’ work and members. For example, a group of community organizers might be interested in the fact that the main character in the film is a drug/violence/gang prevention counselor; you might want to mention the fact that Hamza is Puerto Rican American if you’re reaching out to a Latino student group. o Emphasize that the project is designed to bring different people together to get them involved in a conversation about community, identity and shared values—and stress that the fact that you’ve never worked with them before makes you all the more excited to do so now! o Let them know about partner benefits, specifically that their involvement can be a good opportunity to spotlight their work, raise the visibility of the organization, and reach new audiences. If you are open to a more collaborative partnership, invite them to get more involved in event planning and design, such as suggesting panelists for the discussion, brainstorming target audiences, etc. o Remember that groups have different capacities, so their level of involvement will vary. Some will simply just send your email blast to their listserv, others might get more involved in event planning, and some might even be able to contribute funds. Be mindful of what your partners are capable of and make sure you’re not asking them for too much (or too little!) as you plan your event. Rounding Up RSVPs: If you are collecting RSVPs, make sure there is a single point person or RSVP system so you have an accurate head count at all times. Also, keep in mind that some people may not end up coming – and others will show up without having RSVP’d! The best way to handle this is to keep a running list of everyone who tries to RSVP once the limit has been reached and to let them know that there may be a limited number of seats available the day of the event. At your event, add anyone who hasn’t RSVP’d to the end of your list – and let in as many people as you can just before your event starts. (Make sure to let EVERYONE who RSVP’s know that you might give their seat away if they don’t arrive at least 15 minutes in advance!) New Muslim Cool Crossover Conversations Toolkit

Photo Credit: Kauthar Umar 4

#4: Get the Word Out If you or one of your partner organizations has a communications department that can be in charge of contacting press, get them involved right away. But even if you’re new to conducting outreach, here are some simple ways you can get the word out: •

Contact us! Your event is part of a nationwide campaign and we’re here to help – so take advantage! Visit http://drop.io/NewMuslimCool to download customizable event flyers, email blasts, press release templates and other promo materials. (Use the password “fitnafree” to log in.) And please be in touch with [email protected] BEFORE contacting press or issuing releases, especially if your event is before the June 23 broadcast premiere. We and the film’s broadcasters need to make sure we’re not doubling up on press outreach, and we may be able to help you get the word out – but only if you let us know what you’re up to!

•

Make it easy. Spend a few minutes thinking about your target audience and how you can reach them where they already are. What do they already listen to, read and log on to? Those are the first places you should hit up.

•

Nail down the details. Confirm the exact time, location, venue and ticketing/RSVP procedure before you send out notices to anyone. (If you’re taking RSVPs, plan to accept 30% more RSVPs than you have room for and let late responders know you might be able to squeeze them in if people earlier on the list don’t show.) And don’t forget to share the love: include a complete list of your partner organizations in all of your outreach.

•

Think local. The New Muslim Cool Campaign is going everywhere, so what makes your event special? All of your outreach should emphasize local hooks and themes in the film that are most relevant to your community and target audience. If your event will feature prominent panelists, guests from the film or local artists, make sure to mention them! Likewise, if your event is a benefit or fundraiser, make sure to let people know.

•

Hit the inboxes. The simplest thing you can do to promote your event is to create an email blast and send it out widely via listservs. Send out two emails: the first at least two weeks before your event, and then a reminder several days before. You can also create a Facebook event and invite all your friends (why not? It’s free!).

•

Put it on the calendar. Try to get calendar listings in your city’s weekly publication(s) and on the web. Newspaper websites and event sites like Flavorpill (which usually require 2 weeks’ notice) can help you reach a broader audience. If you have a website of your own, make sure to post information about your event there, and ask any co-hosts to do the same.

•

Post flyers. Create a New Muslim Cool flyer to advertise your event. Make copies (in color if you can afford to) and post them in high traffic areas, such as college campuses, shopping malls, grocery stores, places of worship and recreation centers.

•

Start the presses. Ten days before your event, send a press release to local media outlets, including ethnic media. (You can check out a full tutorial on news releases from the SPIN Project here) Again, since this is part of a large campaign, please notify [email protected] before you contact any press to avoid duplication of efforts. Try to target reporters covering civil rights issues, and remember to customize your press release to highlight the film’s relevance to local issues.

•

Get on the air. Make calls to local television and radio programs including local news programs, talk radio, hip-hop DJs and Spanish language stations. Let them know about your event, explain its importance to your community, and if possible direct them to a local expert who can be available for interviews. Try contacting assignment editors (for local TV news) or producers (for public affairs programs or talk radio).

New Muslim Cool Crossover Conversations Toolkit

5

#5: Set the Agenda •

Invite a Keynote Speaker: Invite a local leader to speak about some of the themes the film raises, such as the diversity of American Muslim communities or the role of hip-hop in youth and social justice movements.

