Community News (V13-I8)

Shahid Khan to get Illinois’s highest honor

SPRINGFIELD, IL–Illinois Governor Governor Pat Quinn  announced six distinguished Illinoisans who will receive The Order of Lincoln, the state’s highest award. Among the honorees is Shahid Khan, the president of Flex-N-Gate Corporation, a global automobile components and systems manufacturer located in Urbana, Illinois. Through his understanding of design and entrepreneurial spirit, Khan has advanced new applications of technologies. A native of Pakistan, Khan began working at Flex-N-Gate shortly after he came to the United States to study industrial engineering at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. After rising to the position of chief engineer in 1978, Khan left Flex-N-Gate to start his own firm, Bumper Works.

He acquired Flex-N-Gate in 1980 and shaped the company over the course of 30 years into one of the top 200 largest private companies in the United States. Today, Flex-N-Gate employs over 9,500 people at 48 manufacturing and 9 product development and engineering facilities throughout Canada, the United States, Mexico, Argentina, and Spain. Khan has made significant investments in educational opportunities for future generations by supporting research, teaching, and outreach activities.

Last year, Khan made an unsuccessful bid to purchase a stake in the St. Louis Rams.

Call honor Muhammad Ali at Kentucky state capitol

LOUISVILLE,KY–Momentum is gathering in state of Kentucky this Black History month to honor boxing legend Muhammad Ali by placing his statue in the Capitol Rotunda.

House Speaker Greg Stumbo said he would prepare legislation for the next legislative session to authorize the commissioning and placement of a statue of Ali, the retired heavyweight boxing champion from Louisville.

“I think he should be somewhere where he can look at Abe and Abe can look at him,” Stumbo said in an interview, referring to the statue of Abraham Lincoln, a native Kentuckian, that serves as the centerpiece of the Rotunda.

Gainesville Muslims to open free medical clinic

GAINESVILLE,FL–The Gainesville Muslim Medical community is going to open a free medical clinic on Feb.26. The clinic is situated at the rear of the Hoda Islamic Center and will serve everyone regardless of race, religion or ethnicity.

Dr. Mustafa Ahmed, a cardiologist who is one of the physicians organizing the free clinic, told the Gainesville Sun “In the teachings of Islam there is a copious amount of scripture about uplifting humanity, improving social conditions and helping your neighbor. Gainesville’s Muslim community wanted to do something to help the community as a whole.”

Patients who make up to (but not beyond) 200 percent of the federal poverty level may be referred to the Rahma Mercy Clinic, he said. That’s an annual income of around $44,000 for a family of four.

Dupage County mosque plans again put on hold

CHICAGO,IL–The future of a propose Islamic centre in Dupage county appears to be changing by the week. This week the plans appear to be put on hold after county board committee said it wants more time to look over tentative modifications designed to make the proposal more acceptable to adjacent residents lobbying to have it rejected.

Representatives for the Muslim Educational and Cultural Center of America informally pitched adjustments this week that include a lower profile for the side of the building closest to the nearby neighborhood and elimination of the multipurpose room that had caused concern about heavy use of the facility, planned for a 4.7-acre site on 91st Street just west of Route 83.

Committee members said they want staff members to assess the proposed downsizing, and they need more time to assimilate them as well.

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