Community News (V15-I41)

Ismael Ahmed to receive Shining Light Award

Ismael Ahmed, Associate Provost for Metropolitan Impact, University of Michigan-Dearborn, will receive the Neal Shine Award for Exemplary Regional Leadership on October 10, 2013, at a special breakfast ceremony at the Ford Conference & Event Center in Dearborn, Michigan.

He is being recognised for for  his decades of service on behalf of immigrants, children, and workers, and building bridges and cultural understanding across the community.  The Neal Shine Award honors those who are having a regional impact and are willing to take risks to further progress, cooperation, and understanding.

Ahmed grew up in the shadow of the Ford Rouge plant, and put himself through school working in auto plants and on ocean freighters.  In 1971, he helped found ACCESS, and helped build it from a storefront staffed by volunteers to a $17 million agency with affiliates in 12 states and a staff of 300 that assists 900,000 immigrants of all backgrounds and people in need with health, education and the arts, and employment.  He also served under Governor Jennifer Granholm as director of the Michigan Department of Human Services, leading reforms that improved access for low-income residents.  He currently serves his alma mater by connecting the university to the region, with more than 3,000 students volunteering and doing research across metro Detroit.

Governor Granholm says of Ahmed, “He insisted that we focus on people who were unseen – the poor, the homeless, the chronically unemployed.  He has a heart as big as a barn and a passion for people.”  Hassan Jaber, current executive director of ACCESS, said, “Ismael has never lost focus on putting the interests of the disadvantaged and the poor before anything else.”

Khalid Usman appointed chair of Markham hospital

Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation welcomes Khalid Usman as new Chair during its annual general meeting at Angus Glen. Khalid joined the Board of Directors in 2008 and has a long track record of supporting the hospital and our community.

A 26 year resident of Markham, Mr. Usman has served on the hospital board and volunteers with a number of other charitable organizations in addition to Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation.  His charitable work has earned him numerous accolades and awards, including most recently the Queens Diamond Jubilee Medal, an Ontario Medal for Good Citizenship and the Tamghae-Khidmat from Pakistan, that nation’s equivalent to the Order of Canada.

“Khalid is one of our most passionate advocates. We are so fortunate that he has directed his passion toward fundraising for our hospital and leading our Board at this important time during the home stretch of our $50 millionCampaign in support of the hospital’s new building and extensive renovations, currently underway”, says Suzette Strong, CEO Markham Stouffville Hospital Foundation.

Alisa Khan receives pediatric innovation award

Recognizing transformative advances in pediatric patient care, Boston Children’s Hospital recently announced three $50,000 Taking on Tomorrow innovation awards. One of the awardees is Dr. Alisa Khan of Boston Children’s Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Harvard Medical School.

She is the co-recipient of the Community/Patient Empowerment Award.

Waterloo mosque gets OK for initial plan

WATERLOO, IA–The Board of Adjustments of Waterloo has approved a permit for a group planning to build an Islamic mosque, cemetery and soccer field on Waterloo’s southeast side.The Bosnian Islamic Association still must gain approval of a detailed site plan.

The Waterloo-Cedar Falls Courier reports the Board of Adjustment unanimously approved a conceptual permit Tuesday for the Bosnian Islamic Association of Waterloo’s development. The board also supported plans for a 5 acre cemetery, which is less than the 30 acres required by city law.

Craig Ceilley, who is selling the land, says the local Muslim community doesn’t need a large cemetery. He says it will take them 100 years to fill up even the small cemetery.

Some neighbors earlier had raised concerns about traffic at the development, but there were no objections Tuesday.

15-41