•

Present a Panel Discussion: Panelists can help put the film in context, whether it’s providing background information about Islam in America or connecting the issues in New Muslim Cool to local issues. It’s always a good idea to have a range of perspectives represented – possible panelists might include local hip-hop or spoken word artists; Muslim community leaders or scholars; representatives from civil rights organizations; community organizers; and elected officials. Partner organizations are great resources for potential panelists for the discussion, and they’ll be even more eager to promote the event if they’re being represented.

•

Performances: Invite a local hip-hop artist, poetry collaborative, or dance troupe to perform.

•

Artistic Collaborations: New Muslim Cool highlights many of the complexities of identity in the United States. Host a New Muslim Cool-inspired art show to encourage people to share their own experiences in a creative way! Ask local artists to create pieces inspired by issues raised in the film – this might include visual art, photography, film, music, and/or performance pieces. This activity will work especially well with youth. Provide opportunities for discussion, and use your artistic display to inspire and facilitate new dialogues about issues in your community.

•

Present Your Work: Save some time after the screening for you and/or your co-sponsors to give a brief presentation about the work you do, and how audience members can support it. You and your partner organizations can also arrange literature outside of your screening venue so that audiences can learn more about your work. And there’s nothing wrong with making a funding pitch at the event, especially if your audience includes potential big-time donors.

•

Distribute Materials and Resources: Present audience members with fact sheets, copies of discussion questions, or flyers about upcoming events.

•

Host a Reception: A public post-screening meet-and-greet will allow opportunities for networking and continued discussion after the screening. Or, host a VIP reception with local leaders, policymakers, and funders. Whichever way you decide to go, refreshments are always a good idea!

•

Highlight Your Organization’s Advocacy Efforts. Consider what themes in the film can be linked to your existing advocacy efforts. Whether your organization is devoted to issues of national security, religious freedom and/or criminal justice, think of ways to use the film as a springboard to highlight those issues and provide concrete action steps for audience members. (See “What You Can Do” for some ideas.)

•

Suggest Further Outlets for Action: Offer audience members concrete ways they can get involved and support your and your partner organizations’ work. These might include visiting your website to find out about upcoming events, volunteering, becoming a member, making a donation, etc.

•

Stay In Touch! Have a system for collecting email addresses at your event, and follow up with audience members and co-sponsor organizations in the days after. You’ve worked too hard to let those relationships disappear!

New Muslim Cool Crossover Conversations Toolkit

6

PLANNING CHECKLIST Hosting a public New Muslim Cool screening is easy if you plan ahead! Visit drop.io/NewMuslimCool (password “fitnafree”) to download images from the film, customizable flyers, email blasts, and press releases. Preliminary planning – at least 6 weeks ahead Book the venue and date for your screening. Be sure to confirm all the basics: • Is the screen big enough for your audience? • Does the venue have a projector and adequate speaker system? • If you’ll be setting up a panel or reception, are there enough mics, tables and chairs? Recruit local organizational partners to broaden your reach, and help identify roles for each one (such as publicity, panelist coordination, and reception planning). Determine speakers, panelists, performers and a moderator (if applicable). Logistical planning and initial outreach – 3-4 weeks ahead Create an email blast and get the word out electronically (Facebook, Twitter, etc). Make sure to include a contact, your website and RSVP information, if applicable. Choose the format for your screening (TV broadcast or DVD), and check all of your equipment. • TV: Find your local station and search for broadcast times on P.O.V.’s website. • DVD: New Muslim Cool will be available for purchase through www.NewMuslimCool.com as of June 2009. Contact [email protected] if you’d like to plan an event before then. Secure food for reception. Draft event agenda and vet with partners. More logistical planning – 2 weeks prior Contact press, including local television stations and/or radio programs. (See “Get the Word Out” for more information, and remember to contact AV before reaching out!) Contact community calendars and online event sites about your event. Create a flyer to publicize your screening, and post in high-traffic areas. Confirm all details with event staff (caterer, venue, IT, etc.). Media outreach – 10 days prior Send out press releases to media outlets. Make calls to local television and radio programs. Final planning – several days prior Test screen your event equipment one last time to make sure there aren’t any glitches. Send a reminder email blast. Follow up with press who expressed an interest in covering the story. Remind them what makes your event unique and important for the community. Finalize agenda. Make copies of handouts to distribute at the event. (See “What You Can Do” for possible facts and action steps you might want to highlight.) At the event itself Take photos! As people arrive, ask them to sign up to receive updates from your organization. Have a timekeeper so that panelists/speakers remain within their assigned time. Announce a call to action or have materials available for attendees to follow up. If your event is a pre-broadcast sneak preview, remember to announce the June 23 broadcast date and local air time, and encourage audience members to tell their family and friends to tune in. Let audience members know that they can learn more about the film on the New Muslim Cool website (www.NewMuslimCool.com), and invite them to host screenings of their own! After your screening Follow up with audience members and invite them to future meetings and events. Upload your event photos and connect with other fans on the New Muslim Cool Facebook page! Let us know how your event went! Answer a few quick questions for us online here. Mail us back your preview DVD! We’ll send you a pretty, official one with extra features in exchange! New Muslim Cool Crossover Conversations Toolkit

7

FACILITATING DISCUSSIONS OF NEW MUSLIM COOL Tips for A Successful Panel Before the Panel: •

Decide on a focus or theme for your panel before you invite people to be on it. It’s great to have a diversity of viewpoints, but make sure to choose panelists who will be able to build off of each other’s ideas (instead of presenting about a bunch of unrelated issues).

•

Give your panelists an idea of who will be in the audience, so they can tailor their comments to the audience’s needs and interests. For example, if you anticipate a general audience, ask panelists to tone down any sector-specific jargon.

•

Make sure your panelists have a chance to watch the film or the trailer (online on the New Muslim Cool YouTube Channel) before your event, and have them review any other event materials way in advance. Their comments are much more likely to be interesting and relevant if they are well-prepared!

•

Decide what you’d like the panelists to say. Depending on time, you may want to ask each speaker to give a brief reaction to the film in context of their work, or just jump straight into the discussion.

•

Create a handout of your panelists’ bios. It’s a good idea to print out your panelist’s bios to distribute to the audience. That way, panelists can jump right into the conversation — and audience members won’t have to sit through lengthy introductions!

•

Be prepared for potential criticism. New Muslim Cool raises a number of potentially controversial issues, and you must be ready in case the film or speakers come under scrutiny. A neutral moderator can help make sure that the conversation remains productive and many perspectives are heard. Encourage critical audience members to think about how the film might be a helpful way to address the tensions that they are feeling. Guide any comments or concerns to a positive end that applauds the benefits of sharing information in an open forum.

At Your Event: •

Have an experienced moderator keep the discussion moving and field questions from the audience. Remind your moderators to keep their own comments brief so they don’t steal the show!

•

Let the audience speak first. Before you jump into the panel discussion, you may want to have one or two audience members share their reactions to the film. (Make sure a facilitator or moderator is prepared to respond to any controversial comments and move things along!)

•

Encourage panelists to choose specific scenes from the film and link them to their comments.

•

Reserve as much time as possible for Q&A with the audience, but set a cap and stick to it! Let people know that they are welcome to approach the panelists with individual questions after the Q&A session is over to keep things moving and on track. Generally, we recommend a 20-minute discussion with a 25-minute Q&A.

New Muslim Cool Crossover Conversations Toolkit

8

Facilitating Crossover Conversations New Muslim Cool provides a great opportunity for individuals of different faiths, races, ethnicities, traditions, and backgrounds to come together to discuss their unique experiences and what values they share. At the same time, the challenging issues the film raises make effective facilitation especially important. Here are some guidelines for establishing safe, productive conversations among groups of all backgrounds: Before Your Event: •

Make sure you have enough facilitators. If you are hosting a large screening of New Muslim Cool, you may want to break out into small groups of 6-8 people to allow for more intimate conversations. If you go this route, identify a handful of facilitators well in advance and make sure to go over these guidelines with them before your screening, so they’ll be ready on the day of the event. (But don’t worry if you only have one facilitator – you can still have a great dialogue if you follow these tips!)

•

Make sure all facilitators are prepared. All facilitators should: o View the entire film before the event so they have time to process their own reactions and think about issues audience members are likely to bring up. o Prepare themselves with some basic information about the issues raised in the film. They needn’t be experts, but most audiences will be curious to know more and will enjoy hearing a bit of context about the film. The websites of the organizations listed in this toolkit (see “Resources” and “Partners”) are a great source of info; you can also check out the P.O.V. New Muslim Cool guide (online at www.pbs.org/pov/newmuslimcool/) for basic information about Islam and hip-hop, the U.S.A. PATRIOT Act, and more. o Review the activities and discussion topics you’ll be working with at the event. We’ve included some ideas on the pages that follow, and additional discussion questions are available in P.O.V.’s guide.

•

Make sure facilitators understand their role. The facilitators’ job will be to guide interesting conversations and ensure that everyone participates. Facilitators should not insist that participants think the way they do!

At Your Event: •

Take a Minute to Reflect. Right after you screen New Muslim Cool, ask people how they felt about it. Let people speak from their hearts before you move the conversation into the discussion questions. New Muslim Cool is a powerful experience, and sharing it on an emotional level is one great reason to host a community event.

•

Explain the purpose of the conversation. To keep the group on track, clearly articulate your goals for the dialogue at its outset. Why did you bring everyone together? To set the stage for a crossover conversation in a diverse group, let participants know that they’ll be asked to talk about their experiences and values with others who don’t necessarily share their beliefs and ways of life, and encourage everyone to be respectful and open-minded.

•

Set ground rules. Encourage people to participate, actively listen, and leave enough time for others to speak. If time permits, it’s a good idea to brainstorm guidelines as a group by asking participants what they need to feel comfortable and safe engaging in the discussion (see “Creating a Safe Space”). If you’re short on time, try reading aloud our Basic Ground Rules (below).

•

Guide the discussion, but don’t micromanage! Pick a few activities or discussion questions you think your group will find most interesting to get the conversation started, but be flexible. People will bring in unique ideas and experiences, so let the conversation flow!

•

Encourage everyone to participate. Factors like age, ethnicity, socioeconomic class, education level, and familiarity with a topic can all influence how comfortable people feel about sharing their reactions, especially if people don’t know each other already. Keep this in mind and actively encourage everyone to participate! Emphasize that everyone brings something unique to the table, and provide a variety of ways for people to share. For example, you might ask everyone to write down a sentence about their initial reaction and have a couple of people read their thoughts aloud before starting the conversation.

•

Brainstorm ways people can continue to engage with the issues. What opportunities are there in your community for people to get involved? Come prepared with suggestions for ways to take action (see “What You Can Do”) and let everyone contribute ideas.

•

Thank everyone! Thank your guests for participating, and ask them to share closing thoughts.

New Muslim Cool Crossover Conversations Toolkit

9

Creating A Safe Space This section has been adapted from the Interfaith Youth Core’s Manual “Interfaith Dialogue on the Shared Value of Service.” You can access the complete document on the IFYC website here.

It’s a good idea to brainstorm some ground rules for the discussion before you proceed, especially when you’re bringing together people who don’t know each other and who may be accustomed to different ways of expressing themselves. Allowing participants to create their own guidelines through a collaborative process is a great way to establish a sense of ownership and a safe space for dialogue. After your group brainstorm, check the list below to see if there’s anything you might have missed, then read the final list aloud to everyone before proceeding. Basic Ground Rules • Everyone has the right to pass • Everything said is confidential • Seek clarification if you don’t understand something someone else is saying • Make sure to listen to others without interrupting • Suspend your judgment • Use “I” statements (instead of “Everyone thinks,” “We all know…”) • Remember the importance of other people’s faith or moral traditions in their own lives • Don’t expect others to know everything about your own tradition • No question is stupid Activity: Building Our Skills for Crossover Conversations Whether you’re bringing together young people from different neighborhoods, community members of different races and ethnicities, people of different faiths or stakeholders from different fields, this activity serves as a good exercise to spark reflection around issues of community, solidarity, respect, and inclusion. This activity has been adapted from the Interfaith Youth Core’s “Day of Interfaith Youth Service Toolkit,” which you can access on the IFYC website here.

Goals: Hamza and the other characters in New Muslim Cool are constantly struggling to understand more about those around them, and let’s face it: someone probably said something that made you cringe! But the important thing is that Hamza, Rafiah (his wife), Gladys (his mother), Carol (his fellow poet), and Lynn (his colleague at the jail) don’t let their occasional misunderstandings get in the way of their relationships. Instead, they keep open minds and make the most of their opportunities to learn from each other. How can we learn from their examples and apply them to our everyday lives? How can we open crossover conversations in our schools, families and communities? This exercise will give participants a chance to walk in the shoes of the characters in New Muslim Cool and consider how they might respond or react in certain situations. NOTE: The scenarios below are based on actual events and characters depicted in the film, but we’ve added some fictional “x factors” to give you a fresh perspective on each situation and highlight challenges people in like situations might face. In other words: this didn’t all happen! Directions: Give each group a handout with a description of one of the scenarios described below. (If possible, it’s a good idea to have an experienced facilitator in each group to help guide any disagreements toward a positive resolution.) Have one group member read the scenario aloud, and then allow a few minutes for each member to think of a response to the question: “What would you do?” In each group, discuss individual reactions, using some of the prompt questions below. To keep the conversation moving, you can New Muslim Cool Crossover Conversations Toolkit

10

ask two or three people to share different responses, and discuss just those. Then, decide on a collective response. Ask each smaller group to present their conclusion to the full group, and allow time for questions and answers. Discussion Questions: • What assumptions do you think the other person’s response is based on? • What would you do in this scenario? • What are the factors that you took into consideration when you decided on your response? • How do you think the other person’s experiences might have shaped their views? How might this shape your response? • If the person’s statement is ambiguous, how do you think your own experiences might be influencing your interpretation of the situation? • How do you think the other people in the scenario would react? If they responded negatively, how would you handle it? • What steps might you take to follow up? • Has anyone in the group ever faced a similar situation? What happened? What did you do? • Given the different options discussed, which option does the group think is best? • Pretend that the other people in the scenario were peers you had never met before. Would you respond in the same way? Why or why not? What if this person were a friend? • If the other people were authority figures, such as teachers or bosses, would you respond in the same way then? If not, what other options might you have? Scenario 1: You are one of Hamza’s neighbors and hear about the raid of his mosque soon after it happened. You weren’t there, weren’t responsible, and aren’t particularly close to Hamza or other members of the mosque – but you feel bad about what happened. What do you do? Scenario 2: Hamza’s daughter is in the playground at school. One day, a group of students gather around her and start to taunt her. One of the kids pulls off her hijab (head scarf) and starts waving it around, refusing to give it back. • You are a fellow student. What do you do? • You are a teacher who witnesses this incident. What do you do? Later, you mention the incident to a fellow teacher, who says it was “not a big deal” and that “it was just kids horsing around.” How do you respond? Scenario 3: You are at the M-Team concert with a Jewish friend. She bristles when Hamza gets to the lyric, “Zionist business controls America,” but she doesn’t bring it up then or when you talk about the concert later on. Scenario 4: You are a longtime friend of Hamza’s family and mention to a neighbor that Hamza and Rafiah are about to have a baby. The neighbor responds that, “Rafiah seems like a nice girl – but between you and me, I got a shock when he brought her home!” Scenario 5: You are at one of Hamza’s neighborhood parties with your Muslim friends, and someone has brought a special Puerto Rican dish that is not halal. Curious to try it, you have a few bites but your friends criticize you for being a “bad” Muslim. Scenario 6: You and a friend are discussing Hamza’s work in the jail, and his idea to conduct outreach to drug dealers in the community. Your friend says, “I know Hamza is trying to do the right thing, but I don’t really understand why he’s working with those people. Didn’t they get what they deserve?” New Muslim Cool Crossover Conversations Toolkit

11

Activities for Interfaith Groups These activities are specially designed for interfaith audiences and have been adapted from the Interfaith Youth Core’s “Day of Interfaith Youth Service Toolkit,” which you can access on the IFYC website here. Activity #1: Interfaith Dialogue 101 (or, “No question is stupid!”) Even if people are open to answering questions, they might feel too embarrassed to admit they don’t have all the answers! Starting with a few simple questions can be a great way to break the ice among people of different faiths. Write each of the discussion questions below on a piece of paper and have your group break up into pairs. Have each pair draw two questions out of the hat and spend a few minutes asking and answering each question. Discussion Questions: • Do you have a sacred book (or books)? • How do you pray? • What are your important rituals? • What are your important holidays or festivals? • Are there any things you aren’t allowed to do or say? • Are there any things you aren’t allowed to eat or drink? • What do you call God? • What do you call your house of worship? • What are some basic principles of your religion? • Do you dress differently as part of your faith? Why if so? Activity #2: Dialogue on the Shared Values of Service Goals: • Deepen participants’ connection to their faith tradition’s teachings on service; • Invite participants to learn about the teachings of other faith traditions on service; • Encourage inter-religious understanding by bringing young people together with youth of other religions for meaningful, appreciative and personal conversations; • Deepen the meaningfulness of and excitement for interfaith service. Discussion Questions and Activities: • What does it mean to “serve”? What examples of service did you see in New Muslim Cool? • Now we’re going to read sacred teachings on service from several different religious traditions. ƒ Go around the circle and ask each participant to read one text from “Faith Texts on the Shared Value of Service.” Note: allow participants to pass if they are not comfortable reading. ƒ After all texts have been read, ask participants to break out into small groups to discuss the following questions: • What text resonated with you the most (or jumped out at you the most) and why? • Talk about the teaching that comes from your own religious tradition: what does it mean to you and how do you strive to live it out? How is Hamza striving to live out his teachings from Islam? • What similarities do you see in these various teachings? What differences do you see? • Share a story about your most meaningful service experience. How was your decision to serve influenced by your faith? • In New Muslim Cool, Hamza describes other people as “opportunities to get closer to God.” What did you think of this statement? How does it compare to your attitude toward service? • An Imam in the film reminds gang members that, “We all came from the same mother, the same father. How you gonna be fighting each other?… Hold on to the rope all together and do not become divided.” What would change in your neighborhood or community if everyone “held on to the rope together”? • Bring the group back together and share highlights from the small group discussions. New Muslim Cool Crossover Conversations Toolkit

12

Faith Texts on the Shared Value of Service Baha’i Tradition on Service (from Abdu’l-Baha, Selections from the Writings of Abdu’l-Baha) One amongst His Teachings is this, that love and good faith must so dominate the human heart that men will regard the stranger as a familiar friend, the malefactor as one of their own, the alien even as a loved one, the enemy as a companion dear and close. Buddhist Tradition of Service (from Itivuttaka 18) If beings knew, as I know, the fruit of sharing gifts, they would not enjoy their use without sharing them, nor would the taint of stinginess obsess the heart and stay there. Even if it were their last bit, their last morsel of food, they would not enjoy its use without sharing it, if there were anyone to receive it. Christian Tradition of Service (Matthew 25:35) “For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, I was naked and you gave me clothing. I was sick and you took care of me, I was in prison and you visited me.” Then the righteous will answer him, “Lord, when was it that we saw you hungry and gave you food, or thirsty and gave you something to drink? And when was it that we saw you a stranger and welcomed you, or naked and gave you clothing? And when was it that we saw you sick or in prison and visited you?” And the king will answer them, “Truly I tell you, just as you did it to one of the least of these who are members of my family, you did it to me.” Hindu Tradition of Service (from Bhagavad Gita 3.10) At the beginning, mankind and the obligation of selfless service were created together. “Through selfless service, you will always be fruitful and find the fulfillment of your desires”: this is the promise of the Creator… Jain Tradition of Service (from Tattvarthasutra 5.21) Rendering help to another is the function of all human beings. Jewish Tradition of Service (Deuteronomy 10:17) For the Lord your G-d is G-d supreme and Lord supreme, the great, the mighty, and the awesome G-d, who shows no favor and takes no bribe, but upholds the cause of the fatherless and the widow, and befriends the stranger, providing him with food and clothing. You too must befriend the stranger, for you were strangers in the land of Egypt. Muslim Tradition of Service (Surah 93:1-11) I call to witness the early hours of morning, and the night when dark and still, your Lord has neither left you, nor despises you. What is to come is better for you than what has gone before; for your Lord will certainly give you, and you will be content. Did He not find you poor and enrich you? So do not oppress the orphan, and do not drive the beggar away, and keep recounting the favors of your Lord. Secular Humanism Tradition of Service (from the writings of Pablo Neruda) To feel the intimacy of brothers is a marvelous thing in life. To feel the love of people whom we love is a fire that feeds our life. But to feel the affection that comes from those whom we do not know, from those unknown to us, who are watching over our sleep and solitude, over our dangers and our weaknesses – that is something still greater and more beautiful because it widens out the boundaries of our being and unites all living things. Sikh Tradition of Service (from Guru Granth Sahib) The individual who performs selfless service without thought of reward shall attain God’s salvation.

New Muslim Cool Crossover Conversations Toolkit

13

Activity #3: Interfaith Show and Tell This activity works well both for an initial “getting to know you” meeting, and for groups whose members already have relationships with one another. Goals: • Deepen relationships and understanding of one another’s inspiration and/or faith practices • Demonstrate the lived experience of religious pluralism and personal commitments through objects • Refresh participants’ interest in interfaith dialogue and creativity about what it can be Get Started: 1. At least one week in advance of your planned dialogue, e-mail or call everyone involved and ask them to bring a physical object (a drawing, a book, a toy, clothing, ritual item, etc.) that is/was important for them in religious identification (including, as always, ‘not religious’ or ‘atheist’) or as a source of inspiration to service. Keep it broad – the point here isn’t to get specific objects but to be able to focus your conversation around something new and visible. 2. Send a reminder to everyone the day of the dialogue to ensure that they bring their object. Activities and Discussion Questions: 1. At the meeting, have all of the objects placed in the middle of the room, preferably on a table. Make sure to check in with each participant to determine appropriate rules for respecting his or her object, in case it shouldn’t be handled, put on the floor, etc. 2. As dialogue facilitator, pick up the objects one by one and start a discussion around them. First, ask people around the room what the object reminds them of, or if it looks like anything from their life (keep this part relatively short). Then, ask the object owner to identify him or herself, and tell the story of how that object came to be meaningful for them, and how it feels for them to look at, touch, smell, taste or hear that object. 3. Let the conversation flow from there. Interesting questions and thoughts to address throughout each person’s story might be, “What kinds of objects evoke strong memories?,” “How do the objects and clothing we use in our religious, spiritual, and service life affect our beliefs and commitments?,” and “Is it easier to understand someone’s story when we see part of it or when we hear it?” 4. Close the dialogue by thanking everyone involved. Ask the participants if they have any other ideas for how to create new, creative dialogue formats in the future. Want to take the next step? Share this new take on dialogue and sharing with your community. If it is appropriate, you could take pictures of all of the objects, attach them to stories, and share those stories together publicly. You could even gather them together in a public space in your town or on campus to make an “Interfaith Museum,” which would demonstrate the wide range of ways we live out traditions and beliefs. Either of these activities might help people to visualize or empathize with people different from them, and to more easily understand the stories of those who do not share their religious tradition.

New Muslim Cool Crossover Conversations Toolkit

14

WHAT YOU CAN DO New Muslim Cool shows one man’s efforts to lift up communities in the streets, slums and jail cells of Pittsburgh. What can you do to make a difference? Below are possible actions to suggest to your audience members, which we welcome you to customize to meet local needs. And don’t forget to encourage people to get involved in your organization’s ongoing efforts! •

Watch the DVD or broadcast with friends. Host a watch party to view New Muslim Cool with your friends on the night of broadcast (June 23, 2009 on P.O.V. – check local listings), or buy a copy of the DVD (available for purchase online at www.NewMuslimCool.com after June 2009) to host a house party any time. Introduce New Muslim Cool to as many people as possible and keep the conversation going!

•

Learn more about Islam and other faiths. Hamza’s story is just one example of the diversity of the American Muslim community. Check out the sites in our resources section and start to educate yourself about Muslims and other people of faith.

•

Join a movement. The New Muslim Cool national partners (see last page) are just some of the many groups that are working to bridge differences and fight for equality. Volunteer, donate, visit their websites or join a local chapter to find out how you can get involved.

•

Get to know your neighbors. People of different faiths, ethnicities and backgrounds have more similarities than they are aware of. Use what you’ve learned from New Muslim Cool to start a dialogue with one of your colleagues, classmates, or neighbors about what they believe and why. You may even decide to host a community barbeque like Hamza.

•

Share your story. When people of different backgrounds build off of each other’s creativity, the results can be incredibly powerful. Follow Hamza’s example and get involved in a local interfaith or inter-ethnic arts collaborative, or start one of your own. Whether you’re performing your own work or supporting artists in a local poetry group, spoken word series, or open mic, you’ll be amazed at the stories you’ll uncover.

•

Write a letter to the editor. Write your local newspaper about what you learned in the film and why it is relevant to your community. Perhaps there has been a recent raid in your town, or efforts to ease Muslim-Jewish tensions. Whatever it may be, direct some of the themes from the film towards a positive outcome for your community.

•

Learn more about legislation related to surveillance and profiling. Laws against surveillance and profiling exist in some states, but not all, and most don’t prevent profiling based on religion or religious appearance. And to date, there is no federal legislation against racial profiling. Contact your local ACLU to learn more about the laws in your state, the status of federal legislation and how you can get involved!

•

Participate in an interfaith day of service. Working together to make a difference is a great way to affirm shared values. Visit the Interfaith Youth Core’s Days of Interfaith Youth Service page for tips and a quick start guide on how to plan an event in your community.

•

Check out www.NewMuslimCool.com for additional resources. Watch conversation starter clips, connect with other viewers, download discussion materials, read Hamza’s blog, and find out more ways to continue the dialogue.

New Muslim Cool Crossover Conversations Toolkit

15

RESOURCES The list of resources below is just to get you started! For additional organizations and web resources, visit www.NewMuslimCool.com and the P.O.V. New Muslim Cool page. For Crossover Conversations and Interfaith Learning DiversityWeb (www.diversityweb.org) connects, amplifies and advances campus diversity work. DiversityWeb is a project of the Association of American Colleges and Universities’ Office of Diversity, Equity and Global Initiatives, which helps postsecondary schools establish diversity as a comprehensive institutional commitment and educational priority. The Interfaith Youth Core (www.ifyc.org) provides young people and the institutions that support them with leadership training, project resources and a connection to a broader movement for religious pluralism. IFYC’s Bridge-builders Network (http://bridge-builders.ning.com) is a social networking site that lets interfaith youth leaders share resources, discuss current events and trends, and collaborate with one another. The Interfaith Alliance (www.interfaithalliance.org) promotes policies that protect both religion and democracy, engaging in grassroots activism, legislative action, and public education. The organization has affiliates in many states and action alerts on its website. The National Coalition-Building Institute (www.ncbi.org) provides leadership development, prejudice reduction, coalition building, conflict resolution, and violence prevention training to strengthen community leadership around diversity issues. The NCBI has chapters nationwide and also designs customized programs to address specific communities and organizations. The Pew Forum on Religion & Public Life (www.pewforum.org) is a nonpartisan, non-advocacy organization that seeks to promote a deeper understanding of issues at the intersection of religion and public affairs. The Forum serves as an information clearinghouse and town hall on religion and politics, the law, domestic policy, and world affairs. The Pluralism Project (www.pluralism.org) provides a wealth of resources for people interested in studying and promoting pluralism. Check this site for an extensive list of faith-based and interfaith organizations, searchable by state or tradition. Teaching Tolerance (www.tolerance.org) provides free resources to students, teachers, and parents dedicated to reducing prejudice, improving intergroup relations and supporting equitable school experiences for all children. Site offerings include tips for speaking out against bigotry, ways to fight hate on campus, downloadable curricula and classroom activities. On Muslim Culture AltMuslim.com provides news, reviews, and analysis about Muslim life in the U.S. and around the world. Elan (www.elanthemag.com) is an innovative lifestyle publication for contemporary young Muslims, bridging the gap between tradition and modernity by delivering a myriad of perspectives that encompass global Muslim culture. Illume Magazine (www.illumemagazine.org) is an award-winning publication that tells the Muslim-American experience through bold narrative stories, offering unique insights on issues that affect the MuslimAmerican community. MuslimHipHop.com is an online portal and interactive community about and for Muslim artists. New Muslim Cool Crossover Conversations Toolkit

16

New Muslim Cool Natio n al Partner Org an izatio ns

Active Voice (activevoice.net) uses film, television and digital media to tell the human stories that spark social change. Our team of strategic communications specialists develops partnerships among filmmakers, funders, and thought leaders; plans and manages screenings and high profile events; repurposes digital content for viral distribution; produces educational collateral; and consults with industry and sector leaders.  Since our inception in 2001, Active Voice has built a portfolio of campaigns focusing on issues including immigration, criminal justice, healthcare, and sustainability. Jennifer Maytorena Taylor (NewMuslimCool.com) is founder of Specific Pictures and Producer and Director of New Muslim Cool. Jennifer’s films have been shown in theaters, on television, and in film festivals and museums around the world. Her work often focuses on Latino themes with Spanish-language content. Credits include the documentaries Paulina (Sundance Channel), Special Circumstances (PBS), Ramadan Primetime (Link TV), Home Front and Immigration Calculations (KQED), and numerous short films. Her work includes numerous festival awards and two regional Emmys, and has garnered support from institutions such as the Ford Foundation, the National Endowment for the Arts, and the Rockefeller Foundation-supported U.S.-Mexico Fund for Culture. P.O.V. (pbs.org/pov) is television’s longest-running showcase for independent non-fiction films. P.O.V. premieres 14-16 of the best, boldest and innovative programs every year on PBS. Since 1988, P.O.V. has presented over 275 films to public television audiences across the country. P.O.V. films are known for their intimacy, their unforgettable storytelling and their timeliness, putting a human face on contemporary social issues.

The Center for Asian American Media (asianamericanmedia.org) funds, produces, distributes and exhibits films, television and digital media that convey the richness and diversity of Asian American experiences. The Hip-Hop Summit Action Network (hsan.org) is a non-profit, non-partisan national coalition dedicated to harnessing the cultural relevance of Hip-Hop music to serve as a catalyst for education advocacy and youth empowerment. The Inner-City Muslim Action Network (imancentral.org) is a community-based nonprofit that works for social justice, delivers a range of direct services, and cultivates the arts in urban communities.  The Interfaith Youth Core (ifyc.org) builds mutual respect and pluralism among young people from different religious traditions by empowering them to work together to serve others. Islamic Networks Group (ing.org) is a non-profit, educational organization that promotes religious literacy and mutual respect through on-site presentations and interfaith dialogues to schools, community agencies, and other institutions.

The National Coalition-Building Institute (ncbi.org) is an international non-profit leadership development network dedicated to the elimination of racism and other forms of oppression.  NCBI leaders work with public and private organizations to further cultural competence, collaboration, and effective relationships within and across group identities. The Pluralism Project (pluralism.org) helps Americans engage with the realities of religious diversity through research, outreach, and the active dissemination of resources. Voto Latino (votolatino.org) is a non-partisan, nonprofit voter engagement organization that works to promote an enfranchised America by leveraging celebrity voices, multi-media platforms, and youth themselves to promote positive change. Words, Beats and Life (wblinc.org) is a nonprofit dedicated to transforming individual lives and communities through hip-hop. WBL runs the D.C.-based Urban Arts Academy, publishes the world’s only peer-reviewed hip-hop journal, and serves as a resource for hip-hop organizations nationwide.

Latino Public Broadcasting (lpbp.org) supports the development, production, acquisition and distribution of non-commercial television that addresses issues of particular interest to Latino Americans.

Major funding provided by: Latino Public Broadcasting Ford Foundation National Endowment for the Arts Nathan Cummings Foundation Sundance Documentary Fund Center for Asian American Media

Additional funding provided by: LEF Foundation Anthony Radziwill Fund Wallace Alexander Gerbode Foundation Hartley Film Foundation Paul Robeson Fund Nu Lambda Trust

Copyright © 2009 A C TIV E VOI C E